c4countdown

Ryan has got to 3 wins, although I think it's fair to say that the win was more or less sealed with all those invalid words that Geoff declared.

Still needs to work on his conundrum skills though, does our Ryan. Hopefully he'll get one soon, if he stays in the hunt.

If he carries on with his current form, he should get a good enough octochamp score to guarantee his place in the finals, although with the way this series is going, I wouldn't be at all surprised if we get at least 1 more octo before the finals, assuming that Ryan gets his 8 of course.

Well, we'll have to wait and see, won't we.

Today is another battle of apterites. Ryan's opponent is none other than the wonderful Lesley Hines.

Ooh, I'm excited. Sorry Ryan, but I'm rooting for Girl Power on this one! Go Lesley!

Is apterous down or is it just me that can't get on it? It is going through the attempts and not logging on for me.

Sue Sanders wrote:Ooh, I'm excited. Sorry Ryan, but I'm rooting for Girl Power on this one! Go Lesley!

Me too! Go Lesley!

Sorry Ryan, I'm very fickle. I turn on contestants very easily.

Jon Corby wrote: I turn on contestants very easily.

That's because you have such awesome good looks.

Kirk Bevins wrote:

Jon Corby wrote: I turn on contestants very easily.

That's because you have such awesome good looks.

Wow, I had this down as a three-horse race between Hazell, Sanders and Meakin, and Kirk steals it out of nowhere. Good work!

Alec starts a thread about languages and they start the programme talking about sign language!
Another one for the coincidences list.

2 W's in the same selection

Message to Jon Corby: Countdown was cancelled today



Edit: Countdown happens to coincide with my afternoon break, and not wanting to wait to see Lesley until this evening, I found this site: http://www.tvcatchup.com You can watch any channel by just entering your e-mail and a password - it's great!

Hmmm. Interesting - was Ryan going to not declare a 9 there?

Answers on a postcard, please....Ryan!

Correct. If I was to declare first I would not have declared 9 as I didn't think it was a word..I thought it was MARINATES and not MARINADES.

Ryan Taylor wrote:Correct. If I was to declare first I would not have declared 9 as I didn't think it was a word..I thought it was MARINATES and not MARINADES.

MARINATE is the verb and MARINADE the noun, so you can add an S to either of them.

That shuffler needs his legs slapped

I loved Lesley's little dance during round 8 just then!

I loved Lesleys "I've got a nine" face during the countdown there

Nice to have good standard play again lately. Not so long ago there would have been 7s declared for those rounds with 9s in.

Jon Corby wrote: I turn on contestants very easily.

Is that a promise?

Don't tell me what happens I haven't seen it yet!

I'm wetting myself here (did manage to hold it in long enough to get lyonnaise though!)

Nasty conundrum there, unlucky Lesley, well played.

That guy looked like Kirk.

Oh Lesley - that is SUCH a shame. It's been a long time since a game got me that worked up. Boiled down to the order the decs were asked for

That was one of those games neither contestant deserved to lose. Hard luck, Lesley! Particularly after spotting two niners... an incredible game, one of the best I have seen in a long time.

I reckon that was the best game of the Series - Congrats to both Ryan and Lesley for a fantastic game. It's just a shame there had to be a loser.

Nice to see a cameo from Kirk

Brilliant performance Lesley! You have made a lot of men on this board very very tense.

I think Mr Eadie should pay more attention to apterous so players like this don't come up against each other until the finals. I may phone Ofcom to complain. Jedward to win.

Best game this series by far

Jon Corby wrote:I turn on contestants very easily

Marc Meakin wrote:I loved Lesleys "I've got a nine" face during the countdown there

As consolation maybe Jon could show her one of his 'special' faces. In fact...step up any female contestants who failed to win teapots... I have a plan!

Matthew Green wrote:I think Mr Eadie should pay more attention to apterous so players like this don't come up against each other until the finals. I may phone Ofcom to complain. Jedward to win.

I think 6 Q's in three games(and 2 W's in one round) out to be discussed in parliament at least

Craig Beevers wrote:Nice to have good standard play again lately. Not so long ago there would have been 7s declared for those rounds with 9s in.

If only everyone were as good as you.

Well done Lesley, great game.

Yeah it was the best game I've seen in ages. Was amazingly tense in the studio. To lose your debut after getting 104 and 2 nines has to hurt. One of the highest losing scores ever, surely?

I love it how in round 13 Susie and Tim can be seen giggling away during the round as they've clearly spotted FUCKER. Looking back at yesterday's order of consonants it was pretty easy to predict the consonants today! Bit like televised goatdown --- now there's a thought.

P.s I've had my hair cut since - didn't realise how silly I look!

I told you about the hair in Manchester.
You looked like that geezer off the X Factor.
Precocious layabout.

Marc Meakin wrote:I think 6 Q's in three games(and 2 W's in one round) out to be discussed in parliament at least

The double Q got sorted out after today's game.

Kirk Bevins wrote:Yeah it was the best game I've seen in ages. Was amazingly tense in the studio. To lose your debut after getting 104 and 2 nines has to hurt. One of the highest losing scores ever, surely?

Second highest ever losing score by a challenger. Only Terry Rattle, who came up against Chris Wills, scored more and lost on a debut.

Bad luck Lesley, and very well played.

Thanks all for saying such nice things, and top respect to Ryan. He had the good grace to laugh while Martyn and I conspired to get him drunk the night before. I really enjoyed playing another apterite. At the risk of sounding really twee it was as good as playing a friend. Hmm that sounds terrible, but you know what I mean!

Couple of things: the application that said the most daring thing you've ever done read "abseiling, bungee jumping, paragliding, eating japanese food, white water rafting etc.". Serves me right for being facetious

The dance I did was when Kirk was craning his neck round the camera with the biggest "did you get it?" face in the world. I cringed watching it

The camera adds 10lbs and there are at least 6 in the studio. You lot are good at maths

Great experience and thanks to everyone involved.

D Eadie wrote:I told you about the hair in Manchester.

Yes you did and it wasn't long before I visited Eadie's Epilations back in York for its removal.

Lesley Hines wrote:
The dance I did was when Kirk was craning his neck round the camera with the biggest "did you get it?" face in the world. I cringed watching it

Ha, I don't remember this at all - I thought you were just a dancy kind of person.

Kirk Bevins wrote:Ha, I don't remember this at all - I thought you were just a dancy kind of person.

Yeah, that too!

Lesley and Ryan - you gave us a smashing game today. Well done.

Well played & unlucky Lesley. But you won on looks (by a mile)

Lesley Hines wrote:Kirk was craning his neck round the camera with the biggest "did you get it?" face in the world. I cringed watching it

Kirk's face isn't that hideous, surely?

Also it was interesting in one round, Ryan offered ANISOLE. This I learnt as the anagram of SEALION^, however, it is not Countdown valid, only Scrabble valid. Since Ryan's main form of practice is apterous, I wonder where he picked it up from?

Yeah and Susie doesnt comment on the validity of it (even though Lesley had beat me) It was on a word list that I had compiled before I found apterous and sometimes if a selection looked like it had more to offer on the show I would use an anagram solver to see if there is better and then would write them down. On this occasion it had given ANISOLE and without me knowing it was invalid on Countdown Id written it down. I thought about adding the Y seen as I had no idea what it meant (like most of the words I offer)

I was nowhere near getting the conundrum, and yet:
http://www.apterous.org/viewgame.php?ga ... 2#r1040092

An excellent game, well played both. Hopefully Lesley will be given another go in the future and hopefully Ryan will become an octochamp and join the big three in the quarters.

It would be amazing if there were eight octochamps in the quarters, btw if there were nine octochamps per series, would the ninth highest scoring octochamp be carried over to the next series quarters, or just be eliminated completely???

ps. good to see the Guvnor Tim Vine in Dictionary Corner, I liked when Ryan told him to "keep on track" yesterday, after the train/rails puns. Great stuff.

Jojo Apollo wrote: It would be amazing if there were eight octochamps in the quarters, btw if there were nine octochamps per series, would the ninth highest scoring octochamp be carried over to the next series quarters, or just be eliminated completely???

I was thinking about this recently and, more interestingly, is Jacqueline Baker's position. She was 8th on the leaderboard with 4 wins in series 60 and could have played me in the QF but she carried on to see if she'd be an octochamp and play in the series 61 finals. As it happened she only won one more game and with 5 wins she is currently the 7th seed. Should Ryan make the 8 that would push her to 8th position and then should a 6+ times winner come between then and the finals poor Jacqueline won't make the series 61 finals, when she could have made the series 60 ones!

There was an "interesting" debate at some point about whether to let contestants choose whether to guarantee being in the current finals or continue playing and risk not getting into the next series finals.

Jojo Apollo wrote:Hopefully Lesley will be given another go in the future

Fully agree with the idea in principle, but when we mentioned it to Damian after the game his reply was something like "don't start that again".

Fantastic game, and a privilege to have watched it live.Felt gutted for Lesley but she took it very well.

Kirk Bevins wrote:There was an "interesting" debate at some point about whether to let contestants choose whether to guarantee being in the current finals or continue playing and risk not getting into the next series finals.

I love the way Kirk's getting more and more astute at handling the people on this board as a sideline to his continual greater skill at Countdown. For example, being firmer in making funny jokes, and now putting "interesting" in inverted commas to stop someone replying with "define interesting" for the umpteenth time!

What a great game to day.
Bad luck Lesley losing with 104.
Nice to see Kirk's cheeky grin pop up in the audience. Was he the only one to get the conundrum?
Were you playing along in the audience Kirk, and if so did you beat either of the contestants? Would your conundrum spot have won the day?

Rich Priest wrote:

Jojo Apollo wrote:Hopefully Lesley will be given another go in the future

Fully agree with the idea in principle, but when we mentioned it to Damian after the game his reply was something like "don't start that again".

Guys it's a really kind thought but I'm happy enough not to. I didn't shame myself and I've got 104 average If they ever do a 'best losers' special or similar it'd be nice to be considered but honestly, that'll do me. Ryan was the better player, and if you want to be the best you gotta beat the best. End of. Let's face it, those dictionaries never had my name on anyway I don't want to win having been given an intentionally easy ride, there's no point.

I don't normally comment on the spoilers forum but two things -

Lesley - Damn! No offence to Ryan but I thought you had him there.

Kirk - are you hanging around the studio in the hope of gainful employment?

Andy Thomson wrote:

Kirk - are you hanging around the studio in the hope of gainful employment?

Hehe no. Rich Priest, Dinos, Howard and I went to the studios for a bit of fun. When I knew Ryan was recording I'd decided to become his supporter as he didn't bring a guest with him.

As for a previous question, I got 145-108 against Ryan and 140-91 against Lesley so the conundrum didn't matter. I was well pleased with spotting LYONNAISE as I got SOLANINE and there was a Y left over and I remember missing an aptochat nine a few days before recording that I had memorised as SOLANINE+Y and then it came to me.

Kirk Bevins wrote:Rich Priest, Dinos, Howard and I went to the studios for a bit of fun.

So who was that hunky dude you were sitting next to?

Kirk Bevins wrote:

Andy Thomson wrote:

Kirk - are you hanging around the studio in the hope of gainful employment?

Hehe no. Rich Priest, Dinos, Howard and I went to the studios for a bit of fun. When I knew Ryan was recording I'd decided to become his supporter as he didn't bring a guest with him.

As for a previous question, I got 145-108 against Ryan and 140-91 against Lesley so the conundrum didn't matter. I was well pleased with spotting LYONNAISE as I got SOLANINE and there was a Y left over and I remember missing an aptochat nine a few days before recording that I had memorised as SOLANINE+Y and then it came to me.

I got LYONNAISE pretty much as it came out, but that's because I like lyonnaise potatoes

The ANISOLE offering I just took to be a mistake over the name of a haemorrhoid preparation as my Dad is always making demands on his ANUSOL!

Phil Reynolds wrote: So who was that hunky dude you were sitting next to?

No idea. Only 3 of us got the conundrum in the studio and they picked me and, since we were sat on one edge, asked me to move into the middle.

I think LYONNAISE is the best word I've ever seen on Countdown.

Matthew Green wrote:I think LYONNAISE is the best word I've ever seen on Countdown.

I'm gutted I missed it. I remember Duncan Bloomfield offering 'LYONAISE' several years ago (having spotted it myself and thinking there's an N missing) and thinking tsk tut how did he slip up so easily there...? I'm great on my sofa!

Fantastic game. Well done Ryan - you got through by the skin of your teeth. Hard lines Lesley, I really did think you were going to win this one. Shame Jeff didn't go to Ryan first on the marinades round.

I'd like to echo the views of one or two others. If you manage to score 100 or more and yet don't win, I think Damian ought to make an exception to his rule and let them have another go in the next series.

Philip Jarvis wrote:Fantastic game. Well done Ryan - you got through by the skin of your teeth. Hard lines Lesley, I really did think you were going to win this one. Shame Jeff didn't go to Ryan first on the marinades round.

I'd like to echo the views of one or two others. If you manage to score 100 or more and yet don't win, I think Damian ought to make an exception to his rule and let them have another go in the next series.

We are prob doing 4 specials for 2010 to cover various bits and pieces, so will definitely get in touch with Lesley with a view to inviting her take part in one of these, but the old argument about coming back on in the series proper is done and dusted as far as i am concerned.

If you scored 100 or more and lose then it's an indication of a great game with fruitful selections, but i don't particularly consider it any more unlucky than someone losing their first game with 93pts or 89 or whatever.

With regard to the other comments about Jackie and the quarter-finals......you don't actually qualify for the QF's until you've either retired as an Octochamp or have been defeated in the heats, so Jackie couldn't have taken part in the last series QF's.

If we get 9 Octochamps, the best 8 qualify and the person who is 9th misses out. We can't start the next series with only 7 QF's places available, it's not really fair IMO. Sure, it might seem unfortunate to the person who is 9th seed and unbeaten, but it depends how you look at it.

Imagine this had happened last series and we only had 7 QF places available at the start, there would be a possibility of 9 Octochamps in the series, so 2 would miss out this time around, then we're supposed to start series 62 with just 6 places in the QF's?

Doesn't work.

Agree with all that Damian ^

Very close to what I was gonna post myself (although obviously lacking the same gravitas)