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00:05Good afternoon, Countdowners, and welcome to The Big One.
00:08It has been a fantastic series.
00:11Since January, we've seen 99 contestants from all corners of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
00:17We've had a rugby coach, balloon modeler, pub landlady, guest house landlady, police officer, singer, social worker,
00:25doctor, driving instructor, physiotherapist, house husband, several housewives,
00:30and of course lots and lots of retired folk and students, where would the show be without them?
00:34And here we are, with the two biggest brains and quickest conundrum spotters of them all in the final.
00:41And they are poised and ready to battle it out over letters and numbers one more time.
00:47Now, whoever wins the title of Countdown Series 64 champion will go away with this fantastic prize
00:52of the complete 20-volume Oxford English Dictionary, a top-of-the-range laptop,
00:58and a lifetime subscription to Oxford Online.
01:03Afternoon, Rachel.
01:04Afternoon, Geoff.
01:05Dressed for the final, looking superb.
01:07Thank you very much, you too, very dapper.
01:08Thank you very much, thanks.
01:10You've got any words of advice for our two finalists today?
01:12Oh, no, I don't do the words. No, just the numbers.
01:15Good luck.
01:16We have our fingers crossed for both of them today.
01:20Let's not leave them hanging on any longer, because I'm sure they are both on edge.
01:23We'll meet them.
01:24First of all, Adam Gillard, who is a master's student from Stanmore in London.
01:28He's the top seed, the man to beat.
01:31His Countdown CV says it all, really.
01:34Ten consecutive wins, all with three-figure scores, making a gigantic total of 1,128 points.
01:41In Wednesday's semi-final against the fourth seed, Andy McGurn, Adam's high standard of word-spotting included dialogue, emanates, retinue,
01:51and lunation.
01:52And to finish it off, he got the conundrum in just three seconds, turning onward I go into the answer,
01:58woodgrain.
01:59So, onward he goes into the finals today, with just one last hurdle between him and the series champion title.
02:06Our top seed, Adam Gillard.
02:16And up against him, Edward McCullough.
02:18Edward is our number two seed.
02:21He's a customer service advisor from Newry in Northern Ireland.
02:25Yesterday, he won his semi-final against Mary Adie, spotting some superb words along the way,
02:30like Solarise, Monika's, Pantoum, and the old Countdown favourite of Tangelo's.
02:36Not surprising then, that after also spotting the conundrum, in just over a second, he notched up a whopping score
02:42of 120 points.
02:44It means his total score in ten unbeaten games is 1,117.
02:51Now, Edward said at the end of yesterday's show, he was feeling hopeless, not hopeful about today's game.
02:59Is that still the feeling, Edward?
03:01I'm feeling less than hopeless.
03:05Well, let's put this in perspective.
03:07We have our top two seeds here now.
03:09Adam Gillard, as I mentioned, has scored 1,128 points.
03:13Edward McCullough has scored 1,117 points.
03:15Eleven points difference in ten games.
03:18This is almost impossible to call.
03:21Our number two seed is Edward McCullough.
03:31And if you can't stand the heat of the finals, then get out of the Countdown studio in Dictionary Corner
03:35at the day.
03:35It's Susie Dent and MasterChef's Greg Wallace.
03:43And the task for you two today is to beat these two in any single round of today's final, which
03:50is going to be pretty tough, I think.
03:52Which, we haven't done brilliantly so far against you, have we?
03:55No, it's a very tall order, that.
03:56We'll do our best.
03:57So, Adam is in the champion's chair.
03:59As such, he gets first pick of the letters.
04:01Off you go, Adam.
04:02Good afternoon, Rachel.
04:03Afternoon, Adam.
04:04Can I start with a consonant, please?
04:04You can, thank you.
04:05Good luck to you both.
04:06Start the final with W.
04:08And a vowel?
04:11I.
04:11A consonant.
04:14B.
04:14And a vowel?
04:17E.
04:17A consonant.
04:20S.
04:20And a vowel?
04:22O.
04:23And a consonant.
04:26R.
04:27A consonant.
04:29C.
04:31And a final consonant, please.
04:33And a final N.
04:35And for the first time in this final, here's the countdown clock.
04:38C.
04:39And a vowel?
04:41C.
04:57C.
05:09So, Edward, what have you started with?
05:11Eight, not written down.
05:12Eight, not written down.
05:13OK, Adam?
05:14Just seven.
05:14OK, what's the seven, Adam?
05:16Corby's.
05:16And the eight, not written down, then, Edward?
05:19Brownies.
05:21Brownies.
05:21Absolutely fantastic, Edward.
05:28Greg can relate to that.
05:30And then chocolate brownies, of course.
05:32Not girl guides.
05:33No.
05:38Was brownies as good as it gets?
05:40Yeah, brownies.
05:41It was, yes.
05:41Corby's are rooks or ravens, and that was very nice, too.
05:44Or cowries, which are marine mollusks, but that was brilliant.
05:47Eight, yeah.
05:47Yes, it's a superstar from Edward on the scoreboard,
05:50straight away with his eight points.
05:52And, Edward, it's your pick.
05:53Thanks, Geoff, and best of luck, Adam.
05:56Hello, Rachel.
05:57Hi, David.
05:57Let's start with a vowel, please.
05:58You can, thank you.
05:59Start with A.
06:00And a consonant.
06:02P.
06:04And a nuller.
06:06R.
06:07A vowel.
06:09O.
06:10And a consonant.
06:12D.
06:13And a nuller.
06:16R.
06:17A vowel.
06:20I.
06:21And a consonant.
06:24T.
06:24E.
06:25And a final vowel, please.
06:29And a final E.
06:32And your 30 seconds starts now.
06:34C.
06:35Bye.
06:35And a consonant.
06:36And a consonant.
06:56C.
07:03And a consonant.
07:04Adam how many eight and Edward also in it okay what's your eight Edward a predator and Adam
07:11prior eight predator and prior race how are you spelling I don't P R I O R a T E
07:19okay sure it's
07:21absolutely fine and it is yes to do with and the prior the male head of a household group
07:29of religious orders very good just two superb words was there anything else great soon there was
07:39another right there was parroted to parrot very good Adams on the scoreboard he has eight Edward
07:46has 16 and Adam it's your selection of a constant please thank you Adam L and a vowel I a
07:56consonant
07:56G vowel A consonant J in the vowel I a consonant N a consonant F and a final consonant please
08:17and a final T
08:19time starts now
08:26so
08:35so
08:52Edward, what have you got?
08:53Seven.
08:54And Adam?
08:55Also seven.
08:56OK, what's yours, Adam?
08:57Failing.
08:57And Edward?
08:58Jailing.
09:00Failing and jailing.
09:02Yes, good sevens.
09:03Very nice.
09:04Greg, Susie?
09:05One more seven, lifting.
09:08OK.
09:09Well done.
09:10Edward, it's your choice.
09:12Could I start with a vowel, please, Rachel?
09:13Thank you, Edward.
09:15E.
09:15And a consonant.
09:17D.
09:18And another.
09:20T.
09:22A vowel.
09:24I.
09:25And a consonant.
09:27D.
09:28And another.
09:31T.
09:32A vowel.
09:35E.
09:37And a consonant.
09:39S.
09:41And a final consonant, please.
09:45And a final W.
09:48And your 30 seconds starts now.
09:49That's it.
10:18For more information, please.
10:20Adam?
10:21Seven.
10:22And Edward?
10:23Seven.
10:24OK, what's yours, Edward?
10:25Twisted.
10:26Twisted.
10:27Adam?
10:27And the same word.
10:29Yes.
10:30Excellent.
10:32Twisted are seven points apiece.
10:34Now, Greg, Susie, what have you got?
10:37Teddies are there for seven, and deweist, the deweist morning, is another seven.
10:42Very nice.
10:43So, again, a few sevens available.
10:45Adam and Edward both found twisted.
10:47Adam moves on to 22.
10:48Edward still has that narrow advantage.
10:50He has 30.
10:51Time for the first numbers round of the final now.
10:54And, Adam, it's you to pick them, please.
10:56I'll try and get back on terms with six more, please.
10:58Six more, your secret weapon.
11:00Right, I'll see if it works for you, Adam.
11:02Thank you very much.
11:03So, this first number's going to the final.
11:05The six smaller.
11:06One.
11:07Six.
11:08Five.
11:09Seven.
11:10Another one.
11:11And eight.
11:13And the target to reach large, 785.
11:16Goodness me, this is a...
11:18Big target with those particular six small.
11:20You've got 30 seconds to reach it.
11:21Good.
11:22Six.
11:23Two.
11:24Two.
11:27Two.
11:30Three.
11:44Four.
11:45Five.
11:47Seven.
11:49Three.
11:51Come on.
11:51Five.
11:537.95, it's an absolutely enormous and difficult target, isn't it?
11:57Edward, how close?
11:587.92, not written down.
12:007.92, 7 away, OK.
12:02Adam?
12:02No one here.
12:03No one here, OK.
12:05Let's hear that 7.92 then, please, Edward.
12:08OK, 6 plus 5 is 11.
12:106 plus 5 is 11.
12:13Multiplied by 8.
12:15Multiplied by 8 is 88.
12:17And then 7 plus 1 plus 1 is 9.
12:207 plus 1 plus 1 is 9.
12:22And you might get 7.92 if you multiply them.
12:26And 7.92, very well done.
12:29Yeah, 7 away.
12:30Wow, very good, well done.
12:33Look, 7.85, Rachel, I'm guessing is impossible, is it?
12:36I would guess as well, Geoff.
12:38I would guess it's impossible, but really tough one, really worthy of this final, I think.
12:42Yes, it was indeed, yeah.
12:44So points for Edward means that he just edges a little further ahead.
12:47Adam has 22, Edward has 35, but we're just a third of the way through so far.
12:54A little breather for both of our finalists today, because we're back off to Dickshirey Corner.
12:58Greg Wallace of MasterChef fame has been our guest all this week.
13:01It's been lovely having him back once again.
13:03What are we going to talk about on this finals day, Greg?
13:05Well, it seems inappropriate having an amusing story in the middle of such a tense final.
13:10But I actually, in the canteen there, getting a cup of coffee, I bumped into a girl who actually used
13:15to work on MasterChef.
13:16A funny girl, and she's now up here.
13:18It reminds me of a story, you eat a lot of food on MasterChef and you put on a lot
13:22of weight while you're filming.
13:23And I said to her, well, I've just put on so much weight.
13:25She went, no you haven't, Lord.
13:26She said, you've heard that the camera puts £10 on you.
13:30I said, yeah.
13:31I reminded her of this story.
13:32She went, well, you go back in the studio and count how many cameras there are.
13:38At the start of the week, you said you'd been on a diet.
13:42How do you cope with that, with your legendary sweet tooth?
13:46What you do is, inside the studio, if it's there, eat it, try not to eat it outside.
13:52And also a lot of gym.
13:54A lot of gym.
13:55I'm at pound that treadmill, believe it or not.
13:57Yeah.
13:57No, I do believe it, Greg.
13:59It's true.
14:00How's the restaurant in Putney going?
14:02Yeah, good.
14:02We're starting to make some money.
14:03Restaurants are really, really difficult.
14:05But then if making money wasn't difficult, we'd all be millionaires.
14:08But I do like it.
14:09I do like playing in there.
14:10And yeah, it's starting to show a profit.
14:12Thanks.
14:12OK, Greg.
14:13Best of luck with it.
14:13Great to have you back here this week.
14:15Back to the final.
14:17Situation at the moment is that our top seed, Adam, is on 22.
14:20Our number two seed, Ed Willis, is on 35.
14:23Here's our first teaser of the day.
14:25The words are yak realm.
14:27Yak realm.
14:28And the clue, a lot of yakking about a load of old nonsense.
14:33A lot of yakking about a load of old nonsense.
14:49A lot of yakking about a load of old nonsense.
14:51Malarkey is the word we were looking for in our first teaser of the day.
14:55This is the series final, of course, and the standard incredibly high.
14:58At the moment, our top seed, Adam Gillard, on 22.
15:01Our second seed, Edward McCullough, with the advantage.
15:04He has 35.
15:06On to our next letters round.
15:07Edward, it's your pick.
15:08Could I start with a vowel, please, Rachel?
15:10Thank you, Edward.
15:12I.
15:13And a consonant.
15:15G.
15:16And another.
15:18N.
15:19And a vowel.
15:21E.
15:23Consonant, please.
15:25P.
15:26And another.
15:28S.
15:29Vial.
15:31A.
15:32And a consonant.
15:35N.
15:36And a final consonant, please.
15:40And a final R.
15:42And here's the countdown clock.
15:44You.
16:12And a consonant, please.
16:14This is the courtyard.
16:15I don't want to get this time gone eight not written down and ain't not written down. Okay, Edward it.
16:20Okay
16:20What's yours Adam spearing and yours Edward? Yeah, same word
16:26Yes, very points based Greg Susie. We've got all right. We look grannies
16:31Very good
16:33Spearing and grannies then both therefore eight on to our next round Adam. It's your selection of a constant place.
16:39Thank you, Adam
16:41s and a vowel
16:44E a consonant
16:47T a vowel a
16:51Consonant
16:53s and a vowel
16:55I a consonant
16:59M another consonant
17:02N
17:03And the final vowel please and a final E
17:08Your 30 seconds starts now
17:41Edward how many nine?
17:44Adam
17:45nine
17:48I don't let's hear your nine first place amnesties
17:52Edward yeah, same word
18:02Superb they don't miss a thing
18:05Greg Susie anything to offer there's another nine
18:08meatiness
18:16Very good indeed
18:1813 points the gap
18:20remains
18:20Adam on 48 Edward on 61 and it's every bit as good a contest as we imagined it would be
18:27Edward it's your choice
18:28Could I start with a vowel please Rachel?
18:31Thank you, Edward
18:31A
18:32And a consonant
18:35S
18:35And another
18:38D
18:39A vowel
18:41E
18:42And a consonant
18:45R
18:45And another
18:46B
18:48B
18:49A vowel
18:49A
18:52And a consonant
18:54D
18:56And a final vowel please
19:01And a final E
19:04Time starts now
19:36Adam
19:37Adam
19:37Seven
19:38And Edward
19:38Seven
19:39What's yours Edward?
19:41Bearded
19:42And Adam?
19:43Same word
19:46Yes, Bearded
19:47Excellent for seven for both Adam and Edward
19:51Now then what have we got dictionary corner?
19:53Just swapping it around slightly with food breaded
19:56Mmm
19:57Okay
19:58Adam it's your selection
19:59I'll start with a consonant please
20:01Thank you Adam
20:02M
20:03And a vowel
20:04A
20:06A
20:06A consonant
20:08C
20:09Vowel
20:10U
20:11Consonant
20:13P
20:14And a vowel
20:16A
20:17And a consonant
20:18T
20:20And another consonant please
20:22K
20:24And a final consonant please
20:26And a final H
20:29And your 30 seconds starts now
20:31And a final consonant please
20:32Can you tell me?
20:50Can you tell me that Ob شي
20:51But a consonant but I'm not a vowel is the same as one person
20:51Because I'm a vowel is the same as the person's power
20:51And that's the other one of the way
20:51And that's a vowel is the same as two man is the same as the same as one person's power
20:52And to have a vowel is the same as one person's return
21:03Edward how many just five and Adam also five, okay? What's your Adam patch and?
21:09Yours Edwards much patch and match. Yes difficult collection this time
21:15Can we manage more than five season hastily?
21:20It's strange because you really would expect this to be hyphenated, but it's not match up
21:24Which in America is a sporting contest between two teams. Oh, it can be a selected combination of people matchups
21:32Thank you very much indeed
21:33They can take a little respite right now because we're off to Dictionary Corner its origins of words time for
21:38the final time this week
21:40Susie what's it to be?
21:42Well really tense in the studio today, but hopefully
21:46Adam will be able to relax afterwards if not become Lotus eaters and the story of the Lotus eaters are
21:52really interesting
21:53We call someone that when they live a life of luxury and have no clue or no wish to indulge
21:58in practical concerns
22:00It goes back to Greek mythology where Lotus eaters were people who ate from the Lotus tree a plant whose
22:06fruit
22:07Had this effect of making people forget their friends and lose all desire to return to their native country and
22:13they only wanted to
22:14Live in idleness in Lotus land the reason I found it interesting is I have tried for years to do
22:20the Lotus position in yoga
22:21And it's named for the leaf of the Lotus tree
22:24Which as long as it rests on the surface of the water represents detachment
22:30Thanks, so it's indeed Susie Adam on 60 Edward on
22:4073 time for another numbers round of this final this time Edward is you to pick them, please
22:45Normally, I'll let you pick them Rachel, but I don't trust you. So just one large
22:50I wouldn't trust me, sir. What did you want one large one large fair enough? Okay, it would well six
22:56will work for you last time anyway, so
22:58Let's see if the one large does. Thank you. So for this round. They are three four five
23:05six
23:07two and
23:0825 and see if I can be trusted with the target
23:11895
23:1230 seconds to reach eight nine five
23:14I
23:45Looking for eight nine five
23:47Adam how close eight nine five and Edward eight nine five, okay?
23:51I'm Adam. Let's hear your version this time, please four plus two four plus two is six
23:56multiplied by the six multiplied by the six is 36 and by the 25 by the 25 for 900 and
24:02take away the five and take away the five eight nine five
24:06Edward same way
24:07It's different
24:1025 times four is 100 100 and then six plus three six plus three is nine
24:16Multiply them nine hundred and then take away the five and again eight nine five. Well done
24:26Well, then guys Adam moves on to 70 Edward on to 83
24:31Uh here's another teaser for you the words this time are crisp rod crisp rod and the clue don't pull
24:38them too hard
24:38You might tear your trousers don't pull them too hard. You might tear your trousers
24:59You might tear your trousers rip cords is the answer to our final teaser of the week and indeed our
25:05final teaser of the series
25:07Getting the crunch time really right now our top seed Adam Gillard on 70 and of a two seed Edward
25:13McCullough on
25:1483 Adam it's your pick I have a constant place. Thank you, Adam. Ah
25:20and a vowel
25:22Oh a consonant
25:25V a vowel I and a consonant
25:30N a vowel a
25:34a consonant
25:36L a vowel
25:40You and a final consonant, please and a final s and here's the countdown clock
25:47You and a vowel
26:14you can do that
26:15You and a vowel
26:18Edward, what have you got?
26:20Seven.
26:21Adam?
26:21Also seven.
26:22OK, what's your seven, Adam?
26:24Insula.
26:25And yours, Edward?
26:26Yes, same word.
26:29Insula, very good for seven.
26:31What have you got in dictionary corner?
26:32Greg, Susie.
26:35Various and urinals.
26:37OK.
26:38Edward, it's your selection.
26:40Could I start with a vowel, please, Rachel?
26:41Thank you, Edward.
26:43I.
26:43On a consonant.
26:46V.
26:47And a molar.
26:49F.
26:50A vowel.
26:52A.
26:53And a molar.
26:55E.
26:56A consonant.
26:58T.
26:59And a molar.
27:01M.
27:03And a molar.
27:05R.
27:07And a final vowel, please.
27:11And a final A.
27:14And your 30 seconds starts now.
27:17And a molar.
27:38And a molar.
27:38And a molar.
27:38And a molar.
27:38And a molar.
27:40And a molar.
27:41And a molar.
27:42And a molar.
27:43And a molar.
27:43And a molar.
27:45And a molar.
27:47Adam how many seven Edward seven okay what's yours Edward variate and Adam
27:54yeah very it say we're just fast across it yeah it's a quantity in statistics
28:01and there's a numerical value for each member of a group in math hmm too
28:06complicated for me that's for sure this is the final letters round of the
28:11contest Adam it's you to pick some of the constant place thank you Adam
28:15D and a vowel I a consonant C and a vowel O a consonant R and a vowel a consonant
28:30Q
28:32a vowel you and the final consonant please and a final Y time starts now
28:45so
28:57so
29:13What a collection of letters at this stage of the game.
29:16Edward?
29:17Six.
29:18Adam?
29:18Only five.
29:20Adam, what's the five?
29:21Curio.
29:22And the six, Edward?
29:24Cardio?
29:26Cardio is there, yes.
29:28Cardio, brilliant, absolutely brilliant.
29:31Bet your heart was racing when you came out with that one.
29:34Now what that means is that Adam is on 84 and Edward is on 103.
29:39The gap's 19 points, it's not quite enough just yet as far as Edward is concerned.
29:45Two rounds to go.
29:46Next is the numbers round and Edward, it's your pick.
29:49One large and five small pieces.
29:51Still not to be trusted.
29:52Definitely not.
29:53After all this time together.
29:56Fair enough to play at stake now.
29:57One large one and five small.
29:59I say that.
30:00We'll see how safe it is.
30:01Thank you, Edward.
30:02So the last numbers going with the final.
30:03We have six, four, five, another five, seven and 75.
30:11And the target to reach 139.
30:1330 seconds to reach 139.
30:44Take care.
30:47139 is the target then. Adam, how close? 139. Okay. Edward? 139. Right. Edward, let's hear your 139, please.
30:57Okay. 7 minus 5 is 2. 7 minus 5 is 2. Multiplied by 75. Multiplied by 75 is 150. And
31:05then take away the 6 and the 5.
31:06And the 6 and the 5 for the championship. Well done. 139.
31:15Adam, same method. Yeah. Brilliant. Well done, both of you. Adam moves on to 94 then. Edward is on 113.
31:27It has been a magnificent final. And there is just one round to go. Fingers on the buzzers, please.
31:35Let's see who will have the last word as we reveal today's Countdown Conundrum.
32:04Adam. Trousage?
32:07No, it's not. So the rest of the time goes to Edward.
32:20It was a tough conundrum, as befits a final. Let's just put everyone out of their misery now by revealing
32:27the answer. Here it is.
32:38Stegasaur was the answer.
32:40Our commiserations to Adam Gillard, who's played superbly and notched up 94 points.
32:45And our congratulations to the Countdown Series 64 champion with 113 points, Edward McCullough.
33:01Edward, very well played.
33:04You must have come into this series with some hope, but I guess no real expectation of winning the title.
33:10No. When I saw Adam at the Starless Series, I thought, yeah, I'm never going to win this because he
33:15was fantastic.
33:16And just all the way through, he's been a great competitor, you know.
33:20Yeah, well, I mean, absolutely. I think we would all echo that. Adam has been absolutely superb.
33:24It was just a final where you couldn't afford a single slip, Adam, could you?
33:28Yeah, and Ed's a brilliant opponent and just a great guy, generally.
33:30So I'm really happy I played in the final against him. Congratulations.
33:33Yeah. Well done to them both.
33:35A fitting climax, I think, to a superb Countdown Series 64.
33:44I've had a bad memory for as long as I don't remember. I'm going to do that again, shall I?
33:47And the first target of the week.
33:49It's a very small one.
33:51Sugar pie, honey punch.
33:53What else have we got?
33:54Delia, Susie.
33:56Sorry.
33:56Which of you girls is coming with me?
34:02Solarise.
34:04Appenum's.
34:04Pantoo.
34:09Edward Singleton.
34:14Yeah, I hope you'd agree it has been a fantastic season,
34:17and Adam Gillard has certainly played his part in that runner-up today, Adam,
34:22but there is a consolation and a very nice one as well.
34:25A cheque for £1,000, which Greg will now hand to you.
34:28Well done, Adam.
34:28Thank you very much.
34:29There you go.
34:38But the 20 volumes of the Oxford English Dictionary,
34:42a top-of-the-range laptop and a lifetime subscription to Oxford Online,
34:47as well as the most important part of this whole procedure,
34:51the title of Countdown Series 64 winner,
34:55goes to Edward McCullough.
35:08An absolutely superbly contested final at the end of a superb series.
35:13Hope you've enjoyed it.
35:14Join us again on Monday, won't you, at ten past three.
35:16From all of us here for now, though, have a great weekend.
35:18Bye-bye now.
35:20CHEERING
35:32Thank you so much for joining us.
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