- 13 hours ago
Category
📺
TVTranscript
00:30Hello, everybody. Welcome to Countdown this Tuesday afternoon.
00:34Let's hope the letters aren't too constricting
00:36and there's some easy adders when it comes to the numbers.
00:39How are you doing, Rich O'Reilly?
00:40Snakes.
00:41Snakes, well spotted.
00:42It's World Snake Day today.
00:45Some people keep them as pets.
00:46I have a mate who keeps snakes as pets,
00:49but it's one of those animals most people very squeamish about.
00:52What about you?
00:53We've had snakes as pets.
00:54My brother used to volunteer at the dangerous wild animal rescue facility
00:58and he used to take the sickest, most dodgy, on-the-last-legs animals
01:03and bring them to our place.
01:04So we had quite a few snakes, actually,
01:06and when the snakes, you know, were nearing their end,
01:09the cat would just go and sit by the vivarium.
01:11So you'd know when one of your lizards or your snakes
01:15or something was on its way out
01:16because the cat of death would go and sit by it.
01:18Well, still before a dog,
01:20let's slither on over the dictionary corner
01:22and introduce a couple of charmers.
01:23It is our G of the D, Susie Dent, and here all week.
01:26Isn't it brilliant to have him back?
01:28Well, what is he now?
01:29The list is so long.
01:30Last time he was here, we just said the comedian.
01:33Now we've got to add in future film star,
01:37Chris McCausland.
01:41Snakes is one of the reasons,
01:43one of the many reasons,
01:44I don't think I'll ever make it to Australia, Colin,
01:46because as you said,
01:47they only attack you if you go near them.
01:49I won't know if I'm moving closer to it
01:50or I'll be standing on them all over the place.
01:55Yeah, stay clear of that Australian term.
01:59John Stitcher is your champion,
02:00halfway to becoming an octo-champ.
02:02I know you'll want these stats
02:03because you're a quiz nerd.
02:05416 total points.
02:07So that's 104 is your average.
02:10But you're 50-50, aren't you, on the conundrums?
02:12Yeah, I got the first two
02:14and then I've had two silly guesses on the other two.
02:17Let's see if you can get your fifth win today.
02:18You're going to have to beat Fiona Wood,
02:20who's from Clackmaninshire but lives in Kenross.
02:24How are you today?
02:25I'm fine, thanks.
02:26Good.
02:26Listen, you spent four years,
02:29you and your husband,
02:30building your house.
02:31Yes.
02:32You know, like Grand Designs,
02:33when you see that, four years.
02:35Tell me about it.
02:35That sounds like amazing,
02:37but also so stressful.
02:39Yeah, it probably is one of the most stressful things
02:40we've ever done.
02:42We had a lot of help,
02:43though my dad did a lot of work on the house for us.
02:46We just never imagined it was going to be
02:48as hard as it was.
02:49I think probably most people
02:50who build their own houses
02:51say exactly the same thing.
02:53Yeah.
02:53You think if you'd known it was going to be like this,
02:55would you ever have started?
02:57But at least we ended up with a house
02:58that we wanted.
02:59But listen, do you know what's missing in that house?
03:01Teapot.
03:02Countdown teapot.
03:03Let's see if we can get you one.
03:04Good luck for you, O'Neill.
03:05Good luck, John.
03:08Shall we go first, as always?
03:10Hi, Rachel.
03:11Can I have a consonant, please?
03:12Start today with T.
03:14And another one.
03:16W.
03:17And a third, please.
03:20D.
03:21And a vowel.
03:22A.
03:23Another vowel.
03:25O.
03:26Another vowel, please.
03:27A.
03:28And one more.
03:37And a final, O.
03:39At Old Munden, the studio.
03:41Let's play Countdown.
04:12John.
04:13Just a six.
04:14Fiona.
04:15Six.
04:15Six.
04:15Well done.
04:16John.
04:16Rooted.
04:17And Fiona.
04:18A-rated.
04:19Fantastic.
04:20Very nice indeed.
04:21Lovely.
04:21Two sixes to start.
04:22Good start by the challenger, Chris McCausland.
04:25Well, I personally matched our Countdown champion here with Rooted,
04:29but I believe you've got a seven there.
04:31Yeah, not a snake, but a wood rat.
04:33Oh.
04:33And it's a rat-like rodent that accumulates up sticks and debris in its nest.
04:38All right, yeah?
04:39Yeah.
04:40Six points each.
04:40It's more letters now from Fiona.
04:43Afternoon, Rachel.
04:44Afternoon, Fiona.
04:44I'll start with a consonant, please.
04:47Start with V.
04:49And another one, please.
04:51S.
04:52And another.
04:53T.
04:55And a vowel.
04:58I.
04:59And another one.
05:00A.
05:02And another one.
05:03I.
05:05A consonant.
05:07G.
05:09And a vowel.
05:11A.
05:12And a final consonant, please.
05:15And a final.
05:16M.
05:16And 30 seconds.
05:18A consonant.
05:47Su.
05:47A场 Mayor.
05:47A씀.
05:47To be continued.
05:49Fiona? Seven. Well done. And John? I think I've got a seven.
05:52Seven as well. Fiona? Gamiest. Is that what you've written down?
05:56Yeah, gamiest. My handwriting's terrible.
05:58That pays in pheasant as the gamiest bird.
06:02Yes. The strong smell or flavour, especially when it's kind of high.
06:06Yes. Gamiest, absolutely fine in the dictionary.
06:08We had that. I thought it was like, Monopoly is the gamiest game.
06:13LAUGHTER
06:14I'll still take the points.
06:16Definitely. It is the gamiest game, though.
06:19If we're going to have that conversation, you're right.
06:22OK, 13 points each to the numbers for the first time today.
06:25We'll do four rounds in total. John, you're picking the first.
06:28One large, please.
06:30One large and five little.
06:33Let's see if the numbers play a big part in today's contest.
06:36The first one today, eight, one, nine, five, eight.
06:41And the large and 100.
06:43And the target, 463.
06:46Four, six, three.
06:47Numbers up.
06:48One 25,000.
06:50One, nine, zero.
06:52You trust the numbers oruno on ethnicity.
06:53Two, nine, zero.
07:07You trust me.
07:07You trust me, naaffod.
07:10You trust me.
07:11One, two, three.
07:184, 6, 3, John.
07:204, 6, 3.
07:21And for Fiona?
07:22Yes, I think I've got 4, 6, 3.
07:23Look at this.
07:25Right, John, off you go.
07:26100 minus 9 is 91.
07:2791.
07:28Times 5 for 4, 5, 5.
07:304, 5, 5.
07:31Add on one of the 8s.
07:32Straight there.
07:334, 6, 3.
07:34And Fiona?
07:359 minus 5 is 4.
07:37Yep.
07:37Times 100.
07:39400.
07:398 times 8 is 64.
07:42Add it on and take away the 1.
07:44Perfect.
07:44Another 10 points.
07:45Well done.
07:48Look at this.
07:4923 points.
07:50It says we get our first Tea Time Teaser.
07:52This references a former word number three in the snooker.
07:56For my money, the best pundit in the business and a good friend of mine.
07:59He will be thrilled to be in a Tea Time Teaser.
08:02The words are seen, caught, and the seen, for those who are visually impaired,
08:06S-C-E-N-E.
08:08So seen, caught.
08:09And the clue is, when it comes to snooker, Neil folds.
08:14When it comes to snooker, Neil folds.
08:24APPLAUSE
08:32Welcome back.
08:32When it comes to snooker, Neil folds.
08:35Hello, Neil.
08:35I know he watches Countdown.
08:37It's concedes.
08:38Concedes.
08:39All right, 23 points apiece.
08:40What a start from a challenger, Fionna Wood, and it's your letters.
08:44I'll start with a consonant, please.
08:46Thank you, Fiona.
08:47V.
08:49And another one.
08:51C.
08:52And a vowel, please.
08:53E.
08:55And another.
08:56A.
08:57And another one.
08:59U.
09:01And a consonant.
09:03M.
09:04And another one.
09:06D.
09:08And another consonant.
09:10G.
09:11And a final consonant, please.
09:13And a final K.
09:15Thank you, Rachel.
09:17Thank you, Rachel.
09:18Thank you, Rachel.
09:25Thank you, Rachel.
09:28Thank you, Rachel.
09:30Thank you, Rachel.
09:31Thank you, Rachel.
09:32Thank you, Rachel.
09:32Thank you, Rachel.
09:33Thank you, Rachel.
09:34Thank you, Rachel.
09:34Thank you, Rachel.
09:34Thank you, Rachel.
09:34Thank you, Rachel.
09:34Thank you, Rachel.
09:35Thank you, Rachel.
09:35Thank you, Rachel.
09:37Thank you, Rachel.
09:38Thank you, Rachel.
09:38Thank you, Rachel.
09:38Thank you, Rachel.
09:38Thank you, Rachel.
09:40Thank you, Rachel.
09:48FIONA WOOD
09:48A six.
09:49John Stitcher?
09:50Six.
09:51Yeah.
09:51Fiona?
09:52Mocked.
09:53Mocked and John?
09:54Mocked as well.
09:56Yeah.
09:56There you go.
09:57Still cannot separate.
09:58You're 29 points each.
09:59Susie and Chris?
10:00Couldn't beat the six, could we?
10:01No, couldn't actually even beat that particular word.
10:04I've tried all sorts of other ones with the dictionary,
10:06but I can't find it, so tough one.
10:08Right, we'll move on then.
10:09John?
10:10Consolant, please, Rachel.
10:11Thank you, John.
10:12D.
10:13And another one?
10:15P.
10:16And another one?
10:18R.
10:20A vowel?
10:21A.
10:22A vowel?
10:23E.
10:24And a vowel?
10:26E.
10:27One more vowel, please.
10:30U.
10:31A consonant?
10:34T.
10:35And finish with a consonant.
10:37Finish with M.
10:39And half a minute.
11:08I'll see you next time.
11:11Let's see if this separates you. John?
11:12Er, eight. Not written down.
11:15Fiona? Seven. What's the seven?
11:17Matured. Well, you've pushed him to this...
11:19Tampered. Tampered. It is there. Well done. Yes.
11:23APPLAUSE
11:25Well spotted, well spotted.
11:27The first lead of the day for our champion, 37-29.
11:32Talk to me, Chris. No, we had tampered,
11:34and you had another eight, didn't you? Yes.
11:36It's depurate or depurate.
11:39It is to free or take away impurities from something.
11:43One's tampering, one's the opposite. Exactly right. OK.
11:47Number second time today. Fiona?
11:50OK, I'll try four large and two small, please.
11:53I like your style. Four large, two small. Bold move.
11:57Let's hope it pays off. The little one's eight and four.
12:00And the big four, 100, 75, 25 and 50.
12:06And the target to reach, oh, 350.
12:10350, numbers up.
12:11Would you like to go inside?
12:27No one's the most.
12:37Oh, you got that.
12:40Was you sure?
12:41I know the target here.
12:41Right, let's get it out of the way.
12:42350, Fiona?
12:44Yes, 350.
12:45John?
12:45Go ahead, Fiona.
12:46Four times 100 minus 50.
12:49350.
12:50That was the way I went as well.
12:51Yes.
12:53Have we just had the most pointless 30 seconds on British television?
12:56Oh, no, we've had more pointless 30 seconds than that.
12:59Don't worry about that.
13:01Well, it's just a little bit more time to speak to you, Chris McCausland.
13:05You told us yesterday all about this Christmas movie you've made with Lee Mack,
13:09which I'm really excited about now.
13:12Proper movie and everything.
13:13And your radio show's going great guns as well,
13:16so tell us a little bit about that.
13:18Yeah, no, I've got a comedy panel show which I created,
13:22which is on BBC iPlayer, and I host it.
13:27You see, when you can't see, I often find that, you know,
13:32you return on when you put the telly on,
13:33and it often takes me a while to figure out what I'm watching,
13:37just when you're listening to things.
13:39Or an advert will come on, and adverts can be quite ambiguous,
13:42you know, quite surreal at times.
13:44And they don't...
13:45It might pop up in writing at the end what it's for,
13:47but if you're just listening, you haven't got a clue what they were selling.
13:50So I had this idea, let's make everybody live in this world.
13:54So I play people audio with the visuals removed,
13:57and they have to figure out what's going on.
14:01So we play adverts, and they've got to figure out what they're selling,
14:04and I'll give them choices.
14:05Do you think it's a leading deodorant,
14:08a...the nation's favourite toilet roll, or holiday insurance?
14:11Yeah.
14:13And it's...it's...it's controlled chaos, you know.
14:15It's...the guys playing it.
14:17A lot of shows, contestants, you know, when you have funny people on,
14:21they're giving a lot of stuff to prep so they can turn up with funny things.
14:23They haven't got a clue what's coming up in this.
14:25But we have some mad games in it where I've dug out audio of...
14:29Believe it or not, but if you scour the...the audio archives of the BBC,
14:33there are things like...the...the hundreds of sounds of cats
14:37that seem to have been labelled with how the cat was feeling
14:40at the point it was recorded.
14:42So what I thought would be good is if we play these sounds back
14:44and we play a game of, guess how this cat's feeling?
14:47LAUGHTER
14:49So...I think some of these things could be...
14:50could be quiz shows in their own right.
14:53But we...we do a bit of that.
14:55We have...one of the things that used to cause me a lot of trouble
14:58with me daughter as she was growing up and wanting to learn about the world
15:01was she'd ask me what something was in a book from a picture,
15:05but I could only tell her once she'd describe the picture to me
15:08so I could figure out what it was she was pointing at.
15:10Yeah.
15:10So we...we...we have kids describing famous things,
15:14whether it's R2-D2 or the Statue of Liberty,
15:18and the guys have to figure out what it is that's being described.
15:21And it's...it's been loads of fun, you know,
15:23and we've had some...some cracking people on it.
15:26Um...me favourite of which was on this series,
15:30and it was the legend that is Sue Pollard.
15:33Ah!
15:34And she came on and she is...
15:37I've...she's...I think she's the only person
15:39that actually made me cry with laughter.
15:40I had tears running down my face.
15:42She is so wonderfully, um...natural
15:47and just willing to run with anything,
15:50and she's hilarious.
15:51And this is the, um...the shocking thing
15:53about when you're making things these days.
15:54A lot of the guys you make things with
15:56who are working in production are in their 20s,
15:58and I said, I want Sue Pollard on this,
16:00and they said, who?
16:01LAUGHTER
16:02And I said, look her up and, um, and get her on.
16:05And she came on and she didn't disappoint.
16:07But people can listen to her on BBC iPlayer,
16:10um, being absolutely wonderful.
16:12But it's called You Heardy Here First, mate.
16:14Sounds fantastic. Thank you, Mick.
16:15Cheers.
16:16APPLAUSE
16:18OK, what a tussle today.
16:20Look how many points we've doled out already.
16:2247 plus 39.
16:24More letters.
16:25Constantly, please, Rachel.
16:26Thank you, John.
16:47And here we go again.
16:53MUSIC PLAYS
17:24John?
17:25Seven.
17:26And for Fiona?
17:27Eight.
17:27An eight. What's the seven?
17:28Boilers.
17:29And this is to draw level.
17:32Broilers.
17:32Yes.
17:33Out of the R-N.
17:34Absolutely brilliant.
17:35Yes.
17:36APPLAUSE
17:38I'm guessing that's as good as it gets.
17:41Yeah.
17:41Yeah, we had a nice seven with, um,
17:43Orioles, O-R-I-O-L-E-S,
17:46and they, uh, they sound beautiful.
17:48I've not seen one, but birds with really bright black
17:51and striking orange and yellow plumage.
17:53You need to come into my world of baseball
17:55and you'd know all about them,
17:56the Baltimore Orioles.
17:57Oh, OK.
17:58There we go.
18:0047.8.
18:01Something tells me this one's gone to the bottom of the ninth.
18:03Let's get more letters.
18:04Fiona?
18:05A consonant, please.
18:06Thank you, Fiona.
18:07M.
18:08And another one.
18:10P.
18:11And another.
18:14D.
18:15And another.
18:17H.
18:18And a vowel.
18:20O.
18:21And another vowel.
18:23U.
18:24Another vowel.
18:26O.
18:28A consonant.
18:30P.
18:33And another vowel, please.
18:35Bit of a challenge.
18:36A final E.
18:38Let's play ball.
18:40O.
18:41O.
18:44O.
18:45O.
18:47O.
18:50O.
18:50O.
18:51O.
18:52O.
18:54O.
18:55O.
18:56O.
18:57O.
18:57O.
18:57O.
18:58O.
18:59O.
19:00O.
19:07O.
19:08O.
19:09O.
19:10O.
19:10Gemmy number, Fiona.
19:11A very dodgy seven.
19:12Oh, John.
19:13A very safe six.
19:15A safe six?
19:15Pumped.
19:16Pumped and for Fiona?
19:19Oomphed.
19:20Oh, what an audacious attempt.
19:23And I love it.
19:24Oomph is theirs and giving something oomph, but it's not there as a verb.
19:28I'm so sorry, Fiona.
19:29I love that.
19:30Anything else to add?
19:32No, we were lousy sixes.
19:34Look at that.
19:35John is back in the lead by six points.
19:3853 to 47.
19:40This game has some oomph, doesn't it?
19:41Let's get our third numbers round from John.
19:43Let's give six more a go.
19:44Six more.
19:45You're under more pressure now.
19:46Well, you want the challenge.
19:48Let's see.
19:49Both of you good at the maths.
19:51This time, the numbers.
19:52Seven, two, four, six, eight.
19:57And another four.
19:58And the target, 896.
20:02896.
20:03Number's up.
20:04The two.
20:05The number.
20:18The number.
20:18Good.
20:34Huge target, John.
20:35I think I've got it.
20:36Wow, Fiona.
20:37I haven't got anything.
20:38My goodness me, John.
20:40OK, let's try this.
20:41Seven times four is 28.
20:43Seven times four, 28.
20:44Times the other four is 112.
20:46Yep.
20:46And times that by eight.
20:47It was a lovely target with these numbers.
20:50Well done, 896.
20:54Really needed that.
20:5563 plays 47 as we get our second tea time teaser,
20:59which is Ogle Hand.
21:00Ogle Hand rushing straight into the song by Queen.
21:04Rushing straight into the song by Queen.
21:12APPLAUSE
21:22Hello again.
21:23Rushing straight into the song by Queen.
21:25Ogle Hand becomes headlong.
21:27Also a great song by The Frames.
21:29I'm sure a lot of our Irish viewers will know that.
21:31Still very much in The Frame is our challenger Fiona Wood.
21:35Just 16 points behind with six rounds to go.
21:37And you're choosing these letters.
21:38A consonant, please.
21:40Thank you, Fiona.
21:41S.
21:42And another.
21:44Z.
21:45And another.
21:47T.
21:48And a vowel, please.
21:50I.
21:51And another.
21:53And another.
21:54And another.
21:56E.
21:57A consonant.
21:59N.
22:01Another consonant.
22:03D.
22:05And a final consonant, please.
22:07And a final.
22:08T.
22:09Good luck.
22:40There you go, Fiona.
22:42I'll try an eight.
22:43You have to, you have to, John.
22:45I'm sticking with seven.
22:46Sticking with a seven, OK, the seven is?
22:47Seined.
22:48And what are you going for?
22:49Instated.
22:51Instated.
22:52Yes, you can reinstate someone,
22:54which means you have to instate them in the first place.
22:56Well done.
22:59Well spotted.
23:00Well spotted.
23:01Look at that.
23:02Back within crucial countdown, conundrum, territory.
23:04What a tussle.
23:05What a tussle, Chris.
23:06What have you got?
23:06I put this one right up.
23:08There were snakes, to be honest, but dentist.
23:12Fear of both.
23:13Fear of both.
23:14Nice.
23:15Little seven of zaniest, with that kind of...
23:18Nice, yes, zaniest, isn't it?
23:19But not daisiest.
23:20Not daisiest.
23:21It must just be me, but as soon as a z comes up,
23:24I just instantly ignore that and pretend it never happened.
23:27And nine times out of ten, it's the right tactic.
23:31Well done, Fiona.
23:32Look at that.
23:33Right.
23:34John, hear letters.
23:36Consonant, please, Rachel.
23:37Thank you, John.
23:51And one more consonant, please.
24:00And one more consonant, please.
24:01And countdown.
24:03And countdown.
24:33All right, John.
24:34I think I've got an eight.
24:35And Fiona.
24:36I'll have to try and eat, then.
24:37You're going to have to.
24:38John.
24:39Roysting?
24:41Roysting and Fiona.
24:42Yeah, it's the same.
24:43Right.
24:44If they both have it, I'm betting every penny it's in.
24:48It's not.
24:50Roystering would be there, but not voiced by itself, I'm afraid.
24:54Goodness me, Chris.
24:55There you go.
24:56They were both thwarted by those letters.
24:58There you go.
24:59I got a bit caught up trying to do something with a double G in the middle and didn't quite
25:02manage it, but Susie did.
25:04Yeah, you can use it with ringgits, and they are the basic monetary unit of Malaysia.
25:11Oh, really?
25:12So, R-I-N-G-G-I-T-S.
25:14That's for an eight.
25:15That's huge.
25:16Well done.
25:17Congratulations.
25:19Congratulations.
25:20It's a word.
25:2363.55 with four rounds left as we head over to the dictionary corner for our origins
25:28of words today.
25:30Yeah, today, a question from Les Powell, who's a regular correspondent, and he asks about
25:36the word publican.
25:37When and how, Les asked, did this become to mean a pub owner or an innkeeper?
25:43Is there any relationship between that meaning and the republic of a country and, indeed,
25:48the USA Republican Party?
25:50Are they all related?
25:52So, I'm going to kick off with a curious history of the word publican because it meant something
25:58rather different to its meaning today.
26:00So, in ancient Rome, publicans were public contractors, and they served in an official
26:07capacity by supplying the Roman legions and the military.
26:11They managed the collection of taxes, oversaw building projects, et cetera.
26:17And they also served as tax collectors for the Roman Republic and later the Roman Empire.
26:23And they were acting on behalf, you would think, of the public, hence the name.
26:30But, as you can imagine, as tax collectors, they weren't entirely popular.
26:34So, they came to be viewed as immoral at best and treacherous at worst because they were
26:39thought to be, you know, basically extorting money from private, ordinary citizens.
26:45And you can see that link in the Bible, lots of parables involving publicans and perceived
26:50sin, et cetera.
26:51Anyway, that root of the word, as I say, explains the link between publican and the public.
26:56Both go back to that Latin publicus, which meant public, and publicum, which actually meant
27:00public revenue, but they were, for all their bad reputation, public contractors.
27:05And so, that is why you get the publican today.
27:07They were operating in a public house, which was originally any building open to the public.
27:14Eventually, then, an inn that provides food and is licensed to sell ale and wine, et cetera.
27:19And finally, the tavern sense, I suppose, that we have today.
27:22Public house, obviously, shortened to pub.
27:24And you can, indeed, find that same Latin root in republic, the thing of the people.
27:30And the Republican Party, whose principle is to serve the business of the people.
27:34That's as they lay out their foundations.
27:38Incidentally, one other term for a tax collector was a scavenger, believe it or not.
27:43They were also a public contractor, then somebody who helped clean the streets, and then on to
27:48somebody who collected the rubbish for themselves.
27:50So, tax collectors have not had a particularly happy time, linguistically, over the centuries.
27:56But the publican was, indeed, one of them, to begin with.
27:59Thank you very much.
28:02Can I ask a question, though?
28:04Was the tax collector called a scavenger because scavenger had a negative connotation?
28:08Or did it not at that time?
28:11And it had a negative connotation because it was originally a tax collector?
28:14Yeah, it's a really good question.
28:15I think the latter, but I think it did then become completely linked to dregs and refuge and the sort
28:22of, almost the dregs of society.
28:24Yeah.
28:24So, I mean, I think the reputation was probably poor to begin with.
28:29Right.
28:30I think the word was probably quite neutral, but not for long.
28:33Yeah, yeah, yeah.
28:33Yeah.
28:34Until the tax collectors got hold of it.
28:35Yeah.
28:37Well, scavenging for about eight or nine points is Fiona Wood, our challenger.
28:42That's all she's behind.
28:43Eight points with four rounds to go.
28:46Our great champion, John Stedger, under real pressure, Fiona.
28:49Let's see what happens.
28:51Let's get more letters.
28:52Consonant, please.
28:53Thank you, Fiona.
28:54F.
28:56And another.
28:57W.
28:59And another.
29:01L.
29:02And a vowel, please.
29:04E.
29:11And a consonant.
29:14S.
29:15Another consonant.
29:18L.
29:19And a final consonant, please.
29:21And a final.
29:23R.
29:23I'm kind of done.
29:25I'm kind of done.
29:55Fiona.
29:56Seven.
29:57John.
29:58Seven.
29:58Fiona.
29:59Fellers.
30:00Fellers.
30:01And John.
30:02Refuels.
30:03Yes, refuels.
30:04Fellers, Susie.
30:07Yes, either as a kind of riff on fellow, you can find that fella,
30:13or as in someone who cuts down trees.
30:15Yeah.
30:15Yeah.
30:15Fellers, right.
30:17Here we go.
30:18Last letters round.
30:19John, let's get straight to it.
30:20This is great to watch.
30:21Not great to play, though.
30:22Correct.
30:24Consonant, please.
30:25Thank you, John.
30:27N.
30:27And another.
30:29F.
30:30And another.
30:32S.
30:33And a vowel.
30:35A.
30:36A vowel.
30:37I.
30:38And a vowel, please.
30:40E.
30:41Consonant.
30:43D.
30:45Consonant.
30:46N.
30:47And one final consonant.
30:49And a final B.
30:51Big problem.
30:52Last letters.
31:14LEMON
31:23John?
31:24Seven.
31:25And Fiona?
31:26Seven.
31:26What's the word, John?
31:27Bandies.
31:28And Fiona?
31:29I've got the same.
31:30Brilliant, OK.
31:31But bandying about, the same word.
31:33Anything else in the dictionary corner?
31:34Nothing beyond seven.
31:3877 plus 69 with two rounds left.
31:42One of those will be the numbers.
31:43What a contest, Fiona.
31:45I'll have three large and three small, please.
31:47I think these numbers games could be decisive today.
31:50Let's see.
31:50Three large, three little final numbers.
31:52And they are four, three, ten.
31:57And the big one, 75, 25 and 100.
32:01And your target, 742.
32:04742, numbers up.
32:36742, the target.
32:38Fiona?
32:39742.
32:40And John?
32:41Yeah, 742.
32:42Off you go, Fiona.
32:4310 times 75, 750.
32:46Yep.
32:46100 over 25 is four, plus the other four is eight.
32:50And take it away.
32:51Well done.
32:52Crucial conundrum time.
32:54Yeah.
32:54Yeah, well done.
32:58It just felt written in the stars we were going to get to this point.
33:0287, 79.
33:04Fingers on buzzers, please.
33:06So far, when it comes to our champion, John Stitcher,
33:09his opponents have not been able to see the wood for the trees.
33:12But is Fiona going to stitch him up?
33:15Let's reveal today's countdown conundrum.
33:32Fiona for the win.
33:33Aggrieved.
33:34Let's have a look.
33:35Yes!
33:36Oh!
33:40And it's John Stitcher who's aggrieved.
33:43All these years later, first time with the late great Richard White
33:46lay in the chair and you won three.
33:48You've gone one better this time.
33:50But, John, my heart soars for Fiona.
33:52It breaks for you here because, you know, I think we just...
33:55It's one of those shows you don't want to lose anyone.
33:57How are you feeling?
33:58Um, well, I did one better than last time
34:00and it was a great contestant who beat me, so I can't complain.
34:02We knew it was going to be close.
34:03How are you feeling about that?
34:05I just can't believe it.
34:06Oh, my goodness.
34:07The house has got the teapot.
34:09Yeah.
34:09Wow!
34:10Right, you'll be switching chairs tomorrow.
34:11We'll see you then.
34:12Thanks.
34:13Happy days.
34:14Chris, Susie, thank you very much.
34:15Oh, I'm going to have to go.
34:16I'll get someone to check me dressing room for snakes
34:18before I go in there.
34:19We'll see you tomorrow.
34:20I'll volunteer.
34:21I'll take it.
34:22You have a look for that.
34:24Right, thank you so much, everybody.
34:25Lovely to have you tuned in today.
34:27You never know what you're going to get.
34:28Five days a week, same time, same place.
34:30You can count on us.
34:33You can contact the programme by email
34:35at countdown at channel4.com.
34:37You can also find our webpage
34:39at channel4.com forward slash countdown.