Thursday 16th January 2025 ( Series 91 Preliminary 9 )
Posted: Thu May 29, 2025 6:22 pm
Hello and welcome to another Thursday recap, our newest champion Brian O'Donovan dislodged our champion George Telford in a ruthless fashion........can he get his second win ?
C1: Champion Brian O'Donovan (1 win, 85 points.)
C2: Challenger Joe Davies.
DC: Susie Dent and Sunetra Sarker .
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.
R01: U O A E R B G T H
R02: S N R N I E O S I
R03: 25, 100, 10, 3, 10, 1, . Target: 436.
TTT: GRINLAMB - "Taking a country walk while talking incessantly."
R04: L G D R E O E D A
R05: U I E I T L F Y R
R06: 75, 4, 9, 6, 7, 3, . Target: 337.
R07: E A E O M F S P G
R08: R T P R E I A G E
R09: 75, 25, 3, 9, 5, 8. Target: 242.
TTT: SIREPREP - " You sweat over each church tower"
R10: K T V M A I E S O
R11: O I E I N T M B T
R12: D S P N E O A U T
R13: I A E O M C N S N
R14: 75, 6, 10, 2, 5, 4. Target: 962.
R15: V E L O U R C O 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
Enjoy the show.
Round 1: U O A E R B G T H
Brian: BROUGHT (7)
Joe: BROUGHT (7)
DC: TOUGHER (7)
OT: BORGATE (7) OUTRAGE (7)
Score: 7–7 (max 7)
A fantastic start from our champion and challenger........... as seven seems to be order of the day
Round 2: S N R N I E O S I
Brian: SINNERS (7)
Joe: SINNERS (7)
DC: SENIORS (7) IONISERS (8)
OT: IRONISES (8)
Score: 14–14 (max 15)
Sevens all round yet again........from our champion and challenger
Over in DC they get to show off with their eight Ionisers..........our recap writer spots the other eight Ironises
Round 3: 25, 100, 10, 3, 10, 1. Target: 436.
C1: 435. (3 + 1) × 100 + 25 + 10 (7)
C2: 435. (3 + 1) × 100 + 25 + 10 (7)
RR: 436. (100 + 25 + 10 + 10) × 3 + 1 (10)
Score: 21–21 (max 25)
A good 1 away solve from our champion and challenger bagging them both 7 points each........in this evenly matched contest..........our Ms Riley gets to shine and showcase her numerical talents
Teatime teaser: GRINLAMB -> RAMBLING
Round 4: L G D R E O E D A
Brian: LOADER (6)
Joe: RELOADED (8)
DC: REGALED (7)
OT: EDGELORD (8)
Score: 21–29 (max 33)
Game changer what a fantastic 8 from our challenger Joe........... the first lead could be the most important in this rather tight contest.......one other 8 which was Edgelord
Round 5: U I E I T L F Y R
Brian: FUTILE (6)
Joe: FUTILE (6)
DC: FLUTIER (7) FRUITILY (8)
Score: 27–35 (max 41)
Sixes all round from our champion and challenger.........but there was one tasty looking eight hidden away with Fruitily
Round 6: 75, 4, 9, 6, 7, 3. Target: 337.
C1: 337. (75 + 9) × 4 + 7 − 6 (10)
C2: 337. (75 + 9) × 4 + 7 − 6 (10)
Score: 37–45 (max 51)
Nice and straightforward our champion and challenger clearly have no trouble solving this bad boy !
Round 7: E A E O M F S P G
Brian: GAMES (5)
Joe: PAGES (5)
DC: pomages APOGEES (7)
Score: 42–50 (max 58)
Fives all round from our champion and challenger........but Ms Dent gets to shine with her 7 Apogees which was my spot as well
Round 8: R T P R E I A G E
Brian: GRAPIER (7)
Joe: GRAPIER (7)
DC: PARTIER (7)
OT: GREATER (7) PEARTER (7) PEATIER (7) TAPERER (7) TEARIER (7)
Score: 49–57 (max 65)
Lots of sevens here.......so let's jump to the next round
Round 9: 75, 25, 3, 9, 5, 8. Target: 242.
C1: 242. 3 × 75 + 9 + 8 (10)
C2: 242. 3 × 75 + 9 + 8 (10)
Score: 59–67 (max 75)
Another straightforward solve not too taxing........as this bags our champion and challenger 10 points each
Teatime teaser: SIREPREP -> PERSPIRE
Round 10: K T V M A I E S O
Brian: MOTIVES (7)
Joe: MOTIVES (7)
DC: MISTAKE (7) ATOMISE (7)
OT: AMOSITE (7) ATOMIES (7) MATOKES (7) OAKIEST (7) VOETSAK (7)
Score: 66–74 (max 82)
Quite a few sevens to be had.........nothing worth having a catfight over
Round 11: O I E I N T M B T
Brian: bottie
Joe: bottie
DC: MITTEN (6) BITTEN (6)
OT: BIOTITE (7)
Score: 66–74 (max 89)
Both champion and challenger draw a blank in this round as Susie disallows their words..............but there was one 7 hidden away with Biotite
Round 12: D S P N E O A U T
Brian: unposted
Joe: OUTSPEND (8)
DC: AUTOPENS (8)
OT: NOTEPADS (8) TONEPADS (8)
Score: 66–82 (max 97)
Our champion Brian has his 8 Unposted disallowed by Susie..............but our challenger gets to score with his 8 Outspend.........with 16 points being the difference is there enough for our champion Brian to make one final push he will need maximum points from the next few rounds otherwise he will be departing the Countdown studios or will it be Joe moving into the champions chair........so lets see how the next few rounds go
Round 13: I A E O M C N S N
Brian: CAMEOS (6)
Joe: CANONISE (8)
DC: CINEMAS (7)
Score: 66–90 (max 105)
Sadly for our departing champion Brian O'Donovan it is game over as the deficit is 24 points.......that is not enough to catch Joe Davies who is our champion
Round 14: 75, 6, 10, 2, 5, 4. Target: 962.
C1: 965. (5 − 2 + 10) × 75 − 6 − 4 (7)
C2: 965. (5 − 2 + 10) × 75 − 6 − 4 (7)
RR: 962. (6 ÷ 2 + 10) × (75 − (5 − 4)) (10)
Score: 73–97 (max 115)
Round 15: V E L O U R C O D
C1 buzzes on 3.75 seconds to say OVERCLOUD which is correct.
Final Score: 83–97 (max 125)
We have a new champion in Joe, our outgoing champion Brian had the last laugh by solving the conundrum........he will be happy with his one win and the teapot............you can join me for the next recap and find out if Joe can bag his second win.........in meantime it is bye for now !
C1: Champion Brian O'Donovan (1 win, 85 points.)
C2: Challenger Joe Davies.
DC: Susie Dent and Sunetra Sarker .
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.
R01: U O A E R B G T H
R02: S N R N I E O S I
R03: 25, 100, 10, 3, 10, 1, . Target: 436.
TTT: GRINLAMB - "Taking a country walk while talking incessantly."
R04: L G D R E O E D A
R05: U I E I T L F Y R
R06: 75, 4, 9, 6, 7, 3, . Target: 337.
R07: E A E O M F S P G
R08: R T P R E I A G E
R09: 75, 25, 3, 9, 5, 8. Target: 242.
TTT: SIREPREP - " You sweat over each church tower"
R10: K T V M A I E S O
R11: O I E I N T M B T
R12: D S P N E O A U T
R13: I A E O M C N S N
R14: 75, 6, 10, 2, 5, 4. Target: 962.
R15: V E L O U R C O 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
Enjoy the show.
Round 1: U O A E R B G T H
Brian: BROUGHT (7)
Joe: BROUGHT (7)
DC: TOUGHER (7)
OT: BORGATE (7) OUTRAGE (7)
Score: 7–7 (max 7)
A fantastic start from our champion and challenger........... as seven seems to be order of the day
Round 2: S N R N I E O S I
Brian: SINNERS (7)
Joe: SINNERS (7)
DC: SENIORS (7) IONISERS (8)
OT: IRONISES (8)
Score: 14–14 (max 15)
Sevens all round yet again........from our champion and challenger
Over in DC they get to show off with their eight Ionisers..........our recap writer spots the other eight Ironises
Round 3: 25, 100, 10, 3, 10, 1. Target: 436.
C1: 435. (3 + 1) × 100 + 25 + 10 (7)
C2: 435. (3 + 1) × 100 + 25 + 10 (7)
RR: 436. (100 + 25 + 10 + 10) × 3 + 1 (10)
Score: 21–21 (max 25)
A good 1 away solve from our champion and challenger bagging them both 7 points each........in this evenly matched contest..........our Ms Riley gets to shine and showcase her numerical talents
Teatime teaser: GRINLAMB -> RAMBLING
Round 4: L G D R E O E D A
Brian: LOADER (6)
Joe: RELOADED (8)
DC: REGALED (7)
OT: EDGELORD (8)
Score: 21–29 (max 33)
Game changer what a fantastic 8 from our challenger Joe........... the first lead could be the most important in this rather tight contest.......one other 8 which was Edgelord
Round 5: U I E I T L F Y R
Brian: FUTILE (6)
Joe: FUTILE (6)
DC: FLUTIER (7) FRUITILY (8)
Score: 27–35 (max 41)
Sixes all round from our champion and challenger.........but there was one tasty looking eight hidden away with Fruitily
Round 6: 75, 4, 9, 6, 7, 3. Target: 337.
C1: 337. (75 + 9) × 4 + 7 − 6 (10)
C2: 337. (75 + 9) × 4 + 7 − 6 (10)
Score: 37–45 (max 51)
Nice and straightforward our champion and challenger clearly have no trouble solving this bad boy !
Round 7: E A E O M F S P G
Brian: GAMES (5)
Joe: PAGES (5)
DC: pomages APOGEES (7)
Score: 42–50 (max 58)
Fives all round from our champion and challenger........but Ms Dent gets to shine with her 7 Apogees which was my spot as well
Round 8: R T P R E I A G E
Brian: GRAPIER (7)
Joe: GRAPIER (7)
DC: PARTIER (7)
OT: GREATER (7) PEARTER (7) PEATIER (7) TAPERER (7) TEARIER (7)
Score: 49–57 (max 65)
Lots of sevens here.......so let's jump to the next round
Round 9: 75, 25, 3, 9, 5, 8. Target: 242.
C1: 242. 3 × 75 + 9 + 8 (10)
C2: 242. 3 × 75 + 9 + 8 (10)
Score: 59–67 (max 75)
Another straightforward solve not too taxing........as this bags our champion and challenger 10 points each
Teatime teaser: SIREPREP -> PERSPIRE
Round 10: K T V M A I E S O
Brian: MOTIVES (7)
Joe: MOTIVES (7)
DC: MISTAKE (7) ATOMISE (7)
OT: AMOSITE (7) ATOMIES (7) MATOKES (7) OAKIEST (7) VOETSAK (7)
Score: 66–74 (max 82)
Quite a few sevens to be had.........nothing worth having a catfight over
Round 11: O I E I N T M B T
Brian: bottie
Joe: bottie
DC: MITTEN (6) BITTEN (6)
OT: BIOTITE (7)
Score: 66–74 (max 89)
Both champion and challenger draw a blank in this round as Susie disallows their words..............but there was one 7 hidden away with Biotite
Round 12: D S P N E O A U T
Brian: unposted
Joe: OUTSPEND (8)
DC: AUTOPENS (8)
OT: NOTEPADS (8) TONEPADS (8)
Score: 66–82 (max 97)
Our champion Brian has his 8 Unposted disallowed by Susie..............but our challenger gets to score with his 8 Outspend.........with 16 points being the difference is there enough for our champion Brian to make one final push he will need maximum points from the next few rounds otherwise he will be departing the Countdown studios or will it be Joe moving into the champions chair........so lets see how the next few rounds go
Round 13: I A E O M C N S N
Brian: CAMEOS (6)
Joe: CANONISE (8)
DC: CINEMAS (7)
Score: 66–90 (max 105)
Sadly for our departing champion Brian O'Donovan it is game over as the deficit is 24 points.......that is not enough to catch Joe Davies who is our champion
Round 14: 75, 6, 10, 2, 5, 4. Target: 962.
C1: 965. (5 − 2 + 10) × 75 − 6 − 4 (7)
C2: 965. (5 − 2 + 10) × 75 − 6 − 4 (7)
RR: 962. (6 ÷ 2 + 10) × (75 − (5 − 4)) (10)
Score: 73–97 (max 115)
Round 15: V E L O U R C O D
C1 buzzes on 3.75 seconds to say OVERCLOUD which is correct.
Final Score: 83–97 (max 125)
We have a new champion in Joe, our outgoing champion Brian had the last laugh by solving the conundrum........he will be happy with his one win and the teapot............you can join me for the next recap and find out if Joe can bag his second win.........in meantime it is bye for now !