Spoilers For Bank Holiday Monday August 31st 2009

[James Robinson]

Well another week, more Countdown to enjoy for 2 very good reasons.

1. We get to see everyone's favourite Rubik's Cube solving Countdown genius in action, that's Chris Davies of course.

and

2. The magnificent magician Paul Zenon makes a welcome return to Dictionary Corner.

Never mind that it's a bank holiday, at least Countdown's still on the box.

P.S. I'd preferably like it to be on right now, rather than wait another 4 hours, since my sister is returning from the Leeds Fest this morning. She'll just bring anarchy into the house.

[Kai Laddiman]

Rubik's Cube race - Chris Davies vs Paul Zenon. Ooh yeh.

[Chris Davies]

oops

[Ben Hunter]

Was ACREAGE there in the first round? Think I've got 39

[Peter Mabey]

INTERMIT

[David O'Donnell]

glissade

[David O'Donnell]

Was ACREAGE there in the first round? Think I've got 39

Yeah, I had ACETATE too but couldn't beat 7. Cannot believe I missed INTERMIT

[Innis Carson]

Got this at literally the last second: ((6*8+2)*4+5)*3

[David O'Donnell]

Got this at literally the last second: ((6*8+2)*4+5)*3

Beat me to it but I got it in somewhere during Chris's attempt at a solution so that doesn't count.

[Chris Davies]

My mum got the second numbers game in the audience. I honestly thought I had it.

[Gavin Chipper]

I did ((8*2+4)*6+3)*5. I'm currently winning now with those two numbers games against Chris!

[Kieran Child]

Matt's a decent player.

[Ben Hunter]

I did ((8*2+4)*6+3)*5. I'm currently winning now with those two numbers games against Chris!

Just goes to show what nerves can do (though he isn't playing badly by any stretch).

[David O'Donnell]

Chris is getting somewhat raped by the numbers.

[Chris Davies]

I solved this easily at home God I'm rubbish under pressure.

[Ben Hunter]

I love Chris' accent.

[Clive Brooker]

(75-(10+1)*4)*6+1 I think

[Gavin Chipper]

For the last one I did 75+(6+1+1)*(10+4). I still lost the game though because I'm pretty rubbish at letters overall and lost on the crucial conundrum. I was pleased with my numbers today though.

[Gavin Chipper]

I did ((8*2+4)*6+3)*5. I'm currently winning now with those two numbers games against Chris!

Just goes to show what nerves can do (though he isn't playing badly by any stretch).

I know. Anyone who finds themselves behind me in a game needs to look at what they're doing!

[Innis Carson]

Well played again Chris, seriously rotten numbers throughout that game. I didn't get the last one either.

[Gavin Chipper]

Well played again Chris, seriously rotten numbers throughout that game. I didn't get the last one either.

I imagine he'll put today's score behind him and get regular centuries from now. But it makes 900 a tougher target!

[Michael Wallace]

Yuck, nasty game. I missed the first and last numbers too (although it goes to show the difficulty of 2 large - surprised Chris went for it when he was already 28-0 up). Was a bit bemused by some of Chris's letter round selections - picking your 4th vowel before your 4th consonant? I can only presume it was part of some complex mind game. Maybe.

Edit: Oh yeah, just remembered Susie's OoW - I was highly amused by her rounding off with "so, not particularly interesting...".

[James Robinson]

Chris, why didn't you try for a "G" in the last letters game

We all wanted some OESTROGEN!!!

P.S. That's the correct spelling!

[Matthew Green]

oops

Chris, you look a LOT like that emoticon.

[Rosemary Roberts]

We all wanted some OESTROGEN!!!

P.S. That's the correct spelling!

Am I right in thinking that the American spelling wouldn't be allowed?

[James Robinson]

We all wanted some OESTROGEN!!!

P.S. That's the correct spelling!

Am I right in thinking that the American spelling wouldn't be allowed?

Rosemary, in one word, YES!

[Kirk Bevins]

Well done Chris again. Still looking and sounding nervous but I'm so glad you're getting all these obscure words - it makes for smashing TV. I also had DEHISCE in round 2 and people would probably call me a show off but I didn't see the simple shit like SHOCKED. PUEBLOS was lovely too.

Let's hope for more awesome words please.

[Jon Corby]

Can't believe I only had ESTRONE in the OESTRONE round.

[Kevin Thurlow]

"We all wanted some OESTROGEN!!!

P.S. That's the correct spelling!"

Er, no it isn't. The correct scientific spelling is now "estrogen", but I don't recall if Oxford draws attention to that. It does with the analgous sulfur/sulphur problem. It isn't really "oe" - it's the thing which is "o" and "e" stuck together, which is pronounced with a long "e" here and short "e" in USA.

I loved Susie's pronunciation of "(o)estradiol" as EE-straddi-oll. In fairness a lot of these words are difficult to pronounce unless you know what they mean. If anyone cares, "eestra-dye-oll" is more normal, to show that there are two alcohol groups (di -ol) on an "estra" structure.

[James Robinson]

"We all wanted some OESTROGEN!!!

P.S. That's the correct spelling!"

Er, no it isn't. The correct scientific spelling is now "estrogen", but I don't recall if Oxford draws attention to that. It does with the analgous sulfur/sulphur problem. It isn't really "oe" - it's the thing which is "o" and "e" stuck together, which is pronounced with a long "e" here and short "e" in USA.

I loved Susie's pronunciation of "(o)estradiol" as EE-straddi-oll. In fairness a lot of these words are difficult to pronounce unless you know what they mean. If anyone cares, "eestra-dye-oll" is more normal, to show that there are two alcohol groups (di -ol) on an "estra" structure.

Kevin, as we discussed on here for most of last of week, it is the correct Countdown spelling.

It may not be the correct scientific spelling, but ESTROGEN isn't allowed on the show, as the dictionary defines it as the American spelling.

[Kevin Thurlow]

"Kevin, as we discussed on here for most of last of week, it is the correct Countdown spelling.
It may not be the correct scientific spelling, but ESTROGEN isn't allowed on the show, as the dictionary defines it as the American spelling"

I have now looked it up - that is true, but will be added to the list of corrections I'll send to Oxford one day...

As for the long discussion - I didn't see it - I only checked this thread! No time to look at every dicussion.