Wednesday 19th August 2026 ( Series 94 Preliminary 38 )
Posted: Wed Aug 19, 2026 5:28 pm
Hello and welcome to another midweek recap our current champion Matthew McGregor faces his toughest challenge yet......some of you will recognise today's challenger apterite Cammy Lovatt from series 75 where he lost his third game to the eventual series 76 semi-finalist Annie Humphries who lost her game to the eventual series 76 champion Stephen Read.......can he better two wins this time round.......so without further ado let's get this show on the road !
C1: Champion Matthew McGregor (2 wins, 219 points.)
C2: Challenger Cameron Lovatt.
DC: Susie Dent and Debbie McGee .
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.
R01: N C N A O E S R H
R02: T S K W I O N L A
R03: 75, 1, 7, 9, 6, 4, . Target: 695.
TTT: GOLDSHOE - "If AC/DC were Scottish, their famous hit would sound so different."
R04: D N T R O E O E X
R05: T R D I E I L H C
R06: 50, 5, 10, 2, 7, 2, . Target: 914.
R07: T G N E A I T P S
R08: G N G N O E O I P
R09: 3, 6, 1, 10, 1, 4. Target: 279.
TTT: RONSMATE - "He's not waiting in the sky; he's working in the shop"
R10: R L J D E U I O T
R11: R S T I E O M D E
R12: T P T Y S I A E A
R13: R D R E O I M L C
R14: 75, 6, 10, 7, 5, 2. Target: 979.
R15: A G U I L E R R R (conundrum)
And now a brief interlude before our main feature:
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Round 1: N C N A O E S R H
Matthew: SCANNER (7)
Cameron: SCANNER (7)
DC: ANCHORS (7) HOARSEN (7)
OT: ANCONES (7) ARCHONS (7) CANNERS (7) CANOERS (7) CHANSON (7) CHENARS (7) COARSEN (7) CORNEAS (7) OCHREAS (7) ORACHES (7) RANCHES (7) ROACHES (7) SENHORA (7)
Score: 7–7 (max 7)
What a great start from our champion and challenger..........quite a few sevens to be had ........but no extra points for spotting most of them
Round 2: T S K W I O N L A
Matthew: TOWAIS (6)
Cameron: TALONS (6)
DC: TONSIL (6)
OT: KOTWALIS (8)
Score: 13–13 (max 15)
Sixes all round from everybody.........but there is a gem of an 8 with Kotwalis that was spotted by our very own recap writer
Round 3: 75, 1, 7, 9, 6, 4. Target: 695.
Matthew: 695. 75 × 9 + (6 − 1) × 4 (10)
Cameron: 694.
Score: 23–13 (max 25)
A bit of early nerves from Cameron as he misses this fairly straightforward numbers game our champion picks up 10 points and an early lead
Teatime teaser: GOLDSHOE -> SHOOGLED
Round 4: D N T R O E O E X
Matthew: retoned
Cameron: ROOTED (6)
DC: RODENT (6)
OT: DENOTE (6) DENTEX (6) DEXTER (6) EXTEND (6) EXTERN (6) REDONE (6) RENTED (6) TENDER (6) TENDRE (6) TEREDO (6)
Score: 23–19 (max 31)
With our champion Matthew having his 7 disallowed by Susie.....and with Cameron picking 6 valuable points and reducing the arrears to 4 points.....but ther were a few sixes to be had.........sadly you don't get extra points.......again not gonna waste time arguing !
Round 5: T R D I E I L H C
Matthew: DICIER (6)
Cameron: CEILIDH (7)
OT: ELDRITCH (8)
Score: 23–26 (max 39)
What a fantastic seven from Cameron with Ceilidh..........but there was a solitary 8 cheekily hidden away with Eldritch
Round 6: 50, 5, 10, 2, 7, 2. Target: 914.
Matthew: 908.
Cameron: 912. (10 + 7 + 2) × (50 − 2) (7)
RR: 914. ((50 − 5) × 10 + 7) × 2 (10)
Score: 23–33 (max 49)
A good 2 away solve from our challenger Cameron that gives him a 10 point lead over our champion Matthew...........but Ms Riley shows us how it is done by producing the perfect solution that could bag you 10 points
Round 7: T G N E A I T P S
Matthew: TANGIEST (8)
Cameron: SPATTING (8)
DC: PATIENTS (8)
Score: 31–41 (max 57)
Eights all round nothing worth having a catfight over
Round 8: G N G N O E O I P
Matthew: OPENING (7)
Cameron: POONING (7)
OT: ONGOING (7) POGOING (7) PONGING (7)
Score: 38–48 (max 64)
Sevens all round.........let's jump to the next round shall we?
Round 9: 3, 6, 1, 10, 1, 4. Target: 279.
Matthew: 278. (6 × 4 + 3 + 1) × 10 − 1 (7)
Cameron: 278. (6 × 4 + 3 + 1) × 10 − 1 (7)
RR: 279. (6 + 1) × 4 × 10 − 3 + 1 (10)
Score: 45–55 (max 74)
A good one away solve from our champion and challenger...........Ms Riley shows us how it is done......and gets the opportunity to shine again
Teatime teaser: RONSMATE -> STOREMAN
Round 10: R L J D E U I O T
Matthew: OUTLIER (7)
Cameron: DILUTER (7)
DC: OUTRIDE (7)
OT: JOLTIER (7)
Score: 52–62 (max 81)
Sevens all round yet again.........nothing to see here
Round 11: R S T I E O M D E
Matthew: TIRESOME (8)
Cameron: DOSIMETER (18)
DC: DEMISTER (8)
Score: 52–80 (max 99)
What a piece of brilliance from our challenger Cammy he means business with his 9 Dosimeter which was my spot........our champion would need a miracle to get himself back into this contest
Round 12: T P T Y S I A E A
Matthew: PATTIES (7)
Cameron: PATTIES (7)
DC: SATIATE (7)
OT: AETATIS (7) APATITE (7) SATIETY (7)
Score: 59–87 (max 106)
Sevens all round........nothing worth arguing over.........play nicely children
Round 13: R D R E O I M L C
Matthew: MELODIC (7)
Cameron: LORIMER (7)
OT: DORMICE (7)
Score: 66–94 (max 113)
More of the same.........let's move on shall we
Round 14: 75, 6, 10, 7, 5, 2. Target: 979.
Matthew: 979. (7 + 6) × 75 + 2 + (10 ÷ 5) (10)
Cameron: 979. (7 + 6) × 75 + 2 + (10 ÷ 5) (10)
Score: 76–104 (max 123)
Both Matthew and Cameron have no trouble solving this bad boy............this bags them both 10 points each........but for our champion it's game over
Round 15: A G U I L E R R R
C2 buzzes on 4.75 seconds to say IRREGULAR which is correct.
Final Score: 76–114 (max 133)
What a fantastic win from our newest champion Cameron despite the early attack of nerves I have a funny feeling that we could be possibly seeing him over the coming days, but take nothing away from Matthew he put a good fight against Cameron with a rather respectable 76 points he will be perfectly satisfied with his only win and a teapot.........you can join me for the next recap and to see if Cameron can get win number 2.........in the meantime it is bye for now !
C1: Champion Matthew McGregor (2 wins, 219 points.)
C2: Challenger Cameron Lovatt.
DC: Susie Dent and Debbie McGee .
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.
R01: N C N A O E S R H
R02: T S K W I O N L A
R03: 75, 1, 7, 9, 6, 4, . Target: 695.
TTT: GOLDSHOE - "If AC/DC were Scottish, their famous hit would sound so different."
R04: D N T R O E O E X
R05: T R D I E I L H C
R06: 50, 5, 10, 2, 7, 2, . Target: 914.
R07: T G N E A I T P S
R08: G N G N O E O I P
R09: 3, 6, 1, 10, 1, 4. Target: 279.
TTT: RONSMATE - "He's not waiting in the sky; he's working in the shop"
R10: R L J D E U I O T
R11: R S T I E O M D E
R12: T P T Y S I A E A
R13: R D R E O I M L C
R14: 75, 6, 10, 7, 5, 2. Target: 979.
R15: A G U I L E R R R (conundrum)
And now a brief interlude before our main feature:
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Enjoy the show.
Round 1: N C N A O E S R H
Matthew: SCANNER (7)
Cameron: SCANNER (7)
DC: ANCHORS (7) HOARSEN (7)
OT: ANCONES (7) ARCHONS (7) CANNERS (7) CANOERS (7) CHANSON (7) CHENARS (7) COARSEN (7) CORNEAS (7) OCHREAS (7) ORACHES (7) RANCHES (7) ROACHES (7) SENHORA (7)
Score: 7–7 (max 7)
What a great start from our champion and challenger..........quite a few sevens to be had ........but no extra points for spotting most of them
Round 2: T S K W I O N L A
Matthew: TOWAIS (6)
Cameron: TALONS (6)
DC: TONSIL (6)
OT: KOTWALIS (8)
Score: 13–13 (max 15)
Sixes all round from everybody.........but there is a gem of an 8 with Kotwalis that was spotted by our very own recap writer
Round 3: 75, 1, 7, 9, 6, 4. Target: 695.
Matthew: 695. 75 × 9 + (6 − 1) × 4 (10)
Cameron: 694.
Score: 23–13 (max 25)
A bit of early nerves from Cameron as he misses this fairly straightforward numbers game our champion picks up 10 points and an early lead
Teatime teaser: GOLDSHOE -> SHOOGLED
Round 4: D N T R O E O E X
Matthew: retoned
Cameron: ROOTED (6)
DC: RODENT (6)
OT: DENOTE (6) DENTEX (6) DEXTER (6) EXTEND (6) EXTERN (6) REDONE (6) RENTED (6) TENDER (6) TENDRE (6) TEREDO (6)
Score: 23–19 (max 31)
With our champion Matthew having his 7 disallowed by Susie.....and with Cameron picking 6 valuable points and reducing the arrears to 4 points.....but ther were a few sixes to be had.........sadly you don't get extra points.......again not gonna waste time arguing !
Round 5: T R D I E I L H C
Matthew: DICIER (6)
Cameron: CEILIDH (7)
OT: ELDRITCH (8)
Score: 23–26 (max 39)
What a fantastic seven from Cameron with Ceilidh..........but there was a solitary 8 cheekily hidden away with Eldritch
Round 6: 50, 5, 10, 2, 7, 2. Target: 914.
Matthew: 908.
Cameron: 912. (10 + 7 + 2) × (50 − 2) (7)
RR: 914. ((50 − 5) × 10 + 7) × 2 (10)
Score: 23–33 (max 49)
A good 2 away solve from our challenger Cameron that gives him a 10 point lead over our champion Matthew...........but Ms Riley shows us how it is done by producing the perfect solution that could bag you 10 points
Round 7: T G N E A I T P S
Matthew: TANGIEST (8)
Cameron: SPATTING (8)
DC: PATIENTS (8)
Score: 31–41 (max 57)
Eights all round nothing worth having a catfight over
Round 8: G N G N O E O I P
Matthew: OPENING (7)
Cameron: POONING (7)
OT: ONGOING (7) POGOING (7) PONGING (7)
Score: 38–48 (max 64)
Sevens all round.........let's jump to the next round shall we?
Round 9: 3, 6, 1, 10, 1, 4. Target: 279.
Matthew: 278. (6 × 4 + 3 + 1) × 10 − 1 (7)
Cameron: 278. (6 × 4 + 3 + 1) × 10 − 1 (7)
RR: 279. (6 + 1) × 4 × 10 − 3 + 1 (10)
Score: 45–55 (max 74)
A good one away solve from our champion and challenger...........Ms Riley shows us how it is done......and gets the opportunity to shine again
Teatime teaser: RONSMATE -> STOREMAN
Round 10: R L J D E U I O T
Matthew: OUTLIER (7)
Cameron: DILUTER (7)
DC: OUTRIDE (7)
OT: JOLTIER (7)
Score: 52–62 (max 81)
Sevens all round yet again.........nothing to see here
Round 11: R S T I E O M D E
Matthew: TIRESOME (8)
Cameron: DOSIMETER (18)
DC: DEMISTER (8)
Score: 52–80 (max 99)
What a piece of brilliance from our challenger Cammy he means business with his 9 Dosimeter which was my spot........our champion would need a miracle to get himself back into this contest
Round 12: T P T Y S I A E A
Matthew: PATTIES (7)
Cameron: PATTIES (7)
DC: SATIATE (7)
OT: AETATIS (7) APATITE (7) SATIETY (7)
Score: 59–87 (max 106)
Sevens all round........nothing worth arguing over.........play nicely children
Round 13: R D R E O I M L C
Matthew: MELODIC (7)
Cameron: LORIMER (7)
OT: DORMICE (7)
Score: 66–94 (max 113)
More of the same.........let's move on shall we
Round 14: 75, 6, 10, 7, 5, 2. Target: 979.
Matthew: 979. (7 + 6) × 75 + 2 + (10 ÷ 5) (10)
Cameron: 979. (7 + 6) × 75 + 2 + (10 ÷ 5) (10)
Score: 76–104 (max 123)
Both Matthew and Cameron have no trouble solving this bad boy............this bags them both 10 points each........but for our champion it's game over
Round 15: A G U I L E R R R
C2 buzzes on 4.75 seconds to say IRREGULAR which is correct.
Final Score: 76–114 (max 133)
What a fantastic win from our newest champion Cameron despite the early attack of nerves I have a funny feeling that we could be possibly seeing him over the coming days, but take nothing away from Matthew he put a good fight against Cameron with a rather respectable 76 points he will be perfectly satisfied with his only win and a teapot.........you can join me for the next recap and to see if Cameron can get win number 2.........in the meantime it is bye for now !