A huge thank you to those contestants that have participated in series 85
A few notable highlights from series 85 include
8 Contestants came on for another go and one of those is our grand finalist Matt O'Connor
The eventual series champion Dan Byrom was the highest scorer with 140 points
Series 85 produced 7 Octo-champs....... Dan Byrom and Matt O'Connor are 900 club members and our grand finalists
Sarah Herbert became the first contestant to score 0 in the 15R era
One unreleased episode before Countdown finals week, This episode was pulled from the schedule prior to broadcast due to reasons beyond Channel 4's control. It was replaced by a repeat of the final of Championship of Champions XV.
9 contestants recorded scores of Under 30 in the new 15R era
C1: Champion Dan "The Sheffield Superman " Byrom (10 wins, 1170 points) An apterite... He was a gap year student, part time tutor and a business development assistant for his father's audiology company, Dan defeated no 4 seed Ryan Carlsen in a closely fought semi final, will our man of steel Dan put in a super performance as he will be bidding for Countdown glory
C2: Champion Matt " The Cheshire Colossus" O'Connor (10 wins, 1172 points) An Apterite....Matt is a serving Detective Constable with Cheshire Constabulary formerly of Greater Manchester Police, Matt defeated no 3 seed Steve Hyde in volatile fashion will our favourite detective Matt Uphold the law as he protects the innocent or put in an arresting performance ?? as he bids for countdown glory
DC: Robert Rinder
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.
R01: N T P C O I E O I
R02: R G O N A O E P M
R03: 6, 7, 8, 3, 10, 1, . Target: 383.
TTT: NEARWOOD - "This monkey likes to roam around."
R04: T C E S A I M E P
R05: L D Y T O U E E R
R06: 25, 75, 10, 5, 4, 9, . Target: 280.
R07: V H S N U A I A E
R08: G R I Z E U S A N
R09: 3, 6, 4, 8, 1, 6, . Target: 684.
TTT: FATKILOS - "These are rugs, but it's all Greek to me."
R10: D L I C O I E S E
R11: R G M P O U I A O
R12: F S I D O A H R A
R13: N D W S E I E O L
R14: 100, 50, 75, 25, 6, 9, . Target: 137.
R15: R E C T O T E E N (conundrum)
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Round 1: N T P C O I E O I
Dan: OPTION (6)
Matt: OCTOPINE (8)
Score: 0–8 (max 8)
A great start from Matt with his brilliant 8 Octopine........Giving us our first Darren of the day.
Octopine is a Chemistry term
Octopine : An amino acid of the opine group, C₉ H₁₈ N₄ O₄, found in the tissues of some cephalopods and lamellibranch molluscs and also synthesized by plant cells infected by certain strains of the crown gall pathogen Agrobacterium tumefaciens.
Pronunciation
Round 2: R G O N A O E P M
Dan: OREGANO (7)
Matt: MEGARON (7)
DC: OREGANO (7)
OT: AGRONOME (8)
7s all round from our Grand finalists.....but ther is an 8 hidden away with Agronome
Agronome :Late 18th century. From French agronome from ancient Greek ἀγρονόμος magistrate in charge of country districts from ἀγρο- + -νόμος combining form from the stem of νέμειν to manage.
Score: 7–15 (max 16)
Round 3: 6, 7, 8, 3, 10, 1. Target: 383.
Dan: 383. (6 × 7 − 3) × 10 − (8 − 1) (10)
Matt: 381.
Score: 17–15 (max 26)
Great numbers solve from Dan the first lead in this Grand Final could be the most important one.......that sees him go 2 points ahead.....as Matt can only manage 2 away
Teatime teaser: NEARWOOD -> WANDEROO
Round 4: T C E S A I M E P
Dan: EMPAESTIC (18)
Matt: CAMPIEST (8)
Score: 35–15 (max 44)
A fabulous 9 from Dan that sees him go 20 points ahead........this now means will be Matt will be playing catch up........ can Matt pull off a Tracey Mills style comeback .............and get himself back in this game !!!!
Round 5: L D Y T O U E E R
Dan: routedly
Matt: OUTERLY (7)
OT: URODELE (7)
Score: 35–22 (max 51)
A risky 8 from Dan that is disallowed by DC.............Matt gets a good 7 with Outerly and gets himself back in the game !!!!
Round 6: 25, 75, 10, 5, 4, 9. Target: 280.
Dan: 280. (75 − 5) × 4 (10)
Matt: 280. (75 − 5) × 4 (10)
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ...........Top marks from these guys in numbers department............ENOUGH SAID !!!!!!!!!
Score: 45–32 (max 61)
Round 7: V H S N U A I A E
Dan: EVANISH (7)
Matt: VANISH (6)
Score: 52–32 (max 68)
A great 7 from Dan.........with 20 points in it........this is a seesaw battle between our two finalists....but just for fun.......SHAVEN/HAVENS featuring our finalist and no2 seed from 11 years ago
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WX_obCuHZiA
Round 8: G R I Z E U S A N
Dan: GAUZIER (7)
Matt: SUZERAIN (8)
OT: SUNGAZER (8)
Score: 52–40 (max 76)
A great 8 from Matt with Suzerain that puts him back in the contest ..................I managed to spot the other 8 Sungazer
Suzerain : A sovereign or state having some control over another state that is internally autonomous.
Round 9: 3, 6, 4, 8, 1, 6. Target: 684.
Dan: 682. Mistake in working.
Matt: -
RR: 684. (6 + 6) × ((4 + 3) × 8 + 1) (10)
Score: 52–40 (max 86)
Both our contestants draw a blank in the numbers.....Dan had the actual answer but misdeclared it.......Rachel gets to shine in the grand final by producing the perfect solution
Teatime teaser: FATKILOS -> FLOKATIS
Round 10: D L I C O I E S E
Dan: IDOLISE (7)
Matt: IDOLISE (7)
DC: DIOCESE (7)
OT: DIOECIES (8)
Score: 59–47 (max 94)
7s all round from our Grand Finalists........there was one 8 hidden away with Dioecies
Round 11: R G M P O U I A O
Dan: GIAOUR (6)
Matt: GOPURAM (7)
DC: GOURAMI (7)
Score: 59–54 (max 101)
What a badass 7 from Matt with Gopuram which was one I spotted................The lead is now reduced to 5 points could this be the turning point for Matt ????
Gopuram : (in southern India) a large pyramidal tower over the entrance gate to a temple precinct.
Gourami : A small brightly coloured Asian labyrinth fish, popular in aquaria.
Round 12: F S I D O A H R A
Dan: HAIRDOS (7)
Matt: HAIRDOS (7)
Score: 66–61 (max 108)
Round 13: N D W S E I E O L
Dan: LESIONED (8)
Matt: lionweeds
Score: 74–61 (max 116)
A very unfortunate risk from Matt that is disallowed by Susie he now needs maximum points from the next numbers game, and be crowned series champion........if not it will be Dan Byrom who will be walking away with Richard Whiteley Memorial Trophy
Round 14: 100, 50, 75, 25, 6, 9. Target: 137.
Dan: 138. 100 + 50 − 9 − 75 ÷ 25 (7)
Matt: 138. 75 + 50 + 9 + 100 ÷ 25 (7)
RR: 137. 100 ÷ 50 × (25 + 6) + 75 (10)
Score: 81–68 (max 126)
Both our finalists can only manage 1 away.......... this means that Dan Byrom is the series 85 champion !!!! but Rachel gets to show off and produces the perfect solution
Round 15: R E C T O T E E N
Matt buzzes on 15.25 seconds to say ENTRECOTE which is correct.
Final Score: 81–78 (max 136)
A good conundrum solve from Matt which is a consolation as he finishes as the runner up !!!
A cracking contest from both of these legends, first of all I would like to offer my congratulations to Dan Byrom on becoming the series 85 champion and the latest recipient of the Richard Whiteley memorial trophy. Secondly take nothing away from Matt O'Connor who put in a brave performance but was not enough sadly, he can be satisfied with his runners up prize a tablet and his piece of kryptonite, Matt can hold his head up high and be proud of his achievement as the series runner up. Hopefully these two legends will compete in a future Champion of Champions or even the 40th BC if either go ahead.
I will be looking forward to the next series where more countdown legends will be made
In the meantime bye for now !!!!
