Hello Countdowners and welcome to another recap........wait this no ordinary recap.....THIS IS THE SERIES 86 GRAND FINAL !! As this is the last recap of 2022 I would like to wish my fellow Countdowners a Merry Christmas and a Happy New year
After 6 months and 8 different presenters and 135 contestants who have graced the Countdown studios.......8 finalists battling it out for Countdown supremacy........we are down to the last two..............which one of these wonderful legends will lift the Richard Whiteley Memorial trophy ??? Will Edward sprinkle a bit of Irish luck or Bulldoze Tom's hopes and dreams of becoming the series 86 champion ???
So....Who Will it be ???
Tom "The Burford Bulldozer " Stevenson
Edward "The Dancing Dubliner " Byrne
A few notable highlights from series 86 include
Susie Dent celebrating 30 years in dictionary corner
16 contestants came on for another go this includes our grand finalist Edward Byrne
6 octo-champs were produced one of those was Tom Stevenson a 1000 club member the other was Edward Byrne a 900 club member they are our Series 86 grand finalists
Eventual series 86 champion Tom Stevenson achieving a max game in his prelims and the highest score over 15 rounds an amazing 154 points
8 contestants recorded scores under 30 points in the new 15R era
Countdown celebrated it's 40th anniversary on 2nd November the original hosts they were the late Richard Whiteley and Carol Vorderman were the first faces on the new TV station Channel 4
A huge thank you to all of the contesants that have participated in series 86
C1: Champion Tom"The Burford Bulldozer " Stevenson (10 wins, 1250 points.)
C2: Champion Edward" The Dancing Dubliner " Byrne (10 wins, 1181 points.)
DC: Susie Dent and Neil Delamere .
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.
R01: O E O R L W P N R
R02: T L R E U A W B K
R03: 50, 75, 25, 100, 8, 7, . Target: 291.
TTT: MANCDOOM - "In the army without any underwear."
R04: V N S I O E D M F
R05: L O T D E I R A N
R06: 100, 75, 50, 25, 8, 9. Target: 282.
R07: E F C S A Q N E B
R08: S N T I A E S T M
R09: 9, 3, 8, 6, 7, 10. Target: 538.
TTT: ASKWEEDY - "A bunch of fives for most of those who work."
R10: T L S U E I N Y M
R11: R A H D O G I P E
R12: S T R A I O T G T
R13: M R G A J I A R E
R14: 50, 100, 75, 25, 4, 5, . Target: 981.
R15: U N I M O S A I C (conundrum)
And now a brief interlude before our main feature:
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Round 1: O E O R L W P N R
Tom: PROWLER (7)
Edward: PROWLER (7)
DC: PROWLER (7) preworn
Score: 7–7 (max 7)
7s all round......what else did you expect from these guys !!
Round 2: T L R E U A W B K
Tom: baulker
Edward: baulker
DC: BULWARK (7)
OT: BELUKAR (7) WAULKER (7)
Score: 7–7 (max 14)
Now this is something you rarely see....Tom having a word disallowed by Susie.......Edward has his disallowed too.....so they draw a blank in this round !
Round 3: 50, 75, 25, 100, 8, 7. Target: 291.
Tom: 291. (100 + 8) × 50 ÷ 25 + 75 (10)
Edward: 291. (50 − 8) × 7 − 75 ÷ 25 (10)
RR: 291. (100 × 75 − 8 × 50) ÷ 25 + 7 (10)
Score: 17–17 (max 24)
Nice and easy for our finalists...............but Rachel uses the more complex method to solve this numbers game
Teatime teaser: MANCDOOM -> COMMANDO
Round 4: V N S I O E D M F
Tom: MOVIES (6)
Edward: DEMONS (6)
OT: MISDONE (7)
Score: 23–23 (max 31)
Tom is going to the movies.......Edward is looking rather Demonic...as his 6 is Demons
A little bit of Italian Horror.......who doesn't like that ????
What a perfect way of paying tribute to my favourite actor Harrison Ford...and one the best movies I have seen ......Witness
Round 5: L O T D E I R A N
Tom: RODENTIAL (18)
Edward: IDOLATER (8)
Score: 41–23 (max 49)
GAME CHANGER !!!! The first lead could be the most crucial here, as Tom spots the 9 Rodential........this was one I spotted as well !!
Round 6: 100, 75, 50, 25, 8, 9. Target: 282.
Tom: 282. 8 × 25 + 75 + 9 − 100 ÷ 50 (10)
Edward: 282. (75 + 8) × 100 ÷ 25 − 50 (10)
RR: 282. (100 × 75 − 9 × 50) ÷ 25 (10)
Score: 51–33 (max 59)
Another easy one....do you honestly think that these guys wouldn't solve this numbers game ????? Again MS Riley using the complex method !
Round 7: E F C S A Q N E B
Tom: ABSENCE (7)
Edward: befaces
Score: 58–33 (max 66)
A good 7 from Tom.......it is unfortunate for Edward who has had his 7 disallowed by Susie
Round 8: S N T I A E S T M
Tom: INSTATES (8)
Edward: INSTATES (8)
DC: INSTATES (8)
OT: ANTSIEST (8) MANTISES (8) MATINESS (8) MISSTATE (8) NASTIEST (8) TITANESS (8)
Score: 66–41 (max 74)
8s all round shall we move on !!!!
Round 9: 9, 3, 8, 6, 7, 10. Target: 538.
Tom: 538. 9 × 6 × 10 − 3 + 8 − 7 (10)
Edward: 538. 9 × 6 × 10 − 8 ÷ (7 − 3) (10)
Score: 76–51 (max 84)
Another easy one...Our grand finalists have no trouble solving this bad boy !
Teatime teaser: ASKWEEDY -> WEEKDAYS
Round 10: T L S U E I N Y M
Tom: UNTIMELY (8)
Edward: MINUTES (7)
DC: MINUTELY (8)
Score: 84–51 (max 92)
A good 8 from Tom.....that sees his lead extend even further !
Round 11: R A H D O G I P E
Tom: PODGIER (7)
Edward: IDEOGRAPH (18)
Score: 84–69 (max 110)
OOOOOOHHHHHH..........I didn't see this coming.......Tom being beaten on a letters round.........Stranger things have happened.......Now that Edward has got the 9 letter word and reduced the arrears to 15 points ........COULD THE COMEBACK BE ON !!!!!!!
Round 12: S T R A I O T G T
Tom: AGISTOR (7)
Edward: ORGIAST (7)
OT: ATTRITS (7) ORATIST (7) RITTAGS (7)
Score: 91–76 (max 117)
7s all round from our finalists......REALLY Edward !!
Round 13: M R G A J I A R E
Tom: MARRIAGE (8)
Edward: MARRIAGE (8)
DC: ARMIGER (7)
Score: 99–84 (max 125)
8s all round from our finalists......Edward needs maximum points in the next round.....to force a crucial conundrum !
Round 14: 50, 100, 75, 25, 4, 5. Target: 981.
Tom: 980. (100 + 75 + 25 − 4) × 5 (7)
Edward: 980. (50 − (75 + 25) ÷ 100) × 5 × 4 (7)
RR: 981. (100 × 50 − 75) ÷ 5 − 4 (10)
Score: 106–91 (max 135)
Both of our finalists can get 1 away.......this now means that Tom Stevenson is the series 86 Champion.......but for Edward it is game over !
Round 15: U N I M O S A I C
C2 buzzes on 29 seconds to say ANICOSIUM which is incorrect.
C1 buzzes on 29.75 seconds to say MINACIOUS which is correct.
Final Score: 116–91 (max 145)
What a thrilling final this has been a contest that could of gone either way, first of all Congratulations to Tom Stevenson on becoming its 86th Champion and the latest recipient of the Richard Whiteley Memorial Trophy and keeping his perfect conundrum record. Secondly take nothing away from Edward Byrne who is the 86th runner up he can hold his head high and can be proud of what he has achieved, he will be pleased with his tablet and his piece of Kryptonite. Hopefully we will see these legends compete in the next Champion of Champions which will be coming to our screens in the new year, I will be taking a well earned break until 2/1/2023 where I will be recapping most of those of games. It has been an entertaining series hopefully the next series will be just as good, Merry Christmas and a Happy New year to my fellow Countdowners in the meantime it is bye for now !
