Thursday 7 February 2002 (Series 47, Prelim 32)

[Ryan Taylor]

Countdown recap for Thursday 7 February 2002.

C1: Challenger Maureen Taylor.
C2: Challenger David Franks.
DC: Richard Samson and Barry Cryer.
CV: Carol Vorderman.
OT: Other words or solutions.

R01: S L A E E T R N O
R02: D P I F A G B I O
R03: M T C U E A S R O
R04: A N K D E V I L U
R05: 100, 7, 3, 10, 5, 8. Target: 398.
TTT: OEDAVID
R06: T H E X O F S I A
R07: R M P E I O G T C
R08: Y L A D N E S I F
R09: R M B E O A Z T E
R10: 25, 8, 9, 7, 3, 6. Target: 122.
TTT: SVENGOR
R11: G L N S O A E I R
R12: P D A C U F D E O
R13: T R M E I A G S L
R14: 25, 6, 5, 4, 2, 2. Target: 674.
R15: D U E T B O U N D (conundrum)


And now a brief interlude before our main feature:

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

Today we are joined by 2 new contestants after Kevin Thurlow became the 3rd octochamp of the series yesterday by beating Tony Painter 100-67.

The 2 new lovelies are Maureen Taylor from the village of Kingston near Canterbury in Kent.

Up against Maureen today is David Franks who lives in Solihull in the West Midlands.

Which of these newbies will make an impact on this already high quality series. There's only one way to find out (and it's not FIIIIIGHT!!)

Enjoy the show.

Round 1: S L A E E T R N O

C1: slatern
C2: RELATES (7)
DC: RESONATE (8)
OT: ENTRESOL (8) OLEASTER (8)
Score: 0–7 (max 8)

A shaky start from Maureen strangely opting for a risky 7 with all those awesome letters to play with!

Round 2: D P I F A G B I O

C1: PAID (4)
C2: PAID (4)
DC: PODIA (5)
OT: IDIGBO (6)
Score: 4–11 (max 14)

IDIGBO, as most bizarre words tend to be, is a genus of tree from the family Combretaceae. It is apparently good for construction timber too and for all you wood fans it has a density of 560kg per cubic metre! Truly fascinating.

Round 3: M T C U E A S R O

C1: SCOUTER (7)
C2: COASTER (7)
DC: CUSTOMER (8)
OT: OUTRACES (8)
Score: 11–18 (max 22)

Both contestants are yet to hit a max but David is looking a more consistent player in the very early stages.

Round 4: A N K D E V I L U

C1: NAVEL (5)
C2: LINKED (6)
OT: KNAIDEL (7) UNALIKE (7) UNIDEAL (7) UNLIVED (7)
Score: 11–24 (max 29)

David again beats Maureen to extend his lead to 13 points but no maxes yet. Will the numbers produce some perfect Countdown?

Round 5: 100, 7, 3, 10, 5, 8. Target: 398.

C1: 386.
C2: 398. (7-3)*100-10+8 (10)
Score: 11–34 (max 39)

And it does. David is spot on leaving Maureen trailing behind after missing a pretty easy numbers game.

Teatime teaser: OEDAVID -> AVOIDED

Round 6: T H E X O F S I A

C1: FAITHS (6)
C2: FOXIEST (7)
DC: FIXATES (7)
Score: 11–41 (max 46)

A good but routine word by David although he wasn't sure about it. (He's clearly never wached Foxy Boxing).

Round 7: R M P E I O G T C

C1: PERMIT (6)
C2: GOITRE (6)
DC: MORTICE (7)
Score: 17–47 (max 53)

Maureen is failing to find beaters against David as another chance to claw back the deficit passes by.

Round 8: Y L A D N E S I F

C1: inlaid
C2: DENIALS (7)
DC: FINALES (7) SANDFLY (7)
OT: LADYFIES (8)
Score: 17–54 (max 61)

And that sums up Maureen's day so far. Nothing is going right for her as she sees a phantom I.

LADYFIES means to make a lady of someone but is probably most famous as Jon Corby's first word in the now infamous GANDISEEG match with Richard Brittain. Although Jon spots the alternative spelling LADIFIES.

Round 9: R M B E O A Z T E

C1: REMOTE (6)
C2: BEATER (6)
DC: BROMATE (7)
Score: 23–60 (max 68)

Nice darren spot from DC as Maureen manages to add 6 points to take her into the 20's.

Round 10: 25, 8, 9, 7, 3, 6. Target: 122.

C1: 123.
C2: 122. (8-3)*25-9+6 (10)
Score: 23–70 (max 78)

Even a low target like 122 proves too difficult for Maureen and David takes all 10 points. This is becoming a bit too one sided now and Maureen will be hoping it ends quickly.

Teatime teaser: SVENGOR -> GOVERNS

Round 11: G L N S O A E I R

C1: SOARING (7)
C2: SEALING (7)
DC: GASOLINE (8) REGIONALS (18)
Score: 30–77 (max 96)

Maureen restores some dignity by reaching the next milestone of 30 points. There was a 9 available in this round but only DC spot it.

Round 12: P D A C U F D E O

C1: PACED (5)
C2: ADDUCE (6)
DC: DECAPOD (7)
Score: 30–83 (max 103)

A nice word from David sees his lead stretch to a ma-hoo-sive 53 points.

Round 13: T R M E I A G S L

C1: masters
C2: marliest
DC: MIGRATES (8) REGALIST (8)
OT: MAGISTER (8) STERIGMA (8) REGALISM (8)
Score: 30–83 (max 111)

Unlucky from David. I wish I could say the same for Maureen but she again flounders by seeing 2 S's. This is an excellent performance of how not to play Countdown.

Round 14: 25, 6, 5, 4, 2, 2. Target: 674.

C1: 660.
C2: 675. (5*4+6+2/2)*25 (7)
CV: 674. (25+5-2)*4*6+2 (10)
Score: 30–90 (max 121)

A very tough target which Carol doesn't solve in time but gets at the end of the show. David takes the sensible route of finding 27 and multiplying it by 25. As for Maureen? Well, Maureen is just happy to be there.

Round 15: D U E T B O U N D

No one buzzes. The answer was UNDOUBTED.
Score: 30–90 (max 131)

And it's no debut century for David as UNDOUBTED goes unspotted although David annoyingly for himself saw it after the 30 seconds. A solid performance from David against a weak opponent as he takes his first step on the ladded to octochampdom. Will he make step 2 or come sliding down tomorrow? Tune in tomorrow, bumders!

Much love,

Ryan Taylor

Further summaries are at:
http://www.apterous.org/cdb/series.php?series=47

[Ryan Taylor]

Interestingly MARLIEST is listed in the recap as valid in round 13. Why was it disallowed at the time?

Max difference of 2 due to: IDIGBO and LADYFIES.

[Peter Mabey]

Interestingly MARLIEST is listed in the recap as valid in round 13. Why was it disallowed at the time?

NODE does have MARLY, but not MARLIEST explicitly - what was rule about superlatives in 2002?

[Charlie Reams]

Interestingly MARLIEST is listed in the recap as valid in round 13. Why was it disallowed at the time?

NODE does have MARLY, but not MARLIEST explicitly - what was rule about superlatives in 2002?

Yeah, that's probably the reason. I think Mike will be able to confirm what the rules were at the time.

[Mike Brown]

Interestingly MARLIEST is listed in the recap as valid in round 13. Why was it disallowed at the time?

NODE does have MARLY, but not MARLIEST explicitly - what was rule about superlatives in 2002?

Yeah, that's probably the reason. I think Mike will be able to confirm what the rules were at the time.

I certainly can on this occasion. The rules about comparatives and superlatives at the time were the same as they are now: if they're explicitly mentioned, they're acceptable; otherwise, forget it!