Friday 11 November 2011 (Series 65, Prelim 95)

Mike Brown · Post by **Mike Brown** » Sat Nov 12, 2011 8:47 pm

Countdown recap for Friday 11 November 2011 (Series 65, Prelim 95).

C1: Champion Paul Keane (1 win, 90 points.)
C2: Challenger Siobhan O'Shea.
DC: Susie Dent and Ken Bruce.
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.

Remarkably it’s that time of the week again already, so let’s see what happened on Friday’s edition of Countdown. Having defeated Clive Barham on Wednesday, Julie Davis didn’t manage to get beyond one win, as she came up against Paul Keane from North Finchley, who looked like he might mean business, despite some disappointing stuff on the numbers rounds. In this game, he faces a challenge from Siobhan O’Shea, who, despite what her name might suggest, resides in Sutton Coldfield in the West Midlands. Siobhan is a big football fan (she supports Liverpool and, after some persuasion, Brentford) and she was apparently the first person ever to go on work experience with the F.A. She also has a sixteen-month-old son called Alfie who likes to watch Countdown and we see a photograph of him pondering a numbers game. Ahhhh. Well, that’s enough banter for now – let’s get on with it...

R01: T H M E O I G T F
R02: S C W R E O E N L
R03: N L R O O I I V D
R04: N S N K A I A P O
R05: 25, 50, 6, 9, 8, 3. Target: 581.
TTT: TANGOSIR - ""Tango, sir? I can play whatever you like," he said."
R06: H S R L U I O Y I
R07: N R C G U O E T I
R08: Z T V R E A I J C
R09: R D T O A E P G S
R10: 50, 2, 10, 4, 9, 8. Target: 106.
TTT: SICKTALC - "They sound religious, but they're actually a bit wet."
R11: R S D T E A E M O
R12: X L D M E U I N T
R13: D S L A E A B R D
R14: 50, 10, 5, 4, 9, 8. Target: 409.
R15: E E U R S I L L Y (conundrum)

Countdown is sponsored by Vitabiotics Cardioace.

SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER

It is, of course, Armistice Day (did you wear your poppy with pride?) and we learn that Rachel is very popular with the navy chaps on the HMS Bulwark, who asked for a signed photo of their very own ‘forces’ sweetheart’, a request to which she duly responded. She is, however, still waiting for the photo of the all the lads in their uniforms she requested in return. Not a fair deal, gents – sort it out!

Round 1: T H M E O I G T F

C1: MIGHT (5)
C2: FIGHT (5)
DC: HOTTIE (6)
OT: GHETTO (6)
Score: 5–5 (max 6)

All the screenshot fans get very excited about Rachel standing beside the word HOTTIE. Jon Corby, are you there?

Round 2: S C W R E O E N L

C1: SLOWER (6)
C2: LOWERS (6)
DC: ENCLOSE (7)
OT: CLONERS (7) CORNELS (7) CRENELS (7) CREOLES (7) CREWELS (7) ENCORES (7) SCOWLER (7)
Score: 11–11 (max 13)

Several sevens there, but rather disappointingly, there’s no eight. A CORNEL is a type of dogwood; a CRENEL (also CRENELLE) is an indentation in the battlements of a fort; and a CREWEL is a type of yarn made from worsted.

Round 3: N L R O O I I V D

C1: VIOLIN (6)
C2: LIVID (5)
DC: INDOOR (6)
OT: VIRINO (6) VIRION (6) VIROID (6)
Score: 17–11 (max 19)

Another disappointing selection, but Paul manages to fiddle his way to a six. A VIRINO is a hypothetical infectious particle; a VIRION is a particular form of a virus; and a VIROID is an infectious entity affecting plants. (Interestingly, they are three consecutive entries in the dictionary.)

Round 4: N S N K A I A P O

C1: PAINS (5)
C2: PAINS (5)
DC: PANINO (6) OKAPIS (6)
OT: NAPKINS (7) OPANKAS (7) PAISANO (7) SAPONIN (7)
Score: 22–16 (max 26)

More PAINS for the contestants as the selections continue to be a bit tricky. Good to see c4c favourite PANINO and Countdown favourite OKAPI putting in appearances. In Definition Corner, an OPANKA (plural OPANKAS or OPANCI) is a type of Siberian shoe (despite sounding more like some offensive rhyming slang) and a PAISANO (as you might have guessed) is (in U.S. slang) a peasant of Spanish or Italian origin.

Round 5: 25, 50, 6, 9, 8, 3. Target: 581.

C1: 581. ((3+8)x50)+25+6 (10)
C2: -
Score: 32–16 (max 36)

Today, it’s the turn of Paul to get the numbers spot-on, while his opponent scores nada.

Ken Bruce tells us about some amusing signs and some entertaining sick notes. This material might not have been that original, but Ken’s been as affable as ever.

Teatime teaser: TANGOSIR -> ORGANIST

Round 6: H S R L U I O Y I

C1: HOURLY (6)
C2: HOURLY (6)
DC: HOURIS (6)
OT: HORSILY (7)
Score: 38–22 (max 43)

Round 7: N R C G U O E T I

As Paul selects his third vowel, Rachel points out we haven’t had an E for ages (since Round 2, in fact) and then – oh look! – pulls out an E.

C1: COURTING (8)
C2: TOURING (7)
DC: NEUROTIC (8)
OT: GERONTIC (8) ROUTEING (8)
Score: 46–22 (max 51)

Round 8: Z T V R E A I J C

C1: RIVET (5)
C2: REACT (5)
DC: AVERT (5) CRAZE (5) CIVET (5)
OT: ACTIVE (6)
Score: 51–27 (max 57)

Perhaps surprisingly, no one spots ACTIVE. But then I was no better...

Round 9: R D T O A E P G S

C1: ROASTED (7)
C2: PORTAGES (8)
DC: POSTGRAD (8)
OT: ADOPTERS (8) PASTORED (8) PORTAGED (8) POTAGERS (8) READOPTS (8)
Score: 51–35 (max 65)

A great spot from Siobhan allows her to recover some ground.

OoW: With it being Armistice Day and all, Susie continues her tribute to the Oxford Dictionary of Quotations with some words about peace.

Round 10: 50, 2, 10, 4, 9, 8. Target: 106.

C1: 106. (50x2)+10-4 (10)
C2: 106. (50x2)+10-4 (10)
Score: 61–45 (max 75)

Teatime teaser: SICKTALC -> CATLICKS

Round 11: R S D T E A E M O

C1: MASTERED (8)
C2: MASTERED (8)
DC: MODERATES (18)
Score: 69–53 (max 93)

Hurrah, a nine!

Round 12: X L D M E U I N T

C1: MINTED (6)
C2: untimed
DC: UNMIXED (7)
OT: DILUENT (7) MINUTED (7)
Score: 75–53 (max 100)

Motor racing fans will again be disappointed that untimed practice cannot be described as such without incurring the wrath of the Denticle.

Round 13: D S L A E A B R D

C1: LADDERS (7)
C2: LADDERS (7)
DC: BLADDERS (8)
Score: 82–60 (max 108)

I was trying desperately to think of something witty to say about DC mentioning BLADDERS, but nothing appropriate sprang to mind. It’s game over for Siobhan, by the way.

Round 14: 50, 10, 5, 4, 9, 8. Target: 409.

C1: 409. (50x8)+9 (10)
C2: 409. (50x8)+9 (10)
Score: 92–70 (max 118)

Round 15: E E U R S I L L Y

C1 buzzes on 1 second to say LEISURELY which is correct.
Final Score: 102–70 (max 128)

That’s two conundrums in a total of 1.75 seconds – can Paul continue that form in his next game? You’ll have to wait until Monday to find out, when Alistair McGowan returns to Dictionary Corner. See you anon!

Jeff Stelling episodes remaining: 25.

Further summaries are at:
http://www.apterous.org/cdb/series.php?series=65