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00:31Well, good afternoon and welcome to the Countdown studio.
00:34We all like victories for common sense.
00:37We all know what is blindingly obvious.
00:40How about this for a story?
00:41It's about children, Rachel, playing hopscotch.
00:46Well, up in East Dumbartonshire, the owners, the managers of a local housing development
00:52put up notices to deter young children playing hopscotch by saying,
00:56please do not mark the open areas to ground with chalk as this reduces the appeal of our beautiful buildings.
01:06Well, some people just sort of don't get it.
01:08There we are.
01:10Can you think of anything where common sense failed to prevail or indeed did prevail in the end?
01:17The one that made me confused, in America, there was a teacher, this poor girl.
01:23She had an ex from a few years ago who decided to share some photos of her from years ago
01:28of her being topless.
01:29And because she was a teacher, she got fired from the school because someone, some swine posted pictures of her.
01:35What a rotten thing for her ex-boyfriend to do.
01:38I know, horrible, isn't it?
01:39Terrible, bad decision there.
01:40There it is.
01:42Now, Rachel, we've got Pauline back.
01:45Afternoon.
01:46Our table tennis player who's now got a teapot to add to the other 14 that you've got at home.
01:51Yes.
01:51Brilliant.
01:52Well, now, don't relax.
01:53Just because you've got a teapot, that's not the end of the story.
01:55OK.
01:56All right?
01:57I'm watching you, Pauline.
01:58Now, you're joined by Paul Nixon.
02:00We've got a Pauline and a Paul.
02:02And Paul is from Mount Surbiton in Surrey.
02:04He's an actuary.
02:05He's competed 20 half marathons, eight marathons, and even a 100-kilometre super uber marathon.
02:13Yes, I do like running.
02:14The longer, the better.
02:15You do.
02:16How are your marathon timings?
02:18Well, I managed to set a personal best of 2.45 for the marathon.
02:22Well, that's pretty good.
02:23At London this year.
02:24Well done.
02:25Getting faster, but I'm not getting any younger, so I'm not sure I'll be able to keep that up for
02:28much longer.
02:29Nonetheless, that's a pretty good effort.
02:30Let's have a big round of applause for Paul Nixon and Pauline Crear.
02:38I hope you two have a lot of fun this afternoon.
02:41Brilliant.
02:41And over in the corner, of course, we've got Susie.
02:43Of course, we have.
02:44We couldn't go on without Susie.
02:46And also, we've got poet, writer, broadcaster, comedian Pam Ayres, whose book up in the attic's just out.
02:53But this Thursday, you're off on tour.
02:57And you know how to start your tour, don't you?
03:00Where are you?
03:01High Grove.
03:01High Grove.
03:02High Grove, Nick, yes.
03:03Ah, brilliant.
03:04OK, let's turn to Pauline.
03:06Pauline, your letters can.
03:09Good afternoon, Rachel.
03:10Afternoon, Pauline.
03:11Can I start off with a consonant, please?
03:13You can indeed.
03:14Start with T.
03:16And another.
03:18Y.
03:19And another, please.
03:22L.
03:44And here's the countdown clock.
03:49Well, thank you.
03:50Why?
04:18Well Pauline? A seven. A seven. Paul? I'll try an eight. Right. Pauline? Goalies. Goalies and aligoties?
04:32That is absolutely brilliant. We haven't seen that. It's a variety of grape grown in Burgundy or a wine made
04:39from this grape. Well done.
04:45Good start. Now Paul, off we go. Your letters came. Hi Rachel. Hi Paul. Can I start with the vowel
04:51please? Thank you. Start with U. And another one? I. And another one? A. And another vowel please? E. And
05:02a consonant? T. Another consonant? R. And another one? D.
05:10And another one? T. And I'll finish with a consonant please? And finish with R. Stand by.
05:19T. Another one?
05:21T. Another one?
05:27T. Another one?
05:41No.
05:50Well, Paul?
05:51A seven.
05:53A seven. Pauline?
05:54I'll try a seven.
05:55Paul?
05:56Tarried.
05:57Tarried.
05:58And rattier.
06:01Yeah, you can definitely be rattier in the next person.
06:04Yeah, very good indeed.
06:05Very good. Well done.
06:07I wasn't very successful this time. I've got drat.
06:10Not much use.
06:11But we've also got the much more smart attired.
06:15Attired indeed.
06:16Which is seven.
06:18Thanks, Pam.
06:19Fifteen plays seven.
06:20Paul on fifteen.
06:21Pauline, it's your numbers game.
06:24Two large and four small, please.
06:26Thank you, Pauline. Two from the top pro.
06:28Four not.
06:28And the first numbers of the week are...
06:31Six, eight, seven, three, and a large two, one hundred and fifty.
06:38And your target, five hundred and sixteen.
06:40Five, one, six.
06:42Five, one, six.
07:10MUSIC CONTINUES
07:12Pauline?
07:14I think I've got 515.
07:16And Paul?
07:18514.
07:21Right.
07:22Pauline?
07:24I've done 100 plus 50.
07:27150.
07:29Times 3.
07:30450.
07:32And then 7 times 8 is 56.
07:35Yep.
07:36Add that on to the 506.
07:38Yep.
07:39And I did the 9 and the 3.
07:41Er, there is no 9, I'm afraid.
07:44Oh, no, the 3 and the 6 to make 9.
07:47Sorry.
07:48Er, you've already used the 3.
07:49I'm sorry, Pauline.
07:51Sorry.
07:51Never mind.
07:53Sorry.
07:53Bad luck, Pauline.
07:54Bad luck.
07:54Let's turn to Paul.
07:55Paul?
07:56Er, 7 plus 3 is 10.
07:59Yes.
07:59Times 50.
08:01500.
08:01And add on the 8 and the 6.
08:04Yes, 2 away.
08:05514.
08:06Is it possible to actually close in on 516?
08:09It is, Nick.
08:10You could start with 6 divided by 3 is 2.
08:14Add to 50 for 52.
08:16Times that by 8 for 416.
08:19And add on the 100 for 516.
08:21There it is.
08:24Thank you, Rachel.
08:28Bullseye, as we say.
08:30Bullseye.
08:31Time for a tea time teaser.
08:33Which is brings two.
08:35And the clue.
08:35The archer brings two sets of equipment to the contest in case he snaps one.
08:42The archer brings two sets of equipment to the contest in case he snaps one.
09:03The archer brings two sets of equipment to the contest in case he snaps one.
09:07He brings two bow strings.
09:09So the answer, therefore, is bow string.
09:1422 to 7.
09:16Paul in the lead.
09:17Paul, we turn to you.
09:18Let us go.
09:19A vowel, please, Rachel.
09:20Thank you, Paul.
09:21U.
09:22And another vowel.
09:23E.
09:24And another one.
09:25O.
09:26And a consonant, please.
09:28N.
09:29And another.
09:31R.
09:32And another.
09:33F.
09:34And one more.
09:36M.
09:38And a vowel, please.
09:41A.
09:42And I'll finish with a consonant.
09:44And finish with S.
09:46Stand by.
09:48Stand by.
09:52.
10:17Thank you, Paul.
10:19Eight.
10:19An eight and?
10:20Seven.
10:21And your seven is?
10:23Foreman.
10:24Foreman.
10:24Foreman.
10:25Thank you, Paul.
10:26Enamers.
10:28Enamers.
10:29Enamers is absolutely brilliant.
10:31Well done.
10:32Excellent.
10:32Well done.
10:36Praise indeed.
10:38Thirty plays seven.
10:40Pauline, your letters game now.
10:43A consonant, please, Rachel.
10:45Thank you, Pauline.
10:46D.
10:47And another?
10:49B.
10:51And another?
10:53N.
10:54And a vowel?
10:56E.
10:57Another vowel?
10:59A.
11:01And another?
11:03I.
11:05Consonant?
11:07R.
11:09And another consonant, please.
11:13S.
11:14S.
11:15And another vowel, then, please.
11:17And the last one.
11:18You.
11:20Stand by.
11:21R.
11:22And another vowel.
11:23And another vowel, then, please.
11:40I'm going to say, you know, I'm going to say, you know, I'm going to say, you know, I'm going
11:40to say, you know, I'm going to say, you know, I'm going to say, you know, I'm going to say,
11:40you know, I'm going to say, you know, I'm going to say, you know, I'm going to say.
11:40And another vowel, then, I'm going to say, you know, I'm going to say, you know, I'm going to say,
11:44you know, I'm going to say, you know, I'm going to say, you know, I'm going to say, you know,
11:44I'm going to say, you know, I'm going to say, you know, I'm going to say, you know.
11:52Thank you, Pauline.
11:54Seven.
11:55Paul.
11:56Eight.
11:58Mmm, that's that one point, isn't it?
12:02Pauline.
12:03Just trying to read my writing, Barneys.
12:06Paul.
12:07Brandies.
12:09Interesting.
12:10Brandies, excellent.
12:12And Barneys, unfortunately, is EYS in the plural.
12:14Oh, right.
12:16Sorry.
12:17And in the corner, Susie and Pam.
12:20We've got Bandier, as in one jockey was Bandier than the other.
12:26We've also got a nine.
12:30Urbanised is there.
12:31Urbanised.
12:37Now, 38 plays seven.
12:39Paul, it's your numbers game now.
12:42Can I have one large and five small, please?
12:44Thanks, Rachel.
12:45You can indeed.
12:46Thank you, Paul.
12:47And this time, the numbers are eight, seven, one, six, another six, and a large one, 50.
12:57And this target, 105.
12:59105.
13:01105.
13:01105.
13:0210, 10, 10, 10, 11,200, what we are?
13:0410, 12, trouble to call it.
13:1510, 11,utral, what we are.
13:1710, everything else.
13:1910, Vancouver, oh, this one, 30,000 people.
13:20five, seven, ten, 20,000.
13:20And this.
13:2510,000, two, three, one.
13:2510,000 and two, one, 10,000.aja
13:27cows, so many. Three,
13:28two, three, two, one.
13:32Well, Paul?
13:33105.
13:34And Pauline?
13:35105.
13:36Off we go.
13:37Paul?
13:378 minus 6 is 2.
13:39Yep.
13:40Times 50.
13:42100.
13:43Then add the 6 and take away the 1.
13:45And the other 6.
13:46Lovely.
13:46Well done.
13:47And Pauline?
13:48Take away.
13:49Yeah.
13:54So 48 plays 17.
13:56In Paul's favour as we, our eyes, turn to Pam.
14:02Pam, what have you got for us?
14:04Well, I'm a bit more thoughtful today, Nick.
14:06It's the time of year when our children go off to university.
14:10And it leaves a terrific gap, not always a welcome one.
14:15So this is a poem called A September Song.
14:19He is off to university.
14:21All is now in place.
14:23There is fear, anticipation and excitement in his face, an overstuffed enormous bag and
14:31rucksack in the hall, and a ghastly, leaden feeling like the ending of it all.
14:37I cannot let it show this selfish aching in my heart for the sweet, chaotic years in which
14:45you played the major part.
14:46I am fearful of the emptiness when you depart the room, and silence settles round us like
14:53the stillness of a tomb.
14:55At your bedroom door I used to stand and shake my head.
14:59The mess was unbelievable, the floor, the chair, the bed.
15:04The place was never hoovered, never felt a duster's touch.
15:08But now it's neat and clean, and I don't like it half as much.
15:14I loved you going out so young and eager and alive.
15:18I loved you coming home, your little car turned in the drive.
15:23The energy, the racket, all the songs you love to play.
15:27And I won't know where to turn to when the music dies away.
15:31There was ringing of the mobile, there was tapping of the text, the iPod and the iPad and
15:38the new thing coming next.
15:40There was passion, there was fashion, with your father in despair saying, in the name of
15:46God, what has that boy done to his heir?
15:49Now parents realise that all between them which has dwindled may be resuscitated and romantically
15:58rekindled.
15:58Old passions reignited, sexual energies uncurbed.
16:05But looking at your dad, I think I'll leave him undisturbed.
16:11My son is ready, independent, eager, fit.
16:15He has to go.
16:16He must take his chances now, I know, I know, I know, I know.
16:21He may make so many friends, he may be having such a ball.
16:24It may all be so exciting that he won't come home at all.
16:29And I am looking at a life that seems so drained of all its colour.
16:34The heart is gone from us, we are older, we are duller.
16:38Now when people ask us, we'll show photographs and say, our son's at university.
16:45That's right, he lives away.
16:56That's lovely.
16:58Oh dear.
16:59Listen, he'll be home with his washing at the weekend.
17:03Here mum, I've got my washing.
17:0648 plays 17, Pauline on 17, and it's Pauline's letters game.
17:12Consonant, please.
17:14Thank you, Pauline.
17:15N.
17:16And another.
17:18R.
17:20And another.
17:21V.
17:23And a vowel.
17:26E.
17:27And another vowel.
17:28O.
17:29And another vowel.
17:32I.
17:34A consonant.
17:36L.
17:38And another consonant.
17:41C.
17:43And a final vowel, please.
17:45A final A.
17:47Stand by.
17:49A consonant.
17:52A consonant.
18:02A consonant.
18:04A consonant.
18:05A consonant.
18:05A consonant.
18:05A consonant.
18:06A consonant.
18:07A consonant.
18:20Pauline.
18:20I'm going to try an eight, please.
18:22An eight. Paul?
18:23A seven.
18:25And your seven is?
18:26Clavier.
18:28Thank you, Pauline.
18:30Over Lane.
18:31Yes, in the dictionary. Well done, Pauline. Very good.
18:34APPLAUSE
18:39Good win.
18:40Pam. Pam and Susie.
18:42We're waxing horticultural here today.
18:44We've got two flowers. We've got Veronica.
18:47And also Lonicera, which can also be a type of honeysuckle, can't it?
18:52Yes.
18:52So we're very floral over here.
18:54Certainly are.
18:55Yes.
18:56Very good. A Veronica.
18:58Mmm.
18:5948, page 25.
19:02Paul, your letters go.
19:03Thanks, Nick.
19:04Vowel, please, Rachel.
19:06Thank you, Paul.
19:07U.
19:07And another.
19:09E.
19:10And another one.
19:11A.
19:12And a consonant, please.
19:14R.
19:15And another.
19:17L.
19:18And another one.
19:19C.
19:20Another consonant.
19:22R.
19:23And another one.
19:26T.
19:28And I'll finish with a vowel, please.
19:31Finish with I.
19:33Countdown.
19:34R.
19:35I'll finish with it for now.
19:48Trigger.
19:49I see there.
20:03That's what I've done.
20:04Paul. Seven. Pauline. Six. Your six is? Claret. Paul. Trailer. Yes, well spotted. Now, what's the corner got? Reticula is
20:21there for nine, characterised by fine network or net-like structure.
20:31Thank you. 55 to 25. Pauline, your numbers game. I'll have three large and three small this time, please.
20:40Why not, Pauline? Thank you. Gamble a little. Three from the top and three little. And we have one, six,
20:47and six, and the large one's 50, 100, and 75. And the target, 596.
20:55596.
21:28Pauline. 595. One away. Paul. 595 as well. Pauline. 100 times six. 600. And six minus one is five, and
21:42subtract.
21:42And that's one below. Paul. Same, same way. Same way. Now, Rachel, how difficult is this? 596, can you do
21:52it?
21:52If you start the same way, 100 times six is 600, and then the other six times 50 is 300.
22:02Divide that by 75 for your four to take away. 596.
22:06Terrific. Oh, well done. So, Pauline on 32 to Paul's 62 as we turn to our second tea time teaser,
22:19which is Pat Hatred.
22:21And the clue. Pat had a hatred for the car. She was driving. It was so unsafe. Pat had a
22:27hatred for the car. She was driving. It was so unsafe.
22:47Welcome back. I left you with a clue. Pat had a hatred for the car she was driving. It was
22:52so unsafe. In fact, it was. Rachel, A. Death Trap.
22:56Death Trap is the answer to that one. Now, 62 to 32. Paul, it's your letters, OK?
23:02Thanks. A vowel, please, Rachel. Thank you, Paul. E.
23:05And another one? O.
23:08And another one? E.
23:10And a consonant, please? S.
23:13Another consonant? T.
23:27And I'll finish with a vowel, please.
23:30Finish with U.
23:32Stand by.
24:02I'll finish with a vowel, please.
24:04Yes, Paul?
24:05Seven.
24:06Pauline?
24:07Six.
24:08Your six is?
24:09Honest.
24:10Honest. Yes, Paul.
24:12Notches.
24:13And notches.
24:14A couple of notches. Yes, very good.
24:17What news?
24:19We've also got contuse, which is seven.
24:22Yes, to bruise.
24:23Mm.
24:24Yeah.
24:24Anything else, Susie?
24:25Nothing beyond seven.
24:26No, afraid not.
24:26A nasty contusion.
24:28Yes.
24:29A nasty contusion.
24:31Sixty-nine to thirty-two.
24:34Pauline, your letters came.
24:36A consonant, please.
24:38Thank you, Pauline.
24:38P.
24:39And another?
24:41M.
24:42And again, please.
24:44M.
24:45And a vowel.
24:48O.
24:49Another vowel.
24:51I.
24:52And another vowel, please.
24:54A.
24:55And a consonant.
24:59S.
25:00Another consonant.
25:02T.
25:03And a final vowel.
25:07A final E.
25:09Stand by.
25:11And a vowel.
25:29And a vowel.
25:29And a vowel.
25:29And a vowel.
25:30And a vowel.
25:30And a vowel.
25:30And a vowel.
25:30And a vowel.
25:31And a vowel.
25:32And a vowel.
25:42Hmm, Pauline.
25:43I think I've got a seven.
25:45Thank you, Paul.
25:47Er, eight.
25:49And an eight.
25:50Pauline.
25:50Oh, well.
25:52Impost with an E on the end.
25:54I-N-P-O-S-T-E.
25:56And Paul?
25:58Nonius.
26:01Okay, so let me look at impost.
26:02Impost is there as a tax, but not with the E on the end.
26:06So I can't have that, I'm afraid.
26:08And monius is absolutely fine.
26:09You can definitely be the monius person around.
26:11Yeah, very good.
26:14Yes.
26:15Anything else?
26:16Susie has triumphed over here with a word I would not be able to tell you much about.
26:22No, unless you're a chemist, you are totally forgiven.
26:24Oh, thank you.
26:25It is a nine, though.
26:26It's a tomaines with a silent P.
26:29So P-T-O-M-A-I-N-E-S.
26:31And they're a group of compounds of unpleasant taste and odour formed in putrefying animal and vegetable massa.
26:38Lovely.
26:39Nice.
26:46To Mains.
26:4777 to 32, Susie.
26:50Susie, after that, what have you got for us by way of your wonderful origins of words?
26:56I have an email from an ex-contestant of ours, Terry Stapleton, who asked if I can solve an argument.
27:03Where does the term woolly back come from?
27:05I say, says Terry, it derives from cold delivery drivers who would wear a woolly vest to save housing their
27:11back.
27:11But a friend says it's from Lancashire.
27:14Can you explain?
27:16Well, to start off with, if you look in your dictionary, you'll find that a woolly back was, in the
27:2119th century, simply a term for a sheep, particularly in Australia and New Zealand, which makes perfect sense.
27:27But a century or two later, you find it creeping in to mean a person from the sort of outsides,
27:33a bumpkin, a hick, an oik.
27:35We have so many terms from them.
27:37And it's all to do with areas traditionally associated with the rearing of sheep, as you might guess.
27:43So the first one given is a native inhabitant, not of Lancashire, actually, but of Leicestershire.
27:49Leicester was long connected with the war trade, and so native Leicestershire folk were nicknamed woolly backs from the sheep
27:56raised on their meadows.
27:58It wasn't really very derogatory in those days.
28:00It wasn't particularly teasing.
28:01It was just a standard nickname for people from Leicestershire.
28:05But where it's kind of ended up now is Liverpool, pretty much.
28:09They are the sort of woolly backs.
28:11Lots of not very nice, snarling quotations here.
28:14Try to find a scouser at Anfield these days, and it's near impossible, full of woolly backs.
28:19Basically, it's been used by so many different people against so many others.
28:23People who were beyond the pale, seen as beyond the city walls, and so savage and uncivilised, basically.
28:30Thank you for that.
28:35Mmm, woolly backs.
28:3777 to 32.
28:39Paul, your letters came now.
28:41OK.
28:42Vowel, please, Rachel.
28:43Thank you, Paul.
28:44O.
28:45Another vowel.
28:46E.
28:47And another one.
28:48I.
28:49A consonant.
28:51S.
28:52Another consonant.
28:54M.
28:55And another one.
28:57H.
28:57Another consonant.
29:00P.
29:02Another consonant.
29:04G.
29:06And a vowel, please.
29:08And lastly, A.
29:11Stand by.
29:11H2O.
29:13So.
29:37H2O.
29:40H2O.
29:416O.
29:41Paul. Seven. And Pauline. Seven. Just scribbled down. Thank you, Paul. Magpies. Now, Pauline.
29:51Homages. Yes, you can put the S on. So, absolutely fine. Both give the seven. Anything else?
29:58No, I was with magpies as well. Magpies. Thank you. 84-39. Pauline, final letters game. Off we go.
30:07I'll start with a vowel this time, please. Thank you, Pauline. E. And another. I. And a consonant. D. And
30:17another one, please. F. And another. D. And a vowel. E.
30:26A consonant. Q. Thank you. Another consonant. W. I've got to have a vowel now, please.
30:39And lastly. O. Stand by.
31:15Pauline. Six. A six. And Paul. A six as well. Two sixes. Pauline. Defied. And your six, Paul? Same word.
31:23Defied.
31:24There we are. Share it with Pauline. Susie, anything else? Hands up. In total surrender with that one. We definitely
31:30didn't get a six, so well done.
31:31Well done. 90-45. Look at this, Paul. Your numbers game.
31:36Can I have one large and five small, please? You can indeed. Thank you, Paul. Finish off the contest with
31:41one big number and five little numbers, which are one, ten, nine, three, seven, and fifty.
31:50And the target? 835. 835.
31:55835.
32:24Well, Paul? 837. Pauline?
32:30835?
32:32Yes.
32:32Yes. Not fully written down. Try it. Written down in my peculiar way.
32:37Um, 50 minus one.
32:4050 minus 149.
32:43Times 7 plus 10.
32:457 plus 10 for 17. Times them together for 833.
32:50And then, uh, 3 minus 1.
32:53I'm sorry, you've already used your 1. I'm sorry.
32:56Yeah, of course.
32:57Oh, that is bad luck.
32:59You gave poor Paul a bit of a shock there.
33:02Now, now, Paul, what have you got?
33:04Uh, 10 plus 7 is 17.
33:08Yep.
33:09Times 50.
33:11850.
33:12Then 9 plus 1 plus 3 is 13.
33:15Yeah.
33:15Take that away.
33:17837.
33:18837.
33:19There we go.
33:20There's two away.
33:21But 835 was the, uh, the request.
33:23What have we got there, Rachel?
33:25Well, yep, if Pauline had stopped with her 3 there,
33:27that's actually the closest she could have got with 836.
33:30OK.
33:30OK.
33:32Anyway, Paul, look at you, nudging 197 to 0.45 as we go in to the final round.
33:39Fingers on buzzers.
33:41Let's roll today's countdown conundrum.
33:49Yes, Paul.
33:51Amazement.
33:52Amazement.
33:53Let's see.
33:56Amazement.
33:56Well done.
34:00Oh, well done.
34:01Well done, Paul.
34:02And fast, too.
34:03So, well done, indeed.
34:04107 points as well.
34:06High score.
34:07First time out.
34:09We'll see you tomorrow?
34:09We'll do.
34:10See you tomorrow.
34:11Tomorrow, Pauline, off home with a teapot.
34:15Yes.
34:16That's the important thing.
34:16And this goodie bag.
34:18Wonderful.
34:18You travel safely.
34:19You keep up the table tennis as well.
34:22Now, over in the corner, Pam and Susie.
34:24See you tomorrow, Pam.
34:24See you tomorrow, yes.
34:26And Rachel, too.
34:27See you tomorrow.
34:28Join us, then.
34:28Same time, same place.
34:30You be sure of it.
34:30A very good afternoon to you all.
34:33You can contact the programme by email at countdown at channel4.com, by Twitter at C4Countdown,
34:40or write to us at countdownleadsls31js.
34:43You can also find our webpage at channel4.com forward slash countdown.