Wednesday 12th November 2025 ( Series 92 Preliminary 98)

[Tracey Anne Mills]

Countdown recap for

C1: Champion Mark Allen (7 wins, 629 points.)
C2: Challenger Tony Mahoney.
DC: Susie Dent and Katharine Merry .
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.

R01: B D I R E T R O A
R02: L P I E L V U O R
R03: 25, 7, 1, 2, 6, 7. Target: 534.
TTT: BAITHASNT - "The bait hasn't worked — the mice are still living with us."
R04: T C R P E I A E S
R05: W S O D H A G O S
R06: 25, 100, 75, 50, 8, 3. Target: 970.
R07: Q E N D A T F E A
R08: P N I O T C I O F
R09: 75, 3, 8, 9, 1, 10. Target: 426.
TTT: REDEEMTOP - "If you need to step up, you can count on this."
R10: N R E A E U S M S
R11: L A C B O T E N U
R12: R T S I E U N T O
R13: G R A M E V I G U
R14: 7, 2, 4, 1, 6, 6. Target: 287.
R15: T I N Y C H A S E (conundrum)


And now a brief interlude before our main feature:

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Enjoy the show.

Round 1: B D I R E T R O A

Mark: BROADER (7)
Tony: ORBITER (7)
DC: RAREBIT (7)
OT: ABORTED (7) ARBITER (7) BOARDER (7) BROIDER (7) ORBITED (7) REBOARD (7) TARDIER (7) TARRIED (7) TRIBADE (7)
Score: 7–7 (max 7)

Round 2: L P I E L V U O R

Mark: PULLOVER (8)
Tony: VELOUR (6)
DC: ROUILLE (7)
Score: 15–7 (max 15)

Round 3: 25, 7, 1, 2, 6, 7. Target: 534.

C1: 532. (2 + 1) × 7 × 25 + 7 (7)
C2: 532. (2 + 1) × 7 × 25 + 7 (7)
RR: 534. ((2 + 1) × 25 + 7 + 7) × 6 (10)
Score: 22–14 (max 25)

Teatime teaser: BAITHASNT -> HABITANTS

Round 4: T C R P E I A E S

Mark: PICRATES (8)
Tony: PRACTISE (8)
DC: RECEIPTS (8) SPECIATE (8)
OT: CRISPATE (8)
Score: 30–22 (max 33)

Round 5: W S O D H A G O S

Mark: hogwash
Tony: SHADOWS (7)
DC: SHADOWS (7)
Score: 30–29 (max 40)

Round 6: 25, 100, 75, 50, 8, 3. Target: 970.

C1: 972. (100 + 25) × 8 − (75 − 50) − 3 (7)
C2: 972. (75 + 50) × 8 − 25 − 3 (7)
RR: 970. (100 − 3) × (50 ÷ 25 + 8) (10)
Score: 37–36 (max 50)

Round 7: Q E N D A T F E A

Mark: DEAFEN (6)
Tony: DEFEAT (6)
DC: ADNATE (6)
Score: 43–42 (max 56)

Round 8: P N I O T C I O F

Mark: FICTION (7)
Tony: FICTION (7)
DC: FICTION (7)
OT: COITION (7)
Score: 50–49 (max 63)

Round 9: 75, 3, 8, 9, 1, 10. Target: 426.

C1: 426. (75 − 1) × (9 − 3) − 10 − 8 (10)
C2: -
Score: 60–49 (max 73)

Teatime teaser: REDEEMTOP -> PEDOMETER

Round 10: N R E A E U S M S

Mark: MEASURES (8)
Tony: MEASURES (8)
DC: USERNAMES (18)
Score: 68–57 (max 91)

Round 11: L A C B O T E N U

Mark: COUNTABLE (18)
Tony: NOTABLE (7)
DC: COUNTABLE (18)
Score: 86–57 (max 109)

Round 12: R T S I E U N T O

Mark: STOUTER (7)
Tony: ROUTINES (8)
DC: RITENUTOS (18)
Score: 86–65 (max 127)

Round 13: G R A M E V I G U

Mark: MUGGIER (7)
Tony: MAGGIE (6)
DC: MUGGIER (7)
Score: 93–65 (max 134)

Round 14: 7, 2, 4, 1, 6, 6. Target: 287.

C1: 290.
C2: 287. (6 × 6 + 4 + 1) × 7 (10)
Score: 93–75 (max 144)

Round 15: T I N Y C H A S E

C2 buzzes on 26.75 seconds to say which is incorrect.
C1 does not buzz.
The answer was HESITANCY.
Final Score: 93–75 (max 154)