C1: Champion Claudia Tyson (3 wins, 250 points.)
C2: Challenger Bill Langton.
DC: Susie Dent and Dave Spikey.
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.
Yes, it’s that time of the week again already, and this week’s Friday recap features three-time champion Claudia Tyson, the first contestant from Ampthill in Bedfordshire since, er, the last contestant from Ampthill in Bedfordshire, and challenger Bill Langton from Ilkeston in the rather lovely county of Derbyshire. Let battle commence!
R01: R T H C U E A T E
R02: U V W O C R A M E
R03: J H A E A U D S O
R04: E T W O S N U M I
R05: 50, 75, 10, 8, 6, 1. Target: 494.
TTT: PRIMFACE - "Gather round please, it's very warm."
R06: E V Y I F B U G L
R07: R N M E A I N E L
R08: I T K O G T I P A
R09: S Q T R E O E P D
R10: 50, 75, 6, 2, 10, 7. Target: 680.
TTT: CABWHEEL - "Don't get stuck, just get your teeth into this."
R11: X B T L I E O A C
R12: E N S I R L A P N
R13: S P D I E A N R U
R14: 2, 8, 8, 10, 4, 10. Target: 769.
R15: T O I N D U L G E (conundrum)
Countdown is sponsored by pixies.
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The show starts with a couple of groaners from Jeff, before we start the main proceedings of the day.
Round 1: R T H C U E A T E
C1: CHEATER (7)
C2: CHEATER (7)
DC: THEATRE (7) TEACHER (7) RATCHET (7)
OT: CATHETER (8)
Score: 7–7 (max 8)
Good sevens from both players, but no one (not even DC, apparently) spot the darrenic eight.
Round 2: U V W O C R A M E
C1: CAMEO (5)
C2: CREAM (5)
DC: VROUW (5)
OT: MORCEAU (7)
Score: 12–12 (max 15)
Not surprisingly, everyone’s stuck on fives, but there was MAUVER for six as well as MORCEAU, which in English is a short musical or literary composition. As Susie pointed out, VROU(W) (pronounced ‘vroh’) is a South African word for a woman or wife.
Round 3: J H A E A U D S O
C1: JOSHED (6)
C2: HOUSED (6)
DC: JEHADS (6)
Score: 18–18 (max 21)
Yep, those were the only three sixes available; nice alternate spelling of JIHADS too.
Round 4: E T W O S N U M I
C1: mounties
C2: MINUTES (7)
DC: MINUETS (7)
OT: MOISTEN (7) TIMEOUS (7) TOWNIES (7) WINSOME (7)
Score: 18–25 (max 28)
The deadlock is finally broken, as our champ falls for the good old capitalized Mounties trap. But can Bill make his lead stick? TIMEOUS is a Scottish word meaning timely.
Round 5: 50, 75, 10, 8, 6, 1. Target: 494.
C1: 494. (50x10)-6 (10)
C2: 494. (50x10)-6 (10)
Score: 28–35 (max 38)
Teatime teaser: PRIMFACE -> CAMPFIRE
Round 6: E V Y I F B U G L
C1: UGLIFY (6)
C2: BUGLE (5)
DC: BUGLE (5) UGLIFY (6)
Score: 34–35 (max 44)
A smart risk from Claudia reduces the deficit to the slimmest possible size.
Round 7: R N M E A I N E L
C1: linnear
C2: mannier
DC: MANLIER (7) MINERAL (7) MARLINE (7)
OT: EMAILER (7) MEALIER (7) LINEMAN (7) MELANIN (7) LINEMEN (7) RAILMEN (7)
Score: 34–35 (max 51)
Despite all the sevens available, a double blob leaves our contestants as they were.
Round 8: I T K O G T I P A
C1: PATIO (5)
C2: OKAPI (5)
OT: KATIPO (6)
Score: 39–40 (max 57)
A KATIPO is a highly venomous New Zealand spider; a bit like the American Black Widow, but it likes to listen to Crowded House.
Round 9: S Q T R E O E P D
C1: REPOSTED (8)
C2: DEPORTS (7)
OT: DOPESTER (8)
Score: 47–40 (max 65)
A great gamble from Claudia returns her to the lead.
OoW: Susie discusses the origins of the word TOMATO, before mentioning the fact that AVOCADO is derived from a Native American word meaning ‘testicle’, a fact which makes Rachel laugh heartily. Warming to her theme, Susie also relates that ORCHID has similar origins.
Round 10: 50, 75, 6, 2, 10, 7. Target: 680.
C1: 681.
C2: 680. (75-7)x10 (10)
Score: 47–50 (max 75)
Bill fancies his chances with ‘two big’ and it pays dividends as he gets the target spot-on, while Claudia is one away.
Teatime teaser: CABWHEEL -> CHEWABLE
Round 11: X B T L I E O A C
C1: EXOTIC (6)
C2: oxalic
DC: EXOTICA (7)
OT: CITABLE (7) ICEBOAT (7)
Score: 53–50 (max 82)
Bill falls foul of the ‘only allowed in combination’ rule, as OXALIC is only listed as part of OXALIC ACID.
Round 12: E N S I R L A P N
C1: PRALINES (8)
C2: SPANIEL (7)
DC: PLANNERS (8)
OT: PANNIERS (8)
Score: 61–50 (max 90)
Claudia fights back further with a Countdown favourite. Tasty.
Round 13: S P D I E A N R U
C1: SPRAINED (8)
C2: SPRAINED (8)
DC: UPRAISED (8)
OT: DENARIUS (8) UNPAIRED (8)
Score: 69–58 (max 98)
Remember: if you think you’ve seen UNPRAISED, it’s not in, but you’ve a choice of four eights to pick from instead. And there they were.
Round 14: 2, 8, 8, 10, 4, 10. Target: 769.
C1: 760.
C2: 768. (8x10x10)-(4x8) (7)
Score: 69–65 (max 105)
Once again, Bill’s unconventional selection reaps rewards and he’s forced another Friday crucial conundrum. Lights down, please...
Round 15: T O I N D U L G E
No one buzzes. The answer was LONGITUDE.
Score: 69–65 (max 115)
That was tough, so tough in fact that no one in the audience gets it either, and Claudia’s four-point lead is therefore enough to see her carry her bat into next week as the incumbent. Join someone other than Kai (
) for Monday’s recap, which will feature Ken Bruce in Dictionary Corner for the first time since June 2008. I’ve been Kid Mole, thanks for reading.Further summaries are at:
http://www.apterous.org/cdb/series.php?series=62
