Thursday 30th January 2025 ( Series 91 Preliminary 19 )
Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2025 10:42 pm
Hello Countdowners everywhere..........welcome to another fun and action packed Thursday recap our champion Clive is going really well at the moment looking for his third win and with our challenger Ted Carter standing in his way who is looking for his first win and the teapot......so with further ado let the games begin !
C1: Champion Clive Surplice (2 wins, 158 points.)
C2: Challenger Ted Carter.
DC: Susie Dent and Shirley Ballas .
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.
R01: Y S P A E O N T M
R02: D C I E N R I O M
R03: 25, 3, 10, 9, 6, 3, . Target: 426.
TTT: TILECAST - "Were these created by someone who ran out of pastry?"
R04: D J R E U E T R L
R05: F L M A I O S E T
R06: 25, 2, 7, 10, 10, 8, . Target: 507.
R07: P D T I U I F C U
R08: Q T S I A I N P B
R09: 100, 10, 9, 8, 6, 2. Target: 179.
TTT: COMRADES - " It sounds like the Japanese emperors were shopping in Spain."
R10: H L G E U E A R W
R11: S T P I U A S G B
R12: T D T O A O K R E
R13: G N R I E A S R D
R14: 25, 50, 100, 10, 9, 5. Target: 693.
R15: L O G F R I E N D (conundrum)
And now a brief interlude before our main feature:
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Enjoy the show.
Round 1: Y S P A E O N T M
Clive: MOPANES (7)
Ted: ATONES (6)
DC: POSTMAN (7)
OT: APTONYMS (8) PAYMENTS (8)
Score: 7–0 (max 8)
A great start from our champion Clive with his 7 and the old Countdown favourite Mopanes.........ovder in DC Susie is stamping her authority with her 7 Postman............there were a couple of eight missed by all..........nothing worth having a catfight over !
Round 2: D C I E N R I O M
Clive: MINDER (6)
Ted: DICIER (6)
DC: DEMONIC (7)
OT: CREMINI (7) CRINOID (7) DIMERIC (7) DOMINIE (7) DORMICE (7) INCOMER (7) MIDIRON (7) MINORED (7) ONEIRIC (7)
Score: 13–6 (max 15)
Sixes all round nothing worth fighting over !
Round 3: 25, 3, 10, 9, 6, 3. Target: 426.
C1: 415.
C2: 427. (10 + 6) × 25 + 9 × 3 (7)
RR: 426. (3 × 3 × 9 − 10) × 6(10)
Score: 13–13 (max 25)
A good 1 away solve from Ted who now evens up this tight contest ........but Ms Riley gets to shine and showcase her number talents by achieving the perfect solution
Teatime teaser: TILECAST -> LATTICES
Round 4: D J R E U E T R L
Clive: RELET (5)
Ted: RULER (5)
DC: RULER (5)
OT: ELUTED (6) TELEDU (6) URETER (6)
Score: 18–18 (max 31)
Nothing much to see here..........quite a few 5s to be had............there was a fair few sixes that everybody has missed
Round 5: F L M A I O S E T
Clive: ISOLATE (7)
Ted: FILMSET (7)
DC: FOAMIEST (8) FLAMIEST (8)
OT: FLOATIES (8) FOLIATES (8) LOAMIEST (8)
Score: 25–25 (max 39)
Again more of the same sevens seems to be the max for our champion and challenger...........over in DC they get to show off with a couple of their eights........the one I spotted was Flamiest
Round 6: 25, 2, 7, 10, 10, 8. Target: 507.
C1: 508.
C2: 507. 25 × 2 × 10 + 7 (10)
Score: 25–35 (max 49)
A nice straightforward solve from our challenger Ted that gives him the lead for the first time in this tight contest
Round 7: P D T I U I F C U
Clive: pict
Ted: puft
DC: CUPID (5)
OT: DUCTI (5) PUDIC (5)
Score: 25–35 (max 54)
Both contestants blank this round with fours disallowed by Susie...........five seems to be the max in this round of stinky letters
Round 8: Q T S I A I N P B
Clive: PAINTS (6)
Ted: PAINTS (6)
DC: PIANIST (7)
Score: 31–41 (max 61)
Sixes all round from Clive and Ted...........but there was one seven that is music to Susie's ears with Pianist
Round 9: 100, 10, 9, 8, 6, 2. Target: 179.
C1: 179. 100 + 8 × 10 − (9 − 6 − 2) (10)
C2: 179. 100 + 8 × 10 − (9 − 6 − 2) (10)
Score: 41–51 (max 71)
A piece of piss this numbers game...........where the omelette method comes into play.........some games you can use all the numbers.......but not in all cases !
A nice tasty omelette........always a nice bit of scran with some salad
Teatime teaser: COMRADES -> MERCADOS
Round 10: H L G E U E A R W
Clive: LAUGHER (7)
Ted: HEALER (6)
DC: LAUGHER (7) LEAGUER (7)
Score: 48–51 (max 78)
Our champion has plenty laugh about as his seven Laugher reduces the arrears to 3 points with everything left to play for in this tight contest
Round 11: S T P I U A S G B
Clive: STAGS (5)
Ted: STUBS (5)
OT: AGISTS (6) PASTIS (6) STUPAS (6) TSUBAS (6)
Score: 53–56 (max 84)
Another stinky selection of letters yet again............both our challenger and champion can only manage 5.........but there was a few sixes sneakily hidden away........agists was my spot
Round 12: T D T O A O K R E
Clive: RATTED (6)
Ted: ROTATED (7)
DC: ROTATED (7)
Score: 53–63 (max 91)
Another good round from Ted that gives him a 10 point lead........can our champion Clive get himself back in this contest ?
Round 13: G N R I E A S R D
Clive: READINGS (8)
Ted: READINGS (8)
DC: GRAINERS (8) DRAINERS (8)
OT: GRANDSIRE (18)
Score: 61–71 (max 109)
Eights all round from our champion and challenger........and with 10 points being the difference between them both.......is there enough for Clive to make one final push ? However there was a 9 missed by all with Grandsire
Round 14: 25, 50, 100, 10, 9, 5. Target: 693.
C1: 690.
C2: 691. (50 + 25 − 5) × 10 − 9 (7)
RR: 693. (100 − (10 − 9)) × (50 ÷ 25 + 5) (10)
Score: 61–78 (max 119)
Sadly not and with Ted getting two away he is our new champion...........sadly for Clive it is game over...............Ms Riley gets to showcase her number talents and gets a perfect 10
Round 15: L O G F R I E N D
C1 buzzes on 7 seconds to say FOLDERING which is incorrect.
C2 does not buzz.
The answer was REFOLDING.
Final Score: 61–78 (max 129)
Our outgoing champion Clive buzzes in but guesses incorrectly............firstly congratulations to Ted Carter who is the new champion and the newest member of the teapot club...............seocndly take nothing away from Clive he gave as good as he got he will be happy with his two wins and the teapot but not enough for the series 91 finals week.........you can me join me again to find out if Ted can get win no 2 in the meantime......I bid you farewell !
C1: Champion Clive Surplice (2 wins, 158 points.)
C2: Challenger Ted Carter.
DC: Susie Dent and Shirley Ballas .
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.
R01: Y S P A E O N T M
R02: D C I E N R I O M
R03: 25, 3, 10, 9, 6, 3, . Target: 426.
TTT: TILECAST - "Were these created by someone who ran out of pastry?"
R04: D J R E U E T R L
R05: F L M A I O S E T
R06: 25, 2, 7, 10, 10, 8, . Target: 507.
R07: P D T I U I F C U
R08: Q T S I A I N P B
R09: 100, 10, 9, 8, 6, 2. Target: 179.
TTT: COMRADES - " It sounds like the Japanese emperors were shopping in Spain."
R10: H L G E U E A R W
R11: S T P I U A S G B
R12: T D T O A O K R E
R13: G N R I E A S R D
R14: 25, 50, 100, 10, 9, 5. Target: 693.
R15: L O G F R I E N D (conundrum)
And now a brief interlude before our main feature:
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
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Enjoy the show.
Round 1: Y S P A E O N T M
Clive: MOPANES (7)
Ted: ATONES (6)
DC: POSTMAN (7)
OT: APTONYMS (8) PAYMENTS (8)
Score: 7–0 (max 8)
A great start from our champion Clive with his 7 and the old Countdown favourite Mopanes.........ovder in DC Susie is stamping her authority with her 7 Postman............there were a couple of eight missed by all..........nothing worth having a catfight over !
Round 2: D C I E N R I O M
Clive: MINDER (6)
Ted: DICIER (6)
DC: DEMONIC (7)
OT: CREMINI (7) CRINOID (7) DIMERIC (7) DOMINIE (7) DORMICE (7) INCOMER (7) MIDIRON (7) MINORED (7) ONEIRIC (7)
Score: 13–6 (max 15)
Sixes all round nothing worth fighting over !
Round 3: 25, 3, 10, 9, 6, 3. Target: 426.
C1: 415.
C2: 427. (10 + 6) × 25 + 9 × 3 (7)
RR: 426. (3 × 3 × 9 − 10) × 6(10)
Score: 13–13 (max 25)
A good 1 away solve from Ted who now evens up this tight contest ........but Ms Riley gets to shine and showcase her number talents by achieving the perfect solution
Teatime teaser: TILECAST -> LATTICES
Round 4: D J R E U E T R L
Clive: RELET (5)
Ted: RULER (5)
DC: RULER (5)
OT: ELUTED (6) TELEDU (6) URETER (6)
Score: 18–18 (max 31)
Nothing much to see here..........quite a few 5s to be had............there was a fair few sixes that everybody has missed
Round 5: F L M A I O S E T
Clive: ISOLATE (7)
Ted: FILMSET (7)
DC: FOAMIEST (8) FLAMIEST (8)
OT: FLOATIES (8) FOLIATES (8) LOAMIEST (8)
Score: 25–25 (max 39)
Again more of the same sevens seems to be the max for our champion and challenger...........over in DC they get to show off with a couple of their eights........the one I spotted was Flamiest
Round 6: 25, 2, 7, 10, 10, 8. Target: 507.
C1: 508.
C2: 507. 25 × 2 × 10 + 7 (10)
Score: 25–35 (max 49)
A nice straightforward solve from our challenger Ted that gives him the lead for the first time in this tight contest
Round 7: P D T I U I F C U
Clive: pict
Ted: puft
DC: CUPID (5)
OT: DUCTI (5) PUDIC (5)
Score: 25–35 (max 54)
Both contestants blank this round with fours disallowed by Susie...........five seems to be the max in this round of stinky letters
Round 8: Q T S I A I N P B
Clive: PAINTS (6)
Ted: PAINTS (6)
DC: PIANIST (7)
Score: 31–41 (max 61)
Sixes all round from Clive and Ted...........but there was one seven that is music to Susie's ears with Pianist
Round 9: 100, 10, 9, 8, 6, 2. Target: 179.
C1: 179. 100 + 8 × 10 − (9 − 6 − 2) (10)
C2: 179. 100 + 8 × 10 − (9 − 6 − 2) (10)
Score: 41–51 (max 71)
A piece of piss this numbers game...........where the omelette method comes into play.........some games you can use all the numbers.......but not in all cases !
A nice tasty omelette........always a nice bit of scran with some salad
Teatime teaser: COMRADES -> MERCADOS
Round 10: H L G E U E A R W
Clive: LAUGHER (7)
Ted: HEALER (6)
DC: LAUGHER (7) LEAGUER (7)
Score: 48–51 (max 78)
Our champion has plenty laugh about as his seven Laugher reduces the arrears to 3 points with everything left to play for in this tight contest
Round 11: S T P I U A S G B
Clive: STAGS (5)
Ted: STUBS (5)
OT: AGISTS (6) PASTIS (6) STUPAS (6) TSUBAS (6)
Score: 53–56 (max 84)
Another stinky selection of letters yet again............both our challenger and champion can only manage 5.........but there was a few sixes sneakily hidden away........agists was my spot
Round 12: T D T O A O K R E
Clive: RATTED (6)
Ted: ROTATED (7)
DC: ROTATED (7)
Score: 53–63 (max 91)
Another good round from Ted that gives him a 10 point lead........can our champion Clive get himself back in this contest ?
Round 13: G N R I E A S R D
Clive: READINGS (8)
Ted: READINGS (8)
DC: GRAINERS (8) DRAINERS (8)
OT: GRANDSIRE (18)
Score: 61–71 (max 109)
Eights all round from our champion and challenger........and with 10 points being the difference between them both.......is there enough for Clive to make one final push ? However there was a 9 missed by all with Grandsire
Round 14: 25, 50, 100, 10, 9, 5. Target: 693.
C1: 690.
C2: 691. (50 + 25 − 5) × 10 − 9 (7)
RR: 693. (100 − (10 − 9)) × (50 ÷ 25 + 5) (10)
Score: 61–78 (max 119)
Sadly not and with Ted getting two away he is our new champion...........sadly for Clive it is game over...............Ms Riley gets to showcase her number talents and gets a perfect 10
Round 15: L O G F R I E N D
C1 buzzes on 7 seconds to say FOLDERING which is incorrect.
C2 does not buzz.
The answer was REFOLDING.
Final Score: 61–78 (max 129)
Our outgoing champion Clive buzzes in but guesses incorrectly............firstly congratulations to Ted Carter who is the new champion and the newest member of the teapot club...............seocndly take nothing away from Clive he gave as good as he got he will be happy with his two wins and the teapot but not enough for the series 91 finals week.........you can me join me again to find out if Ted can get win no 2 in the meantime......I bid you farewell !