Wednesday 29th January 2025 ( Series 91 Preliminary 18 )
Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2025 10:17 pm
Hello and welcome to another midweek recap, our newest champion Clive Surplice bagged his first win yesterday can he get a second win ? so without further ado........let's get this show on the road
C1: Champion Clive Surplice (1 win, 85 points.)
C2: Challenger Ritu Elliot Duwan.
DC: Susie Dent and Shirley Ballas .
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.
R01: B P N A E O D L A
R02: H E F K O G T E N
R03: 50, 1, 3, 4, 5, 8, . Target: 978.
TTT: FASTMARE - " These will tell you it's all rest and no play."
R04: R L O X U A M L I
R05: S N G O E O T M E
R06: 100, 75, 10, 5, 2, 5. Target: 265.
R07: R C T A E U M S O
R08: H U A D S W E R G
R09: 50, 3, 7, 8, 7, 2. Target: 169.
TTT: COMATUFT - "The multitasker has true information about the pole."
R10: T R O N A I L P E
R11: C R N I A E D G N
R12: I O D M T E D J N
R13: W F P A E E S V C
R14: 75, 100, 25, 8, 3, 10, . Target: 386.
R15: L I N D I C A T E (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: B P N A E O D L A
Clive: DOABLE (6)
Ritu: BLONDE (6)
DC: BEDPAN (6) PLANED (6) ABALONE (7)
Score: 6–6 (max 7)
Sixes all round from our champion and challenger..........over in DC Susie steals the show with her 7 Abalone
Round 2: H E F K O G T E N
Clive: TOKEN (5)
Ritu: TONG (4)
DC: KETONE (6)
Score: 11–6 (max 13)
Not the best letters selection for this round............but Susie does well to spot the only available 6 Ketone
Round 3: 50, 1, 3, 4, 5, 8. Target: 978.
C1: 977. (50 − 1) × 4 × 5 − 3 (7)
C2: 977. 4 × 5 × 50 − 8 × 3 + 1 (7)
RR: 978. (50 × 4 − 3) × 5 − 8 + 1 (10)
Score: 18–13 (max 23)
A good 1 away solve from our champion and challenger that bags them 7 points each.............Ms Riley showcases her maths skills and produces a perfect 10
Teatime teaser: FASTMARE -> FERMATAS
Round 4: R L O X U A M L I
Clive: MOLAR (5)
Ritu: lomax
DC: UXORIAL (7)
Score: 23–13 (max 30)
Another horrible selection yet again..........our champion Clive gets to score with his 5 but Ritu has hers disallowed by Susie............over in DC they spot the only 7 Uxorial
Round 5: S N G O E O T M E
Clive: STOOGE (6)
Ritu: GNOMES (6)
DC: GEMSTONE (8)
Score: 29–19 (max 38)
Sixes all round from our champion and challenger..........over in DC they get to sparkle with their rather lovely 8 Gemstome
Round 6: 100, 75, 10, 5, 2, 5. Target: 265.
C1: 265. Mistake in working.
C2: 265. 2 × 100 + 75 − 10 (10)
Score: 29–29 (max 48)
Could the nerves be getting to Clive as he misses this piss easy numbers game............this can only mean one thing that Ritu bags herself 10 points and evens up this tight contest
Round 7: R C T A E U M S O
Clive: outscream
Ritu: CURATES (7)
DC: CUSTOMER (8) COSTUMER (8)
OT: OUTRACES (8)
Score: 29–36 (max 56)
A rather risky 9 from Clive is disallowed by Susie allowing Ritu to pull ahead by 7 points ......... there were a few eights to be had.........nothing worth arguing over.......play nicely now
Round 8: H U A D S W E R G
Clive: GRADES (6)
Ritu: WASHER (6)
DC: SUGARED (7)
Score: 35–42 (max 63)
Sixes all round from our champion and challenger............over in DC Susie is feeling rather sweet as Sugared is the only available 7 in this selection of letters
Round 9: 50, 3, 7, 8, 7, 2. Target: 169.
C1: 169. (50 + 7) × 3 − 2 (10)
C2: -
Score: 45–42 (max 73)
A good perfect solve from our champion Clive gives him a brief but narrow lead
Teatime teaser: COMATUFT -> FACTOTUM
Round 10: T R O N A I L P E
Clive: RELATION (8)
Ritu: PLANTER (7)
DC: RELATION (8)
OT: ATROPINE (8) EPILATOR (8) INTERLAP (8) ORIENTAL (8) PETIOLAR (8) TRAPLINE (8) TRIPLANE (8)
Score: 53–42 (max 81)
And with a fantastic round from our champion Clive and the old Countdown favourite Relation that gives him an 11 point lead.........quite a few of 8s to be had.........let's jump ahead to the next round
Round 11: C R N I A E D G N
Clive: CRINGED (7)
Ritu: DANCING (7)
DC: CRANNIED (8)
Score: 60–49 (max 89)
Sevens all round from Clive and Ritu............but over in DC they get to shine yet again with their 8 Crannied
Round 12: I O D M T E D J N
Clive: JOINTED (7)
Ritu: JOINTED (7)
DC: JOINTED (7) MIDDEN (6)
OT: ODDMENT (7)
Score: 67–56 (max 96)
Sevens all round........let's move on shall we ?
Round 13: W F P A E E S V C
Clive: ESCAPE (6)
Ritu: ESCAPE (6)
OT: FAECES (6) PEACES (6) PESEWA (6) WEAVES (6)
Score: 73–62 (max 102)
With 11 points being the difference between Clive and Ritu is there enough for her to mount a comeback and get herself back into this tight contest ?
Round 14: 75, 100, 25, 8, 3, 10. Target: 386.
C1: 387. Mistake in working.
C2: 385. 3 × 100 + 75 + 10 (7)
RR: 386. (100 − 8) × 3 + 10 + 75 + 25 (10)
Score: 73–69 (max 112)
The comeback is on ! and with Ritu bagging herself 7 points and reducing the arrears to 4 points..............we have ourselves a crucial conundrum now the question is will she buzz and bag herself the the teapot or will Clive stay in the champions chair ? Over in brainbox corner Ms Riley gets to showcase her maths skills and produce a pefect 10
Round 15: L I N D I C A T E
No one buzzes. The answer was IDENTICAL.
Final Score: 73–69 (max 122)
Neither contestant buzzes but it is left up to Ms Riley and our recap writer to solve the elusive conundrum, firstly congratulations to Clive for holding his nerve and bagging his second win............secondly take nothing away from Ritu she gave as good as she got sadly it wasn't to be.........you can join me for the next recap to see if Clive can bag win NO 3 in the meantime it is a wrap folks !
C1: Champion Clive Surplice (1 win, 85 points.)
C2: Challenger Ritu Elliot Duwan.
DC: Susie Dent and Shirley Ballas .
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.
R01: B P N A E O D L A
R02: H E F K O G T E N
R03: 50, 1, 3, 4, 5, 8, . Target: 978.
TTT: FASTMARE - " These will tell you it's all rest and no play."
R04: R L O X U A M L I
R05: S N G O E O T M E
R06: 100, 75, 10, 5, 2, 5. Target: 265.
R07: R C T A E U M S O
R08: H U A D S W E R G
R09: 50, 3, 7, 8, 7, 2. Target: 169.
TTT: COMATUFT - "The multitasker has true information about the pole."
R10: T R O N A I L P E
R11: C R N I A E D G N
R12: I O D M T E D J N
R13: W F P A E E S V C
R14: 75, 100, 25, 8, 3, 10, . Target: 386.
R15: L I N D I C A T E (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: B P N A E O D L A
Clive: DOABLE (6)
Ritu: BLONDE (6)
DC: BEDPAN (6) PLANED (6) ABALONE (7)
Score: 6–6 (max 7)
Sixes all round from our champion and challenger..........over in DC Susie steals the show with her 7 Abalone
Round 2: H E F K O G T E N
Clive: TOKEN (5)
Ritu: TONG (4)
DC: KETONE (6)
Score: 11–6 (max 13)
Not the best letters selection for this round............but Susie does well to spot the only available 6 Ketone
Round 3: 50, 1, 3, 4, 5, 8. Target: 978.
C1: 977. (50 − 1) × 4 × 5 − 3 (7)
C2: 977. 4 × 5 × 50 − 8 × 3 + 1 (7)
RR: 978. (50 × 4 − 3) × 5 − 8 + 1 (10)
Score: 18–13 (max 23)
A good 1 away solve from our champion and challenger that bags them 7 points each.............Ms Riley showcases her maths skills and produces a perfect 10
Teatime teaser: FASTMARE -> FERMATAS
Round 4: R L O X U A M L I
Clive: MOLAR (5)
Ritu: lomax
DC: UXORIAL (7)
Score: 23–13 (max 30)
Another horrible selection yet again..........our champion Clive gets to score with his 5 but Ritu has hers disallowed by Susie............over in DC they spot the only 7 Uxorial
Round 5: S N G O E O T M E
Clive: STOOGE (6)
Ritu: GNOMES (6)
DC: GEMSTONE (8)
Score: 29–19 (max 38)
Sixes all round from our champion and challenger..........over in DC they get to sparkle with their rather lovely 8 Gemstome
Round 6: 100, 75, 10, 5, 2, 5. Target: 265.
C1: 265. Mistake in working.
C2: 265. 2 × 100 + 75 − 10 (10)
Score: 29–29 (max 48)
Could the nerves be getting to Clive as he misses this piss easy numbers game............this can only mean one thing that Ritu bags herself 10 points and evens up this tight contest
Round 7: R C T A E U M S O
Clive: outscream
Ritu: CURATES (7)
DC: CUSTOMER (8) COSTUMER (8)
OT: OUTRACES (8)
Score: 29–36 (max 56)
A rather risky 9 from Clive is disallowed by Susie allowing Ritu to pull ahead by 7 points ......... there were a few eights to be had.........nothing worth arguing over.......play nicely now
Round 8: H U A D S W E R G
Clive: GRADES (6)
Ritu: WASHER (6)
DC: SUGARED (7)
Score: 35–42 (max 63)
Sixes all round from our champion and challenger............over in DC Susie is feeling rather sweet as Sugared is the only available 7 in this selection of letters
Round 9: 50, 3, 7, 8, 7, 2. Target: 169.
C1: 169. (50 + 7) × 3 − 2 (10)
C2: -
Score: 45–42 (max 73)
A good perfect solve from our champion Clive gives him a brief but narrow lead
Teatime teaser: COMATUFT -> FACTOTUM
Round 10: T R O N A I L P E
Clive: RELATION (8)
Ritu: PLANTER (7)
DC: RELATION (8)
OT: ATROPINE (8) EPILATOR (8) INTERLAP (8) ORIENTAL (8) PETIOLAR (8) TRAPLINE (8) TRIPLANE (8)
Score: 53–42 (max 81)
And with a fantastic round from our champion Clive and the old Countdown favourite Relation that gives him an 11 point lead.........quite a few of 8s to be had.........let's jump ahead to the next round
Round 11: C R N I A E D G N
Clive: CRINGED (7)
Ritu: DANCING (7)
DC: CRANNIED (8)
Score: 60–49 (max 89)
Sevens all round from Clive and Ritu............but over in DC they get to shine yet again with their 8 Crannied
Round 12: I O D M T E D J N
Clive: JOINTED (7)
Ritu: JOINTED (7)
DC: JOINTED (7) MIDDEN (6)
OT: ODDMENT (7)
Score: 67–56 (max 96)
Sevens all round........let's move on shall we ?
Round 13: W F P A E E S V C
Clive: ESCAPE (6)
Ritu: ESCAPE (6)
OT: FAECES (6) PEACES (6) PESEWA (6) WEAVES (6)
Score: 73–62 (max 102)
With 11 points being the difference between Clive and Ritu is there enough for her to mount a comeback and get herself back into this tight contest ?
Round 14: 75, 100, 25, 8, 3, 10. Target: 386.
C1: 387. Mistake in working.
C2: 385. 3 × 100 + 75 + 10 (7)
RR: 386. (100 − 8) × 3 + 10 + 75 + 25 (10)
Score: 73–69 (max 112)
The comeback is on ! and with Ritu bagging herself 7 points and reducing the arrears to 4 points..............we have ourselves a crucial conundrum now the question is will she buzz and bag herself the the teapot or will Clive stay in the champions chair ? Over in brainbox corner Ms Riley gets to showcase her maths skills and produce a pefect 10
Round 15: L I N D I C A T E
No one buzzes. The answer was IDENTICAL.
Final Score: 73–69 (max 122)
Neither contestant buzzes but it is left up to Ms Riley and our recap writer to solve the elusive conundrum, firstly congratulations to Clive for holding his nerve and bagging his second win............secondly take nothing away from Ritu she gave as good as she got sadly it wasn't to be.........you can join me for the next recap to see if Clive can bag win NO 3 in the meantime it is a wrap folks !