c4countdown

Well at last, the moment that we've all arrived for has been waiting. Well, not for some of you who were in the audience as you've already seen what has happened, but anyway on with the real business of the day, I really can't wait for this.

It's the first quarter-final today and we can expect to see number 1 seed play against number 8 seed, although because i wasn't there, this isn't definitely the case as i once read somewhere many years ago that they showed the second quarter-final first (if that makes sense), because the number 1 seed was delayed in traffic with a faulty coil and they were NOT, i repeat NOT, a member of the AA, not to say they were alcholics of course because as we all know, drinking and driving is dangerous.

Dr Phil is still the guest in the corner, which is a good as he might have to be called in action on the medical front if the games are that close that some people start to pass out. This in itself isn't too much of a problem as the studios are very close to the hospital, although sometimes the traffic can be really bad from 4pm onwards, but i think this show was filmed at 11am anyway, so it hope they'll be alright (not that i want anyone to get ill).

Oh and yeah, it's a Thursday, but if my calculations are correct, the actual recording took place on a Tuesday, which also starts with the letter 'T'. Thanks for that Charlie.

D Eadie wrote:Well at last, the moment that we've all arrived for has been waiting. Well, not for some of you who were in the audience as you've already seen what has happened, but anyway on with the real business of the day, I really can't wait for this.

It's the first quarter-final today and we can expect to see number 1 seed play against number 8 seed, although because i wasn't there, this isn't definitely the case as i once read somewhere many years ago that they showed the second quarter-final first (if that makes sense), because the number 1 seed was delayed in traffic with a faulty coil and they were NOT, i repeat NOT, a member of the AA, not to say they were alcholics of course because as we all know, drinking and driving is dangerous.

Dr Phil is still the guest in the corner, which is a good as he might have to be called in action on the medical front if the games are that close that some people start to pass out. This in itself isn't too much of a problem as the studios are very close to the hospital, although sometimes the traffic can be really bad.

You forgot to mention that it's Thursday.

First quarter (and second) recorded on the afternoon of Tuesday Nov 17th - as was yesterday's last one of the prelims.

I hadn't realised that the AA can be called out to deal with contraception problems.

Howard Somerset wrote:I hadn't realised that the AA can be called out to deal with contraception problems.

And is the coil actually faulty if it's delaying the number one seed anyway?

Jim Treloar wrote:First quarter (and second) recorded on the afternoon of Tuesday Nov 17th - as was yesterday's last one of the prelims.

Ahh, thanks for that. I knew it must have been a Tuesday.

Jon Corby wrote:

Howard Somerset wrote:I hadn't realised that the AA can be called out to deal with contraception problems.

And is the coil actually faulty if it's delaying the number one seed anyway?

Nice one (Lyon nil etc.)

D Eadie wrote:Dr Phil is still the guest in the corner, which is a good as he might have to be called in action on the medical front if the games are that close that some people start to pass out.

I was there to see the epic QF between O'Donnell and Briers and my resting heart rate jumped from 67 to a whopping 73. It dropped back down to 66 immediately after the game finished.

Who are Huddersfield playing?

Niall Seymour wrote:Who are Huddersfield playing?

Home to Gillingham on Saturday.

Oi, James, where's the recap for yesterday?

Since I'm here now, maybe I should go a bit more in depth with our contestants, so we can have a reasonable idea of what we might be expecting today.

Firstly, Number 1 Seed Andrew Hulme - 8 Wins, 930 Points (All-Time Countdown Record)
Highest Score: 133 vs. Micheal Harris (1st Game)
Lowest Score: 101 vs. Jonathan Good (5th Game)
9's Achieved: 7
Conundrum Success: 7/8

Andrew has stormed his way to the quarters in relative ease, it has to be said, with only Micheal Harris on his first show really giving him a close game. I should think he'll definitely be under real pressure in these finals.

Secondly, Number 8 Seed Jacqueline "Jackie" Baker - 5 Wins, 510 Points
Highest Score: 112 vs. Kate Black (5th Game)
Lowest Score: 67 vs. Nilesh Patel (6th Game)
9's Achieved: 1
Conundrum Success: 5/6

Jackie's run spans not only 2 series, but 2 cities. She won the last 4 prelims in Leeds, before winning the first show in the new permanent base at Manchester, before losing to Nilesh Patel in the following show. Most of her scores have been pretty ordinary and even that 112 she got is fairly ordinary, when you consider that the max in that game was 152.

Interesting Facts Of The Day:
This is the only quarter-final in which both contestants have already lost a game of Countdown. Although, in fairness, Andrew lost his nearly 10 years ago.

This is also the only quarter-final in which both contestants have played in both Leeds & Manchester.

James' Prediction: I personally think this will be no contest. Andrew to win by at least 30 points. Of course, if Jackie does lose today then that means we won't have had a female Countdown series winner for a whole decade

Marc Meakin wrote:Oi, James, where's the recap for yesterday?

With Apterous offline, that means that the recap writer was down too. So, I tried the best I could and got a reasonable amount done, but rather than give you lot a pathetic, half-baked recap, I'll give a nice juicy double tonight.

James Robinson wrote: Interesting Facts Of The Day:
This is the only quarter-final in which both contestants have already lost a game of Countdown.

Hmmm in my quarter-final, both contestants had already lost a game...me in 2004 and Julie Russell in her heats. Unless, of course, you meant this is the only quarter-final in series 61 where this holds true and, if so, that's not really an interesting fact.

James Robinson wrote:

Marc Meakin wrote:Oi, James, where's the recap for yesterday?

With Apterous offline, that means that the recap writer was down too. So, I tried the best I could and got a reasonable amount done, but rather than give you lot a pathetic, half-baked recap, I'll give a nice juicy double tonight.

I didn't realise that.

Kirk Bevins wrote:

James Robinson wrote: Interesting Facts Of The Day:
This is the only quarter-final in which both contestants have already lost a game of Countdown.

Hmmm in my quarter-final, both contestants had already lost a game...me in 2004 and Julie Russell in her heats. Unless, of course, you meant this is the only quarter-final in series 61 where this holds true and, if so, that's not really an interesting fact.

Yes, I was referring to this series, although yours wasn't the first either (Not that you claimed it was the first), because in Series 49, when I was first on there were only 3 octochamps, so the 4th quarter-final was between 2 people who had lost.

James Robinson wrote:

Marc Meakin wrote:Oi, James, where's the recap for yesterday?

I'll give a nice juicy double tonight.

Ooh Err Missus (copyright Frankie Howard circa 1975}

An hour to go and this is already painful.

(the thread, I mean, not the wait)

With his love of factoids, I think it would more likely be Radio 2's Steve Wright who is headhunting James than the Daily Mail . . .

Derek Hazell wrote:With his love of factoids, I think it would more likely be Radio 2's Steve Wright who is headhunting James than the Daily Mail . . .

FYI a factoid is a dubious fact, rather than a small one.

Charlie Reams wrote:

Derek Hazell wrote:With his love of factoids, I think it would more likely be Radio 2's Steve Wright who is headhunting James than the Daily Mail . . .

FYI a factoid is a dubious fact, rather than a small one.

I know, but that prat Steve Wright uses it to mean small facts, as apparently do CNN.
But maybe some of James's and Steve's facts are dubious too?

Actually, thinking back Steve Wright goes to America a lot and uses a lot of Americanisms in his speech, so maybe he picked up his dubious definition there. In relation to another current topic, he always misses the "and" out of year names, so says "two-thousand-nine".

DILDOES
It is a shame COEDITORS is hyphenated.

Charlie Reams wrote: FYI a factoid is a dubious fact, rather than a small one.

But in North America it means "a brief or trivial item of news or information".

Kirk Bevins wrote:

Charlie Reams wrote: FYI a factoid is a dubious fact, rather than a small one.

But in North America it means "a brief or trivial item of news or information".

Coincidentally coeditor is allowed in America

James Robinson wrote:Since I'm here now, maybe I should go a bit more in depth with our contestants, so we can have a reasonable idea of what we might be expecting today.

Oh for crying out loud, give it a bloody rest man.
Just stop.
All of it.
It's gone to far.
It's over.
No more.
Done.
Ended.
Enough.
Please.

Evil conundrum Damo.

Marc Meakin wrote:Evil conundrum Damo.

Never mind, they get easier as we progress towards the final.

D Eadie wrote:

James Robinson wrote:Since I'm here now, maybe I should go a bit more in depth with our contestants, so we can have a reasonable idea of what we might be expecting today.

Oh for crying out loud, give it a bloody rest man.
Just stop.
All of it.
It's gone to far.
It's over.
No more.
Done.
Ended.
Enough.
Please.

Pretty please?

Okay - "Most of her scores have been pretty ordinary and even that 112 she got is fairly ordinary, when you consider that the max in that game was 152."

Tasteless, insulting. Have you no self-restraint at all?

Marc Meakin wrote:Evil conundrum Damo.

Yeah it was. Only me and Innis had our hands up in the audience and we were told we couldn't be on TV. Oh well.

Kirk Bevins wrote:

Marc Meakin wrote:Evil conundrum Damo.

Yeah it was. Only me and Innis had our hands up in the audience and we were told we couldn't be on TV. Oh well.

We'd not got time for all the make-up Kirk.

James Robinson wrote:Since I'm here now, maybe I should go a bit more in depth with our contestants, so we can have a reasonable idea of what we might be expecting today.

It's a good job you showed up James, I was expecting a small family of field mice to be competing today and I would've gone into an irreversible state of shock once the show started were it not for your kind post.

D Eadie wrote:

Kirk Bevins wrote:

Marc Meakin wrote:Evil conundrum Damo.

Yeah it was. Only me and Innis had our hands up in the audience and we were told we couldn't be on TV. Oh well.

We'd not got time for all the make-up Kirk.

Owned.

James Robinson wrote:Since I'm here now,

Do you ever leave?

Kirk Bevins wrote:Only me and Innis had our hands up in the audience and we were told we couldn't be on TV. Oh well.

Monday's match should be interesting, then.

D Eadie wrote:

D Eadie wrote:

James Robinson wrote:Since I'm here now, maybe I should go a bit more in depth with our contestants, so we can have a reasonable idea of what we might be expecting today.

Oh for crying out loud, give it a bloody rest man.
Just stop.
All of it.
It's gone to far.
It's over.
No more.
Done.
Ended.
Enough.
Please.

Pretty please?

Okay - "Most of her scores have been pretty ordinary and even that 112 she got is fairly ordinary, when you consider that the max in that game was 152."

Tasteless, insulting. Have you no self-restraint at all?

I think a whole lot worse could have been said. I could've said, she shouldn't bother to turn up. That would be insulting on a super high scale. I might sound nasty at times, but compared to what I say to other people, I would say that was pretty mild.

EDIT: Just double-checked, but did anyone else also notice that Jackie's nametag said JAQUELINE, rather than JACQUELINE.

James Robinson wrote:I might sound nasty at times, but compared to what I say to other people, I would say that was pretty mild.

Do you take pride in being such a disagreeable person?

Ben Hunter wrote:

James Robinson wrote:I might sound nasty at times, but compared to what I say to other people, I would say that was pretty mild.

Do you take pride in being such a disagreeable person?

Not pride, no.

James Robinson wrote: I think a whole lot worse could have been said. I could've said, she shouldn't bother to turn up. That would be insulting on a super high scale. I might sound nasty at times, but compared to what I say to other people, I would say that was pretty mild.

Yes and you could have said nothing, therefore allowing people to enjoy their moment on the show, people who got a lot further than you ever did, without them having to suffer your pathetic ramblings about how good they were, how average they were, how poor they were, or whatever. Take the blinkers off James, just for one minute, and look at the bigger picture. You're making a complete arse of yourself on an almost daily basis, but today you took arse to a new level. Why should Jackie not bother to turn up? Do you think winning means everything to everyone? I don't think you sound nasty James, just highly inappropriate and occasionally utterly stupid.

James Robinson wrote:EDIT: Just double-checked, but did anyone else also notice that Jackie's nametag said JAQUELINE, rather than JACQUELINE.

No, just you, because you are superior to everybody.

D Eadie wrote:

James Robinson wrote:EDIT: Just double-checked, but did anyone else also notice that Jackie's nametag said JAQUELINE, rather than JACQUELINE.

No, just you, because you are superior to everybody.

I noticed that too (the missing "C", that is). I checked one of her episodes on Countdowngoofs and the "C" was present.

D Eadie wrote:[You're making a complete arse of yourself on an almost daily basis, but today you took arse to a new level.

Yeah, that. I'm a newbie and even I've picked up on that one!

Who stopped who from putting LIKMARING on telly now?

JackHurst wrote:Who stopped who from putting LIKMARING on telly now?

That would've been ace

James Robinson wrote:

Ben Hunter wrote:

James Robinson wrote:I might sound nasty at times, but compared to what I say to other people, I would say that was pretty mild.

Do you take pride in being such a disagreeable person?

Not pride, no.

Just sexual arousal then.

I guess Dr Phil wasn't allowed to use his DILDOES in R2.

I've just remembered...they didn't use nicknames this series like "Dumfries Darkhorse" and so on did they?

Kirk Bevins wrote:

Marc Meakin wrote:Evil conundrum Damo.

Yeah it was. Only me and Innis had our hands up in the audience and we were told we couldn't be on TV. Oh well.

They're trying to save you money Kirk. If you're on TV much more you'll have to join Equity

Kirk Bevins wrote:

Marc Meakin wrote:Evil conundrum Damo.

Yeah it was. Only me and Innis had our hands up in the audience and we were told we couldn't be on TV. Oh well.

Won't you at least get the chance to hand the trophy over to the new champion.

Marc Meakin wrote: Won't you at least get the chance to hand the trophy over to the new champion.

That would have been ace!

Kirk Bevins wrote:

Marc Meakin wrote: Won't you at least get the chance to hand the trophy over to the new champion.

That would have been ace!

Given that Sir Bevins dropped the damned thing in the middle of the road shortly after winning it, i'm not sure it would have been a good idea at all.

D Eadie wrote:
Given that Sir Bevins dropped the damned thing in the middle of the road shortly after winning it, i'm not sure it would have been a good idea at all.

Did I? It was in its box still wasn't it? I hope that's a joke as I don't remember this...

Kirk Bevins wrote:

D Eadie wrote:
Given that Sir Bevins dropped the damned thing in the middle of the road shortly after winning it, i'm not sure it would have been a good idea at all.

Did I? It was in its box still wasn't it? I hope that's a joke as I don't remember this...

Was you pissed at the time?

Marc Meakin wrote: Was you pissed at the time?

Since I'd just won a series, I may well have been but I remember the events after the final. It definitely wasn't a drop from a high height or anything that would damage it....but I honestly have no recollection.

Kirk Bevins wrote:

D Eadie wrote:
Given that Sir Bevins dropped the damned thing in the middle of the road shortly after winning it, i'm not sure it would have been a good idea at all.

Did I? It was in its box still wasn't it? I hope that's a joke as I don't remember this...

Crossing the road after leaving the Thai restaurant. The lid rolled off down the street IIRC.
There were several witnesses and the lid still bears the scars. I'm not surprised you don't remember, you were probably bladdered.

Edit - i was, and i still remembered. Oh, and the bit where you asked me to recite all the 9-letter words that you had during your run, but in a French womans voice. "Reedlings......" etc, all very bizarre.

D Eadie wrote: Edit - i was, and i still remembered. Oh, and the bit where you asked me to recite all the 9-letter words that you had during your run, but in a French womans voice. "Reedlings......" etc, all very bizarre.

I thought it was in a Spanish woman's voice. You're clearly mistaken.

Kirk Bevins wrote:

D Eadie wrote: Edit - i was, and i still remembered. Oh, and the bit where you asked me to recite all the 9-letter words that you had during your run, but in a French womans voice. "Reedlings......" etc, all very bizarre.

I thought it was in a Spanish woman's voice. You're clearly mistaken.

Either way, you still dropped the trophy. Admit it.

D Eadie wrote: Either way, you still dropped the trophy. Admit it.

Hmmm I'll admit that the lid may have come off cus it's a bit of a poorly secured lid. I'll blame the tools. It definitely wasn't me though.

Oh and there were rumours that another champion may have had several problems with the lid?

After we left the restaurant Kirk seemed really drunk and kept saying how he 'despised the whole institution of Countdown' and kept trying to throw the trophy into the street. We tried to pull the trophy away from him but in the end it came apart at the lid, at which point Kirk just fell to the floor and started sobbing, so we put the trophy down next to him and left.

D Eadie wrote:

D Eadie wrote:

James Robinson wrote:Since I'm here now, maybe I should go a bit more in depth with our contestants, so we can have a reasonable idea of what we might be expecting today.

Oh for crying out loud, give it a bloody rest man.
Just stop.
All of it.
It's gone to far.
It's over.
No more.
Done.
Ended.
Enough.
Please.

Pretty please?

Okay - "Most of her scores have been pretty ordinary and even that 112 she got is fairly ordinary, when you consider that the max in that game was 152."

Tasteless, insulting. Have you no self-restraint at all?

Seriously, I think people are completely overreacting to James Robinson's posts. As is so often the case, the reaction is far worse than the "crime" itself, so any "moral highground" is lost immediately. I don't like to bring it up too often (though it must not be forgotten!), but this sort of overreaction was rife back on a Yahoo Group a few years ago.

James Robinson wrote:Interesting Facts Of The Day:
This is the only quarter-final in which both contestants have already lost a game of Countdown.

Isn't it the only quarter final in which either have lost a game, as well as both? No wonder it was such a poor game.

Actually, is there any discussion of the game in this thread? Andrew didn't seem on top form (with 86 I think after getting eight centuries and the record of 930). It will interesting to see if that was a one-off and he'll be back to his brilliant best in the semis.