Friday 11 June 2010 (Series 62, QF2)
Posted: Sat Jun 12, 2010 7:18 pm
Countdown recap for Friday 11 June 2010 (Series 62, QF2)
C1: No. 2 Seed Danny Pledger (8 wins, 635 points.)
C2: No. 7 Seed Nicki Sellars (6 wins, 556 points.)
DC: Susie Dent and John Inverdale.
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.
It’s Quarter-Final Friday on Countdown (as well as being the first day of the World Cup, of course) and today’s game features “Southend’s finest” (copyright Jeff Stelling 2010) Danny Pledger, who became the second of just two octochamps this series, and Nicki Sellars from Swindon (I’m resisting making any comments about the Wiltshire town), who was stopped on six wins after being knocked out by fellow quarter-finalist Lee Graham after they both failed to unravel a crucial conundrum back in April. Danny’s average per game is 79.38, while Nicki’s is 79.43, so if statistics are anything to go by, this could be a close one. Let’s see!
R01: M S F O E N T I P
R02: D P G U A E M T R
R03: S P N I E K N U S
R04: T R L E I O N Y A
R05: 100, 5, 7, 5, 6, 8. Target: 318.
TTT: NURSEJOY - "Don't stop believing on these long trips."
R06: S N R O E I D W M
R07: H S A E A V B S O
R08: N G D E O I R M A
R09: P S E U T L D A Q
R10: 25, 5, 10, 7, 7, 3. Target: 650.
TTT: ABITLONG - "It's not a bit long, but it's swelling by the minute."
R11: J R O A S T I G D
R12: R L V A E A N T O
R13: Z R T A E C H L A
R14: 100, 1, 6, 3, 10, 3. Target: 145.
R15: B A T C I R C U S (conundrum)
Countdown is sponsored by Vitabiotics Wellman. Well, I never.
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The programme opens with Jeff announcing that today is actor Gene Wilder’s 77th birthday, which leads him nicely into a discussion of the two film versions of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” with Rachel. Jeff gets rather unkindly compared to an Oompah-Loompah... I mean, compared to Des O, I reckon Jeff isn’t that orange at all...
Round 1: M S F O E N T I P
C1: PONIES (6)
C2: PIMENTOS (8)
DC: NEPOTISM (8)
Score: 0–8 (max 8)
A fantastic start from Nicki: is this the shape of things to come?
Round 2: D P G U A E M T R
C1: TRUMPED (7)
C2: UPGRADE (7)
DC: UPRATED (7) TEMPURA (7)
OT: GRUMPED (7) MATURED (7) TRAMPED (7)
Score: 7–15 (max 15)
Round 3: S P N I E K N U S
C1: SUNNIES (7)
C2: PINKNESS (8)
DC: SUPINES (7)
OT: PUNINESS (8)
Score: 7–23 (max 23)
A brilliant gamble from Nicki. In case you were wondering (and Susie didn’t mention it), SUNNIES is Australasian slang for sunglasses.
Round 4: T R L E I O N Y A
C1: RELATION (8)
C2: RELATION (8)
DC: ORIENTAL (8) ORNATELY (8)
OT: INTERLAY (8)
Score: 15–31 (max 31)
Round 5: 100, 5, 7, 5, 6, 8. Target: 318.
C1: 319.
C2: 318. (100+6)x(8-5) (10)
Score: 15–41 (max 41)
After five rounds, Nicki is still on a max game, while Danny is struggling somewhat. Can he do some catching up in Part Two? Before the break, John Inverdale notes that, among other things, today is also the anniversary of John Wayne’s death in 1979. He then relates various facts about the late actor, including reminding us that he never actually said “get off your horse, and drink your milk.” A pity, really, it would have made a great advert for Dairy Crest.
Teatime teaser: NURSEJOY -> JOURNEYS
Has Damo been watching Glee or is he a closet soft rock fan? ITWSBT.
Round 6: S N R O E I D W M
C1: MINDERS (7)
C2: SNOWIER (7)
DC: WINSOME (7) WEIRDOS (7)
OT: DISOWNER (8)
Score: 22–48 (max 49)
Nicki finally misses a max, but she’s still a match for the rollercoaster-loving Mr Pledger.
Round 7: H S A E A V B S O
C1: SHOVES (6)
C2: SHAVES (6)
DC: ABASHES (7)
Score: 28–54 (max 56)
DC spot the only seven; our contestants tie for the second round in succession.
Round 8: N G D E O I R M A
C1: DREAMING (8)
C2: DREAMING (8)
OT: DRAGOMEN (8) MARGINED (8) IDEOGRAM (8) ORGANDIE (8)
Score: 36–62 (max 64)
Make that three. Perhaps surprisingly, considering there were several, DC claim they didn’t see any eights.
Round 9: P S E U T L D A Q
C1: PULSATED (8)
C2: PLATED (6)
DC: STAPLED (7)
Score: 44–62 (max 72)
For the first time, Nicki fails to make her mark and Danny gets a chance to play a little catch-up.
OoW: Susie discusses the origin of mistletoe, as well as some of the folklore behind its use.
Round 10: 25, 5, 10, 7, 7, 3. Target: 650.
C1: 650. ((10x3)-5+(7/7))x25 (10)
C2: 650. ((7x3)+5)x25 (10)
Score: 54–72 (max 82)
With only 18 points between them, this could still go either way.
Teatime teaser: ABITLONG -> BLOATING
As Jeff reads out the clue (see above), Susie covers her face in embarrassment. Send your complaints c/o Damian Eadie, YTV, Leeds.
Round 11: J R O A S T I G D
C1: GROATS (6)
C2: RATIOS (6)
DC: ASTROID (7)
OT: ADJIGOS (7)
Score: 60–78 (max 89)
An ADJIGO (also ADJIKO) is a yam with edible tubers, native to parts of south-western Australia.
Round 12: R L V A E A N T O
C1: LATENt
C2: TRAVEL (6)
DC: VERONAL (7) TAVERNA (7)
OT: LEVATOR (7) VENTRAL (7)
Score: 60–84 (max 96)
Danny sees double – surely it’s all over?
Round 13: Z R T A E C H L A
C1: latcher
C2: HALTER (6)
DC: TRACHEAL (8)
Score: 60–90 (max 104)
I’m afraid it is now, as he risks the invalid ‘latcher’ for seven. Nicki seems hesitant about HALTER, but it’s fine, and she’s in the semi-finals. John Inverdale tells us that TRACHEAL means ‘related to the throat’, which is half-right: technically, it’s the windpipe.
Round 14: 100, 1, 6, 3, 10, 3. Target: 145.
C1: 146.
C2: 145. ((6+3)x10/(3-1))+100 (10)
Score: 60–100 (max 114)
Another numbers near-miss from Danny, while Nicki gets it spot-on for the third time today and also gets her first century to boot.
Round 15: B A T C I R C U S
No one buzzes. The answer was SUBARCTIC.
Score: 60–100 (max 124)
A tough conundrum, which apparently no one in the audience got either, despite there being several ex-contestants lurking therein.
Monday’s game will feature number three seed Dave Wilkinson (who was accidentally missed out of the seedings for a while during the series, but happily got restored!) against number six seed Lee Graham, with Paul Zenon alongside Susie in Dictionary Corner. Should be good! I’ll see you next Friday (OK, probably Saturday in actual fact) with the recap of the Grand Final of Series 62. I can’t wait!
This recap was brought to you by nodding dogs wearing England shirts.
Further summaries are at:
http://www.apterous.org/cdb/series.php?series=62
C1: No. 2 Seed Danny Pledger (8 wins, 635 points.)
C2: No. 7 Seed Nicki Sellars (6 wins, 556 points.)
DC: Susie Dent and John Inverdale.
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.
It’s Quarter-Final Friday on Countdown (as well as being the first day of the World Cup, of course) and today’s game features “Southend’s finest” (copyright Jeff Stelling 2010) Danny Pledger, who became the second of just two octochamps this series, and Nicki Sellars from Swindon (I’m resisting making any comments about the Wiltshire town), who was stopped on six wins after being knocked out by fellow quarter-finalist Lee Graham after they both failed to unravel a crucial conundrum back in April. Danny’s average per game is 79.38, while Nicki’s is 79.43, so if statistics are anything to go by, this could be a close one. Let’s see!
R01: M S F O E N T I P
R02: D P G U A E M T R
R03: S P N I E K N U S
R04: T R L E I O N Y A
R05: 100, 5, 7, 5, 6, 8. Target: 318.
TTT: NURSEJOY - "Don't stop believing on these long trips."
R06: S N R O E I D W M
R07: H S A E A V B S O
R08: N G D E O I R M A
R09: P S E U T L D A Q
R10: 25, 5, 10, 7, 7, 3. Target: 650.
TTT: ABITLONG - "It's not a bit long, but it's swelling by the minute."
R11: J R O A S T I G D
R12: R L V A E A N T O
R13: Z R T A E C H L A
R14: 100, 1, 6, 3, 10, 3. Target: 145.
R15: B A T C I R C U S (conundrum)
Countdown is sponsored by Vitabiotics Wellman. Well, I never.
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The programme opens with Jeff announcing that today is actor Gene Wilder’s 77th birthday, which leads him nicely into a discussion of the two film versions of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” with Rachel. Jeff gets rather unkindly compared to an Oompah-Loompah... I mean, compared to Des O, I reckon Jeff isn’t that orange at all...
Round 1: M S F O E N T I P
C1: PONIES (6)
C2: PIMENTOS (8)
DC: NEPOTISM (8)
Score: 0–8 (max 8)
A fantastic start from Nicki: is this the shape of things to come?
Round 2: D P G U A E M T R
C1: TRUMPED (7)
C2: UPGRADE (7)
DC: UPRATED (7) TEMPURA (7)
OT: GRUMPED (7) MATURED (7) TRAMPED (7)
Score: 7–15 (max 15)
Round 3: S P N I E K N U S
C1: SUNNIES (7)
C2: PINKNESS (8)
DC: SUPINES (7)
OT: PUNINESS (8)
Score: 7–23 (max 23)
A brilliant gamble from Nicki. In case you were wondering (and Susie didn’t mention it), SUNNIES is Australasian slang for sunglasses.
Round 4: T R L E I O N Y A
C1: RELATION (8)
C2: RELATION (8)
DC: ORIENTAL (8) ORNATELY (8)
OT: INTERLAY (8)
Score: 15–31 (max 31)
Round 5: 100, 5, 7, 5, 6, 8. Target: 318.
C1: 319.
C2: 318. (100+6)x(8-5) (10)
Score: 15–41 (max 41)
After five rounds, Nicki is still on a max game, while Danny is struggling somewhat. Can he do some catching up in Part Two? Before the break, John Inverdale notes that, among other things, today is also the anniversary of John Wayne’s death in 1979. He then relates various facts about the late actor, including reminding us that he never actually said “get off your horse, and drink your milk.” A pity, really, it would have made a great advert for Dairy Crest.
Teatime teaser: NURSEJOY -> JOURNEYS
Has Damo been watching Glee or is he a closet soft rock fan? ITWSBT.
Round 6: S N R O E I D W M
C1: MINDERS (7)
C2: SNOWIER (7)
DC: WINSOME (7) WEIRDOS (7)
OT: DISOWNER (8)
Score: 22–48 (max 49)
Nicki finally misses a max, but she’s still a match for the rollercoaster-loving Mr Pledger.
Round 7: H S A E A V B S O
C1: SHOVES (6)
C2: SHAVES (6)
DC: ABASHES (7)
Score: 28–54 (max 56)
DC spot the only seven; our contestants tie for the second round in succession.
Round 8: N G D E O I R M A
C1: DREAMING (8)
C2: DREAMING (8)
OT: DRAGOMEN (8) MARGINED (8) IDEOGRAM (8) ORGANDIE (8)
Score: 36–62 (max 64)
Make that three. Perhaps surprisingly, considering there were several, DC claim they didn’t see any eights.
Round 9: P S E U T L D A Q
C1: PULSATED (8)
C2: PLATED (6)
DC: STAPLED (7)
Score: 44–62 (max 72)
For the first time, Nicki fails to make her mark and Danny gets a chance to play a little catch-up.
OoW: Susie discusses the origin of mistletoe, as well as some of the folklore behind its use.
Round 10: 25, 5, 10, 7, 7, 3. Target: 650.
C1: 650. ((10x3)-5+(7/7))x25 (10)
C2: 650. ((7x3)+5)x25 (10)
Score: 54–72 (max 82)
With only 18 points between them, this could still go either way.
Teatime teaser: ABITLONG -> BLOATING
As Jeff reads out the clue (see above), Susie covers her face in embarrassment. Send your complaints c/o Damian Eadie, YTV, Leeds.
Round 11: J R O A S T I G D
C1: GROATS (6)
C2: RATIOS (6)
DC: ASTROID (7)
OT: ADJIGOS (7)
Score: 60–78 (max 89)
An ADJIGO (also ADJIKO) is a yam with edible tubers, native to parts of south-western Australia.
Round 12: R L V A E A N T O
C1: LATENt
C2: TRAVEL (6)
DC: VERONAL (7) TAVERNA (7)
OT: LEVATOR (7) VENTRAL (7)
Score: 60–84 (max 96)
Danny sees double – surely it’s all over?
Round 13: Z R T A E C H L A
C1: latcher
C2: HALTER (6)
DC: TRACHEAL (8)
Score: 60–90 (max 104)
I’m afraid it is now, as he risks the invalid ‘latcher’ for seven. Nicki seems hesitant about HALTER, but it’s fine, and she’s in the semi-finals. John Inverdale tells us that TRACHEAL means ‘related to the throat’, which is half-right: technically, it’s the windpipe.
Round 14: 100, 1, 6, 3, 10, 3. Target: 145.
C1: 146.
C2: 145. ((6+3)x10/(3-1))+100 (10)
Score: 60–100 (max 114)
Another numbers near-miss from Danny, while Nicki gets it spot-on for the third time today and also gets her first century to boot.
Round 15: B A T C I R C U S
No one buzzes. The answer was SUBARCTIC.
Score: 60–100 (max 124)
A tough conundrum, which apparently no one in the audience got either, despite there being several ex-contestants lurking therein.
Monday’s game will feature number three seed Dave Wilkinson (who was accidentally missed out of the seedings for a while during the series, but happily got restored!) against number six seed Lee Graham, with Paul Zenon alongside Susie in Dictionary Corner. Should be good! I’ll see you next Friday (OK, probably Saturday in actual fact) with the recap of the Grand Final of Series 62. I can’t wait!
This recap was brought to you by nodding dogs wearing England shirts.
Further summaries are at:
http://www.apterous.org/cdb/series.php?series=62