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00:31Good afternoon and welcome to the Countdown Studio, and I can tell you that things are hotting up here because
00:35today we kick off with the first quarterfinal of the series. So, you know, hold on to your hats, hold
00:43on to your hats, it's going to be a tough old day. But before we kick off on the main
00:47business of the day, we really ought, I suppose, to take time out to wish Prince William a very happy
00:5330th birthday, Rachel.
00:55Yes. Close personal friend, is he? Have you ever met him?
00:58No, never have. Never. I met his mum and his dad, nice people, but I've never met the princes. But
01:06I think he's making a good show of things, isn't he?
01:08Yeah, he's doing a good job.
01:09He's like a really nice guy.
01:11Very likeable. Very likeable.
01:25Well, something he hasn't got already. Didn't Boris Johnson get him a tandem for the wedding? Something like that.
01:31Oh, did you?
01:31No, I'd get one of those. You know those little tents that you put the dogs in as you're cycling
01:35along? Because they've got a little spaniel, haven't they?
01:37They have.
01:37So, maybe he hasn't got one of those little dog carrier bike things.
01:40They've got a little Cocker Spaniel. Yeah. I bought one of those little things that you attach to a bicycle
01:47for the children, for the grandchildren.
01:50But they love it.
01:51My children, they're all about 30 stone, but my grandchildren. And they adored it. Anyway, enough of this, because there's
01:57very serious business to be done here, particularly with Rob Gibney. Welcome back, Rob.
02:03Eighth seed. Four wins. Total of 486 points. And you were last with us in April. That's right. Yeah. And
02:09in the meantime, you've been boning up on things or just mowing the lawn?
02:13I've been very busy working, actually. So, mowing the lawn, helping my wife in the garden, trying to clear out
02:18the garage on eBay and trying my best to basically be a good house husband.
02:24Good for you. All right. Well, good to see you. Eighth seed. Let me tell you, Rob, you're up against
02:29a pretty formidable young chap here by the name of Jonathan,
02:32and the kid Rawlinson from Sheffield. Yesterday, he completed his OctoChamp run. That's eight wins in a row. Yeah.
02:41And he came in with a whopping score of 860 points. So, he's actually number one seed. Yeah. So, let's
02:48see how we get on. He's very good.
02:50But then suddenly he goes all wobbly. You know. And then he regroups. But I think he was scoring over
02:56100 pretty much consistently, weren't you?
02:59Most games.
03:00Most games.
03:01Most games. No, he's a good chap. We like Jonathan. He's very modest. We like that.
03:04So, let's carry on with a big round of applause for Rob and Jonathan.
03:16And in the corner, Susie, we'll be talking at length to you later on. You'll be keeping us in line
03:20and we'll be hearing about your origins of words.
03:22Okay. And you're joined also, of course, on her penultimate appearance, if I can put it that way, with Penny.
03:29Yes.
03:30What about this 30th birthday for Prince William? Any words of encouragement?
03:34I was going to say my 30th birthday. I was going to say, well, it's years ahead. You can start
03:39saving now. I always find that I run out of dental floss. So, I just think you can't do better
03:44than a nice bit of dental floss. That would be my present.
03:48Oh, I think he'd be riveted by that. Now then, let's start the business of the day. Rob, take it
03:56away.
03:57Thank you, Nick. Rachel, could we start with a vowel, please?
03:59We can. Thank you, Rob. Start this quarterfinal with O.
04:04And another.
04:06E.
04:07And a third.
04:10I.
04:11And a consonant.
04:14Z.
04:15And another.
04:17K.
04:19And another.
04:21L.
04:22And a vowel.
04:25A.
04:27And a consonant.
04:30S.
04:31And a final.
04:33Consonant, please.
04:34And a final.
04:36N.
04:36Here's the countdown clock.
05:08Yes, Rob.
05:10A risky six.
05:13All right.
05:13Jonathan.
05:14I'll stay with a five.
05:16A five.
05:16Your five, Jonathan.
05:17Snake.
05:18Snake.
05:20Rob.
05:21Zoinks.
05:22Zoinks.
05:23Oh.
05:24Hello.
05:25Oh, yes.
05:25I like the cut of your hair.
05:27That's sort of a comic, isn't it?
05:28It sounds like it, doesn't it?
05:29Smash, wallop, zoinks.
05:31Whoa.
05:31Oh, it's not there.
05:33Oh, bad luck.
05:34Which is really bad luck.
05:35Because a lot of those words, as you say, that will come up in comics as exclamations are in.
05:39But that's not one of them, I'm afraid.
05:41And in the corner, no zoinks, but what have you got for us?
05:44Er, caroline, as in caroline and er, morphine.
05:47Yes, you wrap it around an ankle, for instance, wouldn't you?
05:51Yes, fine soft white clay used for medicine.
05:53Now then, Jonathan, take it away.
05:56Afternoon, Rachel.
05:57Afternoon, Jonathan.
05:58Can I have a vowel, please?
05:59Start with E.
06:02And a consonant.
06:04W.
06:05And a vowel.
06:08A.
06:09Consonance.
06:10H.
06:13Vowel.
06:15U.
06:16Consonance.
06:18D.
06:20Vowel.
06:22I.
06:24Consonance.
06:26S.
06:28And a final vowel, please.
06:30And a final.
06:31O.
06:33Here's the clock.
06:34Mic.
06:35C.
06:38C.
06:41C.
07:04Jonathan?
07:05Just a six.
07:06A six. Rob?
07:08Also a six.
07:10All right. Jonathan, six.
07:11A showed.
07:12Showed and washed.
07:14Washed.
07:16Showed and washed, washed and showed.
07:18What else have we got over there?
07:20Penny?
07:20You've got a nice one with seven.
07:22Yes, it's not actually that nice, but it's hideous in fact.
07:27That's seven.
07:28It's worthwhile though.
07:29Yes.
07:29It's very good.
07:31All right.
07:31So there we are, and six to Rob, Jonathan, 11, our number one seed.
07:38Rob, off you go.
07:41So, could we start with a consonant this time, Rachel?
07:44Thank you, Rob.
07:45N.
07:45And another.
07:48T.
07:49And a third.
07:51R.
07:52And a fourth.
07:55C.
07:56And a vowel.
07:58I.
07:59And another.
08:01E.
08:02And another.
08:06A.
08:07And another.
08:10I.
08:11And a final consonant, please.
08:14And the last one.
08:15R.
08:16Stand by.
08:18D.
08:19And a third.
08:19And a third.
08:22And a third.
08:42So we would be like, wow.
08:43Oh, oh.
08:47Something that works.
08:48Yes, Rob
08:51Seven a seven Jonathan seven. All right, Rob a certain
08:57right certain and
09:00Jonathan inertia
09:01inertia
09:02That's a good one. Very well done
09:05Like that. Mm-hmm. You're happy over there. Yes, I'm just having a little look at our sort of what
09:10we've come up with
09:11You've just come up with criteria. I came up with scent
09:17And that's the only eight criteria all right
09:2113 to 18
09:23Jonathan leads and Jonathan's your letters game
09:26Can I start the vowel please Rachel? Thank you, Jonathan. Oh
09:30and the consonants
09:33F
09:35Vowel
09:36E
09:37Consonant
09:39L
09:42Vowel
09:42You
09:44Consonants
09:45T
09:47T
09:47Vowel
09:49I
09:52Consonant
09:54S
09:55And a final vowel, please
09:57And the last one
09:58O
10:00Here we go
10:19If you have in the middle of the year I would like to come and ask in the middle of
10:20the year
10:20We go to the clock and do it
10:20No, no, no
10:20No, no, no
10:21Oh
10:21No, no
10:31We have to do it
10:32Jonathan? An eight. Eight. And Rob? Eight. Eight, all right. And Jonathan, your eight? Out flies. Out flies, good. I've
10:42got the same. Right. Check it out there, Jonathan. Very good. Excellent.
10:52And in the corner? There's a slightly more frivolous seven, which is footsie, as in playing footsie under the table.
11:01Footsie. Very good. All right. So, Rob, first numbers game of the day. Place your order.
11:08Thank you, Nick. Rachel, I'd like one large and any other smalls, please. Thank you, Rob. One large, number five
11:15small ones for the first one of this quarterfinal. And these five small are four, nine, five, eight, and three.
11:25And the one large, twenty-five. And the target should reach seven hundred and seven.
11:30Seven oh seven.
12:03Seven oh eight.
12:04Seven oh eight.
12:05Jonathan? Seven oh six, but it's not written down.
12:08Right. Take it away, Jonathan.
12:11So, five four is a twenty.
12:13Five times four is twenty.
12:15Add eight to twenty-eight.
12:17Yep.
12:18Times twenty-five.
12:20Times twenty-five is seven hundred.
12:22And then add the nine and take the three.
12:24And then nine less, what, sorry?
12:26Add the nine and take the three.
12:27The three.
12:28Yeah.
12:28Four, the six.
12:29And that's one away.
12:31Very good.
12:33And Rob?
12:34Nine times three is twenty-seven.
12:37Nine times three is twenty-seven.
12:38Five minus four is one.
12:40Yep.
12:42Add those together.
12:43Twenty-eight.
12:44Multiply by the twenty-five.
12:46Again, seven hundred.
12:47And you have an eight left over.
12:48And that's one the other way.
12:50Very good.
12:51Well done.
12:52But, not perfect, is it, Rachel?
12:55Well, if Rob would have stuck with his nine times three is twenty-seven.
12:59Times that by twenty-five.
13:01And you get six hundred and seventy-five.
13:03And then eight times four is thirty-two.
13:06You can add that on.
13:08Seven.
13:14That is the way to do it.
13:16That's what we call perfection, Rachel.
13:19Penny, speak to us.
13:21So, all this week, I've been talking about things that your mum says and whether they
13:26have merit.
13:27And I can't believe that there is one person here, or one person probably watching, whose
13:32mum has at some stage not said, you treat this place like a hotel.
13:37And so they always just say, you know, and when we go around to other people's houses,
13:41they're doing you a favour.
13:42It is your duty to make sure that you do them favours back.
13:46And I think I'm a very good guest.
13:48I always take my own rubber gloves.
13:50I've got very big hands, and I always take my own rubber gloves, because otherwise, trying
13:54to squash them into tiny, tiny rubber gloves makes them feel claustrophobic.
13:59And I can't wash up without them.
14:01Still with me.
14:04Except that there I was at a friend's house in Scotland, and I was there for a week, and
14:09I sort of didn't take my rubber gloves off, to be honest.
14:12There was a lot of washing up.
14:13There were a lot of us.
14:14And they kept on having guests.
14:16And one particular family came over, and they spent all day with us.
14:21So I was in and out of the sink, and I only took my rubber gloves off to eat.
14:25And as they left, the 14-year-old girl was heard asking her mother, but why did the cleaner
14:31have to eat all her meals with us?
14:36Sometimes you can go a little bit too far with the cleaning, I think.
14:40It's extraordinary.
14:41You would like to come up to our house, which you could spend a week, fortnight there.
14:44See you later.
14:45Floors.
14:46Yep.
14:46Dusting.
14:47Yep.
14:47All sorts.
14:47There'll be a lot of stuff in the skip.
14:49Yeah.
14:50Me included, probably.
14:51Now then, it's time for a tea-time teaser, and the teaser is a fib lust.
14:56And the clue, this person has a lust for telling fibs.
14:59This person has a lust for telling fibs.
15:18Welcome back.
15:19I left you with a clue.
15:19This person has a lust for telling fibs.
15:22And, clearly, a fabulist.
15:26A fabulist.
15:27Susie?
15:28Well, it can be quite literally somebody who composes fables, but more often, it's a liar.
15:34So, someone who invents very elaborate and very dishonest tales.
15:38Hence the clue.
15:40Hence the fabulist.
15:41Nothing to do with fabulous.
15:4328 to 33, Jonathan's still just in the lead.
15:46As we turn to you, Jonathan, see what you can do with this letters game.
15:51Can I start with a vowel, please, Rachel?
15:53Thank you, Jonathan.
15:54I.
15:55And a consonant.
15:57R.
15:59And a vowel.
16:00E.
16:02Consonance.
16:04D.
16:06Vowel.
16:07O.
16:09Another vowel, please.
16:12E.
16:13Uh, consonants.
16:15F.
16:17Uh, another consonant.
16:19S.
16:21And a final vowel, please.
16:23And the last one.
16:25I.
16:26Clock time.
16:28Clock time.
16:58Jonathan.
16:59Uh, just a six.
17:00A six.
17:01And Rob?
17:02Um, eight.
17:03And eight.
17:05Jolly good.
17:05Jonathan.
17:06Uh, no.
17:09Sorry.
17:10No?
17:10All right.
17:11Rob?
17:12Fireside.
17:14Fireside, excellent.
17:15Fireside.
17:15Classics.
17:16All one word.
17:16Very good.
17:21What's happened here is the baton has changed, or indeed the crown has changed, because Rob
17:25is now in the lead.
17:27Ooh, Jonathan.
17:28Thirty-six to thirty-three, Rob leads, and Rob, it's your letters game.
17:33Thanks, Nick.
17:34Can we start with a consonant, please, Rachel?
17:36Thank you, Rob.
17:37L.
17:38And another.
17:39V.
17:42And another.
17:44P.
17:45And another.
17:48M.
17:49And another.
17:53D.
17:54And a vowel.
17:57E.
17:58And another.
18:01A.
18:02And another.
18:06E.
18:07And another.
18:08And the last one.
18:10A.
18:12Stand by.
18:17A.
18:43Rob.
18:45Just six.
18:46And Jonathan.
18:47Seven, I think.
18:48All right.
18:49Rob.
18:50Vandal.
18:51A vandal.
18:53And deplane.
18:55Deplane.
18:56Deplane.
18:56Yeah, why not?
18:56Horrible word, but very good one.
18:58Yeah, well done.
18:59For these purposes, yes.
19:00To disembark from a plane is to deplane it.
19:02Deplane.
19:02That is not.
19:03They never say that when you're getting off a plane.
19:06Can you just remember when you're deplaning to take all your stuff, because the overhead lockers
19:10might have shifted and you might find some other animals.
19:12It's very American, but it, yeah.
19:14Deplane.
19:14It does happen.
19:15Yeah.
19:15Deplane, deplane.
19:16Deplane, deplane.
19:17Well, leaders switch back.
19:19Jonathan to 40 and Rob at 36, so the fight is on.
19:24Jonathan, letters game.
19:26Can I start with a vowel, please?
19:27Thank you, Jonathan.
19:29I.
19:30On a consonant.
19:30Consonant.
19:32S.
19:33Vowel.
19:35O.
19:36Consonant.
19:38X.
19:40Vowel.
19:42A.
19:44Consonant.
19:45N.
19:47Vowel.
19:49E.
19:50A consonant, please.
19:53H.
19:55And a final vowel, please.
19:57And a final.
19:59U.
20:00Here we go.
20:02Here we go.
20:03Here we go.
20:32Yes, Jonathan.
20:33A seven.
20:34A seven, Rob?
20:35A seven.
20:36Mm-hmm.
20:37Jonathan?
20:38Anxious.
20:39Anxious.
20:39I'm anxious as well.
20:40You're both anxious?
20:42Good reason to be anxious.
20:43What have you got for me?
20:44Anxious.
20:45Anxious.
20:46Anxious all round, I think.
20:47Anxious all round.
20:47Anxious all round.
20:47All right.
20:4947 to 43.
20:52Johnson back there.
20:53And it's a letters game, Rob.
20:56Thanks, Nick.
20:57Can we start with a consonant, please?
20:58Thank you, Rob.
20:59R.
21:00And another.
21:02C.
21:04And another.
21:07J.
21:08And another.
21:11M.
21:12And a fifth.
21:15G.
21:16And a vowel.
21:18A.
21:19And another.
21:22E.
21:23And another.
21:26I.
21:27And a final vowel, please.
21:30And a final.
21:31E.
21:33Stand by.
21:34Okay.
22:05Rob.
22:08I'll stick with a six.
22:10All right.
22:11Jonathan.
22:12A six also.
22:14Rob, six.
22:15K.
22:15K.
22:16K.
22:17Yes.
22:18Mirage.
22:19Mirage.
22:20Yeah.
22:21Nice word.
22:22Yes.
22:22Very good.
22:23Anything else?
22:24There is a seven, actually.
22:25Grimace.
22:26Grimace.
22:27Is there to grimace.
22:28All right.
22:2949 to 53.
22:30Close run thing.
22:32Jonathan clinging on to his lead there.
22:34But now it's time to release our grimace.
22:38Relax and listen for the wisdom of Susie.
22:41Susie.
22:42Well, Beastie has been getting a lot of mentions, Rachel's cat, and is being much maligned for her
22:49supersized nature.
22:51But we often talk about cats and we were wondering the other day, weren't we, about the origin
22:56of who's she, the cat's mother, which is something that a lot of us as children were
23:01scolded for if we used the word she instead of referring directly to usually somebody who's
23:07in the room and usually they were a little bit older.
23:09There's no colourful story behind it, but it was probably used because a cat's mother is
23:14usually some nameless unknown feline.
23:17I don't know if you know Beastie's mother, Rachel, but I think it was just the idea of
23:22anonymity.
23:23It dates back to the late 19th century, so it's very, very old.
23:27But staying on the feline theme, that cats, as I've mentioned many times before, appear
23:32so often in the English language and so many idioms.
23:35And I've talked before, I think, about the cat's pyjamas being one of those nonsense phrases
23:39like the bee's knees, the cat's meow, the cat's whiskers for something excellent.
23:42They all go back to the roaring 20s when there was much wordplay and frivolity around.
23:46But, there you go, cats appear a lot.
23:49So, good for Beastie, I say.
23:51Very good.
23:52Very good.
23:57Very good.
23:5949-53, Jonathan leads.
24:01Jonathan, numbers game.
24:04I'll take a risk with four large.
24:05Take a risk in the quarterfinal.
24:08I think it's possibly a good decision.
24:09Thank you, Jonathan.
24:10Four from the top and two little ones, your favourite.
24:12And for this game, the small ones are six and two.
24:16And the large four, 25, 75, 50, and 100.
24:21And the target, 535.
24:24535.
24:26535.
24:27535.
24:29535.
24:56So, Jonathan.
24:58535.
25:00Yes, and Rob?
25:01533.
25:03Right.
25:04Take it away, Jonathan.
25:05100 plus 2.
25:07100 plus 2, 102.
25:09Times by 6.
25:10Times 6, 612.
25:11And then 50 divided by 25 is 2.
25:14It is?
25:15Take it away.
25:16610.
25:17And then take 75.
25:18All right, perfect.
25:19535.
25:20Well done.
25:26Well done, Jonathan.
25:28Stretch is your lead, 623 to 49.
25:30But now it's time for a tea time teaser.
25:32And the teaser is, eat sushi.
25:35And the clue, it's about taking a break.
25:36And then another.
25:38And then another.
25:39It's about taking a break, and then another, and then another.
26:02Welcome back.
26:02I left you with the clue.
26:04It's about taking a break, and then another, and then another.
26:07And the answer is, hiatuses, hiatuses.
26:1263 to Rob's 49.
26:16Rob, don't let him run away with this now.
26:18It's your letters game.
26:20Can you start with a consonant, please?
26:22Thank you, Rob.
26:23D.
26:24And another.
26:27N.
26:28And another.
26:30W.
26:31And another.
26:34Y.
26:35And a vowel.
26:37A.
26:38And another.
26:40O.
26:41And a consonant.
26:43G.
26:45And another.
26:47R.
26:48And a final vowel.
26:50And a final.
26:51E.
26:53Stand by.
26:54OK.
26:54Davis.
26:55AAustralian.
26:57B.
26:58B.
27:04B.
27:05B.
27:18B.
27:21B.
27:22B.
27:24Yes, Rob
27:27I've got a seven a seven good Jonathan a 70 all right Rob first a dowager
27:35Dowager very good and the same way you're both Dowages
27:39Excellent. Well good words good words now in the corner a couple of sevens a wagoner and wordage
27:46Wordage yes the number of words. Yes is word very good
27:50Seventy to fifty six and Jonathan take it away
27:54Can I start with a vowel please Rachel? Thank you Jonathan. Oh and the consonants
28:00T
28:01down a
28:05Consonant and
28:07Val I
28:11Consonant L
28:14Val
28:17You consonants
28:20P and
28:22A final
28:23Val please and a final
28:26E
28:27Here's the clock
28:28I
28:29I
28:29I
28:30I
28:57I
29:02I
29:13I
29:14I
29:16I
29:16I
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30:07I
30:07I
30:07I
30:07I
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30:53I
30:54I
31:04I
31:08I
31:08I
31:10I
31:10I
31:10I
31:10I
31:10I
31:10I
31:11I
31:11I
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31:26I
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31:52I
32:04I
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32:06I
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32:06I
32:06I
32:06I
32:18I
32:21I
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32:45I
32:45I
32:45I
32:46I
32:46I
32:50I
32:57I
32:58I
33:00I
33:03I
33:07I
33:08I
33:12I
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33:17I
33:17I
33:18I
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33:31I
33:31I
33:31I
33:33I
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