Spoilers for Monday May 27th 2013 (Series 68 Prelim 48)

[Jordan F]

It's a new week here on Countdown, and we start the week with something old coming to an end. Specifically, the reign of Joe McGonigle. He's trying to become octochamp number 4 of the series. Can he pull it off? He probably will remain as number 4 seed regardless, needing 133 to surpass Eileen Taylor. Carrying over from her appearance on Friday, in the corner this week once again is comedienne and the person who could beat Innis Carson on made-up words, Jo Brand. According to the wiki, there's only 4 episodes this week. Why that is, I'm not sure.

I know the recaps are a bit funky this week, but I believe Graeme still has today's recap, so join him later.

[Jordan F]

Slightly simpler 1st numbers: (50+25+1) x 8

Alt. 3rd numbers: (100+9) x 3 + 50 + 1

[Peter Mabey]

Slightly easier (50-6-3+1)x9 =378

[Jordan F]

Well done to Joe for becoming an octochamp, he had a couple of tough games but he got through. One thing I'm curious about is that his 716 seems in particular to be one of the highest scores for having never scored a century, anybody want to check that?

[Jack Worsley]

Very solid run from Joe overall, a worthy octochamp.

TOTEMISM for a beater in round 10.

TENURAL (R1) and SEROTINE (R13) for a couple of alternatives.

[Graeme Cole]

Well done to Joe for becoming an octochamp, he had a couple of tough games but he got through. One thing I'm curious about is that his 716 seems in particular to be one of the highest scores for having never scored a century, anybody want to check that?

Only Nick Wainwright (726) and David von Geyer (724) scored higher.

[szodiac]

clipped... According to the wiki, there's only 4 episodes this week. Why that is, I'm not sure.

Not too difficult to guess... it Horses again - Epsom and The Derby. Thank God Cricket is on ITV4 and not C4 like it used to.

Mauro

[Jack Worsley]

One more question for Graeme; is Joe the first octochamp in the show's history to start and finish his run on the same day of the week?

[Graeme Cole]

One more question for Graeme; is Joe the first octochamp in the show's history to start and finish his run on the same day of the week?

No - these players all did the same, including Sharon Bridge, who started on a Monday in March 1994 and finished on a Monday the following July.

http://wiki.apterous.org/Sharon_Bridge
http://wiki.apterous.org/Brenda_Jolley
http://wiki.apterous.org/Mike_Pullin
http://wiki.apterous.org/Danny_Hamilton
http://wiki.apterous.org/Martin_Gardner

[Jack Worsley]

One more question for Graeme; is Joe the first octochamp in the show's history to start and finish his run on the same day of the week?

No - these players all did the same, including Sharon Bridge, who started on a Monday in March 1994 and finished on a Monday the following July.

http://wiki.apterous.org/Sharon_Bridge
http://wiki.apterous.org/Brenda_Jolley
http://wiki.apterous.org/Mike_Pullin
http://wiki.apterous.org/Danny_Hamilton
http://wiki.apterous.org/Martin_Gardner

Wow, that surprises me. Thanks for that!

[Zarte Siempre]

Very solid run from Joe overall, a worthy octochamp.

TOTEMISM for a beater in round 10.

TENURAL (R1) and SEROTINE (R13) for a couple of alternatives.

You just broke my heart Jack - thought I had my first ever against-the-TV max game

[Andy Platt]

Well that Rachael was a barrel of laughs

[Philip Wilson]

Alt. 3rd numbers: (100+9) x 3 + 50 + 1

I thought this is what Rachel was going to do when she made a mistake by using the 3 twice. She might have just forgot to 'say' add the 100 + 9 together first and didn't like to correct herself. Or perhaps not!

[James Robinson]

Nice to be back, and since no-one seems to have mentioned it yet, I'll point out that the W in round 7 seems to be an upside down M yet again................