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This episode's repeat was broadcast on Friday 22nd May 2020.
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00:15Thank you very much.
00:30Good afternoon and welcome to the Countdown Studio.
00:34Particularly to those north of the border.
00:36Why? Because it is, of course, Burns Night tonight.
00:39So lots of feasting on haggis, tatties, neeps and the occasional dram, I imagine.
00:45Have you ever been to one of these Burns Nights?
00:47Yeah, I've been to several, actually.
00:48There's a brilliant charity that I do a bit of work for called the Angus Lawson Memorial Trust.
00:52Yes.
00:53And they have a Burns Night supper every year.
00:56Excellent.
00:56So I've been to a few.
00:57Yeah, good, lively events.
00:59Absolutely.
00:59Lots of whiskey flowing.
01:01Lots of whiskey.
01:02He was a great romantic and a devil for the women.
01:05Fair enough.
01:06Yes.
01:06My love is like a red red rose or something.
01:08Is that right?
01:09Because we actually have with us here today, Innes Carson from Edinburgh.
01:14Edinburgh University.
01:16And there's this thing about addressing the haggis.
01:18It gets swords involved and all sorts of things.
01:21Yeah, it's all very traditional, yeah.
01:22Yeah.
01:23Great fun.
01:23Well, good to have you with us.
01:25A chemistry student from Edinburgh, as I say.
01:28A semi-fine in this back in 2009 and a member of the Edinburgh Countdown Club.
01:32Now, what's all that about, Innes?
01:33Well, it's a club that's been going for a very long time now.
01:36It's longer than I've been alive, actually.
01:37About 23 years now, I think.
01:39Really?
01:39It's a club set up by some of the star contestants from the very distant Passive Countdown.
01:44Two of them are from Edinburgh, so they just set up a club to encourage other sort of closet
01:48countdown fans in Edinburgh to meet up and play the game and talk about it.
01:52And it's popular?
01:53It's popular.
01:53It really took off at the time, and so it's been running strongly ever since, and it's
01:57still going to this day.
01:58Good for them.
01:59And you're a trumpeter, is that right, Innes?
02:01That's right, yes.
02:02I've been playing since I was seven years old.
02:04Yeah?
02:04It's my prime hobby.
02:05This is the logo of the Edinburgh University Brass Band, EUBB, who I've been playing with
02:12since my, throughout all my time at Edinburgh University.
02:15Excellent.
02:15It's great fun.
02:16Excellent.
02:16Well, very big warm welcome to you, Innes, on Burns Night.
02:20You're joined by Adam Gillard, who lives in Stanmore in Middlesex, recently completed
02:24a Master's degree in Speech, Language and Cognition.
02:28You lost the final, I think, in 2011, not so long ago, and you're hoping for a job in
02:34lexicography.
02:35Now then, you're eyeing Susie's chair?
02:39Perhaps one day, but I don't think that's going to happen.
02:42Well, I think she's pretty firmly ensconced in that chair, that throne.
02:45She is the queen.
02:47She is the queen.
02:47Indeed.
02:47But good luck to you, Adam.
02:48And I think we should give a big round of applause to both Innes and Adam.
02:58Very good.
02:59And, of course, Robbie Burns, famous for Auld Lang Syne.
03:04Sir Auld Lang Syne, should old acquaintance be forgotten, never brought to mind?
03:08I won't say old, but over in Dictionary Corner are two acquaintances that certainly will never
03:13be forgot.
03:14Susie Dent and Dame Margaret Manfred.
03:22Welcome.
03:23Welcome.
03:23Welcome.
03:23And now, we call upon you, Innes.
03:26It's an unusual name.
03:27Is that a strong Scottish name?
03:29Yes, it's very much a Scottish name.
03:30Yeah, you don't tend to see it anywhere else, really.
03:48Innes.
03:48A consonant, please.
03:49Of course.
03:50Start today with B.
03:52And another one.
03:54C.
03:56A third one.
03:58T.
03:59A vowel, please.
04:02A.
04:02Another vowel.
04:05O.
04:06A consonant.
04:08L.
04:09A vowel.
04:12I.
04:13Consonant, please.
04:15G.
04:16E.
04:16And I'll finish with a vowel.
04:19And finish with E.
04:22And here's the countdown clock.
04:24A vowel.
04:26A vowel.
04:55Now, then, in this...
04:56I will try nine.
04:58Try nine, very good.
05:00And Adam?
05:01Say seven, not written down.
05:03Seven, let's hear your seven.
05:05Gelcoat.
05:07I'm not sure, but cogitable.
05:10Cogitable.
05:11Now, Adam should know that.
05:12He's just got to do a postgraduate degree in cognition.
05:17OK.
05:20Good grief.
05:21It's there.
05:22Able to be grasped by the mind.
05:24Conceivable.
05:24Well done.
05:25Very good.
05:26Well done.
05:26OK.
05:29Flying star, Innes.
05:30Well done.
05:3118 points.
05:32Well done.
05:33So, Adam, your letters game.
05:34Hi, Rachel.
05:35Hi, Adam.
05:35Can I start with a consonant, please?
05:37Start with S.
05:39And a vowel.
05:41U.
05:42A consonant.
05:44L.
05:45And a vowel.
05:48A.
05:48A consonant.
05:51G.
05:51And a vowel.
05:53E.
05:54A consonant.
05:56A consonant.
05:57F.
05:58And a consonant.
06:00T.
06:01And a final consonant, please.
06:04And a final S.
06:06Clock time.
06:07A consonant.
06:08A consonant.
06:22A consonant.
06:24A consonant.
06:24A consonant.
06:24A consonant.
06:25A consonant.
06:25A consonant.
06:37Adam?
06:38Eight.
06:39Eight, well done.
06:40Yeah, eight as well.
06:41Two eights, strong stuff.
06:42Adam?
06:43Slugfest.
06:46And what about it?
06:47And I was trying sulfate with the F.
06:50Well, traditionally, sulfate is spelt P-H-A-T-E,
06:54and the American spelling is F,
06:55and we're not allowed American spellings, as you know.
06:57However, the dictionary does say,
06:59in chemistry, sulfate and all related words
07:02can be spelt with the F in British spelling,
07:04so I'm going to allow that.
07:05That's great.
07:06Well done, you.
07:07Well done.
07:08Well done.
07:11Good for you, chemistry student.
07:13And slugfest.
07:14How do we deal with slugfests?
07:16And slugfest is also in...
07:18It's an American term for a tough and challenging contest,
07:20especially in sports like boxing and baseball.
07:22Well done.
07:23Oh, slugging it out?
07:24Yeah.
07:26Two good ones there.
07:2726 to 8, though.
07:29And, Innes, you're off again.
07:30Let us go.
07:31Can I start with a vowel this time?
07:33Thank you, Innes.
07:34A.
07:34And another one.
07:36O.
07:37A consonant.
07:40Y.
07:40And again.
07:43M.
07:43And another one.
07:46Q.
07:46Another one.
07:47N.
07:49A vowel.
07:51A vowel.
07:52I.
07:53Consonant.
07:55P.
07:56And another consonant, please.
07:59And the last one, F.
08:02Stand by.
08:02A vowel.
08:08A vowel.
08:11A vowel.
08:14A vowel.
08:18A vowel.
08:19A vowel.
08:20A vowel.
08:20A vowel.
08:20A vowel.
08:20A vowel.
08:31A vowel.
08:33Now then, Innes.
08:34Six.
08:35A six, Adam.
08:36Also six.
08:37All right.
08:38Innes.
08:39Myopia.
08:40Thank you, of which I know a great deal.
08:42Yes, Adam.
08:43Mopani.
08:44Mopani.
08:45Yeah.
08:46Yes, excellent.
08:47Those are the trees found in arid regions of southern Africa.
08:51Very, very good.
08:51Very, very good.
08:52Well done.
08:53Well done.
08:53And in the corner, anything lurking over there?
08:56No advance on those at all.
08:57Difficult.
08:58It was a difficult selection, I think.
08:59It was, yeah.
09:00Yeah.
09:00Seeing with my myopic eyes from here.
09:0232 to 14.
09:03Well done, Innes.
09:05And Adam.
09:05Off you go.
09:07A consonant, please.
09:08Thank you, Adam.
09:09N.
09:10And a vowel.
09:12E.
09:13A consonant.
09:15B.
09:16And a vowel.
09:18U.
09:19A consonant.
09:21W.
09:22A vowel.
09:25E.
09:25A consonant.
09:27R.
09:28And a consonant, please.
09:30T.
09:32And a final consonant, please.
09:33And lastly, G.
09:36And it's TikTok time.
09:37A consonant.
09:40And a consonant.
09:50Aώς.
09:50And a consonant.
09:51And a consonant.
09:51B.
10:05A JSON.
10:05Aveda.
10:06A Áachtet.
10:08hmm Adam six six yep it is slightly if he's six yes Adam tenure tenure and in
10:15is bent are like more bent well if there is an adjective the countdown rule is
10:21that if an adjective has got one syllable in it you can add the ER or the
10:25EST without it being specified in the dictionary so although it sounds really
10:28odd I think you can have it you're in brilliant 38 20 and in the corner and the
10:36interesting a bungee if you think that's interesting can you imagine doing that
10:41Margaret no tied by her ankles and thrown off a bridge 38 to 20 well done Adam and
10:48now we're into our first numbers game in this that'll be for you well I'll try and
10:53keep the numbers nice for now because I fear Adam won't I'll have a two large
10:57and four small please thank you and it will try that with too large yes I've got
11:01a feeling we might have some six smalls coming up for the first time today the
11:05numbers are eight nine six one and the large to 25 and 75 and the target 496 496
11:19so
11:31so
11:33so
11:46now then in is yet 496 you're there yep Adam 496 well done in this perhaps you'd be good
11:52enough to show us how you did it so if you do a 75 add eight 75 add eight and
11:58multiply that by six
11:59eighty three multiply by six is 498 oh that's not what I thought it was never
12:05made gone wrong oh bad luck in it bad luck withdrawal now Adam I did 75 minus nine
12:1175 minus nine sixty six then multiply that by the eight multiply that by the eight is
12:17five hundred and twenty eight and then take away the 25 the one in the six 25 and the one
12:23and the six
12:2332 to take away yeah very good indeed well done well done and it does uh wonders for your score
12:30as well
12:30because that's uh 38 to uh 30 well done indeed but now it's time to turn to um to Margaret
12:38well I thought I'd better try and have something they're related to Burns I suppose and this is a uh
12:43a
12:44tale if one could call it that about something that's as close as I can get to a wee sleek
12:48it
12:48coward and timorous beastie yes um but uh they say in London you're never more than is it three feet
12:56from a rat something unpleasant like that um and I was on the tube one day the piccadilly line going
13:04to Heathrow uh to catch a flight to Paris this is quite a while ago and I had a hat
13:10box with me because
13:11I was going to a posh racing event and I wouldn't normally wear a hat really I had this sitting
13:15on the
13:15tube with this hat box on my knee and two tramps got in and sat down opposite to it two
13:23empty seats
13:24opposite and they were drinking what I don't think was water it was a clear liquid um from bottles and
13:30nobody said anything to them they just sat there and typical British fashion they all looked away
13:36and then the one opposite me got a rat out of his pocket
13:41and he put it on his knee and it wasn't tied up or anything and it started nibbling
13:48at my hat box no yes I said to the person I was we've got to get out of this
13:53tube and you felt you
13:54couldn't you didn't want to catch their eye because you know they like take a swing at you
13:59nobody said you're a voting man put that rat away and stop drinking it was just it was typically
14:04British and nobody liked to get up and as soon as they we must have been the longest stop on
14:09the
14:09Piccadilly line and came to the next stop and everybody sort of stood up and walked slowly off
14:16leaving them there in full command as a carriage with their bottles and their rat
14:20and what colour was this rat it was a sort of lightish brown
14:24that's an extraordinary thing to do
14:33brilliant stuff thank you so much Margaret and we look forward to more of that now then
14:37we've got a tea time teaser coming up it's called Dime Nook that's the teaser and the clue
14:43has Yoko's relative slipped into something more comfortable
14:46has Yoko's relative slipped into something more comfortable
15:05welcome back I left with the clue has Yoko's relative slipped into something more comfortable
15:11she has indeed she slipped into a kimono she's been kimonoed she's been kimonoed 38 to 30 says
15:19Innes is doing well Adam what are you can do about it let us go
15:23I'll start with a consonant please thank you Adam
15:26R and a vowel
15:29A and a consonant
15:32Z a vowel
15:35O and a consonant
15:38L a vowel
15:41A a consonant
15:45M and a vowel
15:48E
15:49and a final consonant please
15:50and a final
15:52P
15:53countdown
15:53A
16:12O
16:24Yes, Adam?
16:25Seven.
16:26Seven.
16:27Well done.
16:27Innes?
16:28Seven as well.
16:28And Adam, seven?
16:30As a roll.
16:32Same.
16:32Yeah?
16:32Yeah.
16:34Yeah.
16:34I see Mazzola's in there.
16:36In the 60s, there were rumours that there were Mazzola parties.
16:39I think it was a cooking fat, actually, wasn't it?
16:41Yes, it was an oil.
16:43Mm.
16:43Anyway, as a roll, Susie?
16:45Yeah, it's a wonderful word.
16:47It's an edible Mediterranean fruit, which looks like a tiny apple used in making preserves.
16:52All right.
16:53Very, very good.
16:53And there is a nine there, actually.
16:55Yes.
16:55We thought that this might be trademarks or capitalised, but it's lorazepam, L-O-R-A-Z-E-P-A
17:03-M,
17:04which is a drug of the benzodiazepine group used to treat anxiety.
17:08Yes, indeed.
17:09Yeah.
17:11Lorazepam.
17:12Awesome.
17:13Very good, indeed.
17:1545 to 37 says, Innes is there, and it's his game.
17:19Let us go.
17:20Can I start with a consonant, please?
17:22Thank you, Innes.
17:23N.
17:24And another one?
17:26D.
17:28Another one?
17:28A vowel.
17:31A vowel.
17:33U.
17:34Another one?
17:35A.
17:36Another vowel.
17:38E.
17:39Consonant.
17:40N.
17:42Consonant again.
17:44R.
17:46And a vowel.
17:48And the last one, A.
17:51Block time.
17:52A.
17:54Block time.
18:22Adam.
18:23A seven.
18:24A one.
18:24In his seven two sevens. Yes, Adam a sander. Thank you. Yeah, that's three of us
18:30And they also were there in the corner
18:32Margaret got a thunder within just a few seconds. I was very impressed by that. Very good. Um another seven
18:38is don't sir
18:39French way d-a-n-s-e-u-r. You can have that male ballet dancer a dancer. Yes, I
18:45don't sir. Okay
18:47So in this leads 52 to 44 and Adam. It's your letters game consonant, please. Thank you, Adam
18:53V and a vowel
18:56O a consonant
18:59R and the vowel
19:02I a consonant
19:04s and a vowel
19:07A and a consonant
19:10s another constant place
19:14T and a final constant place and a final D stand by
19:23I
19:24am
19:24I
19:25I
19:25I
19:52Adam.
19:53Eight.
19:53Eight.
19:54Eight.
19:55Eight.
19:55Very good.
19:56Adam.
19:56Advisors.
19:57Advisors.
19:58Two advisors here.
19:59Well done, Innes.
20:01Very good.
20:04But in the corner...
20:06I'm just saying that's American spelling, but I'm just being old-fashioned, probably.
20:12It says this advisor is also widely used, as well as advisor, especially in North America,
20:17but it is also seen in Britain.
20:20An advisor often suggests an official position.
20:23Okay.
20:24You have to do that, Margaret?
20:24I can't spell.
20:25No, I just think I can't spell, but it's an Americanisation, but I will accept it since it's in her
20:30dictionary.
20:31All right, yes.
20:32You bring your own next time, Mark.
20:34I will.
20:34You bring your own.
20:34It'll be smaller.
20:35Well, very good.
20:37Very good.
20:3760 plays 52, and we go into your letters game, Innes.
20:42Consonant, please.
20:44Thank you, Innes.
20:45D.
20:46And again.
20:48X.
20:49And another one.
20:51N.
20:52And the vowel.
20:53E.
20:54Another vowel.
20:56U.
20:56Another vowel.
20:58O.
21:00A consonant.
21:01P.
21:02Another consonant.
21:04H.
21:05And another consonant, please.
21:07And the last one, S.
21:09And they're off.
21:41in this eight eight pretty good Adam eight excellent it is exposed look at
21:48the two of them are glued together here yeah well done no problems there anything
21:54in the corner of interest nothing remotely like that links anything
22:00approaching sixes pounds bones all right very good so six jack plays 60 as we turn to you Susie
22:07because it's your time I'm going to talk about a word that I've never really thought about very
22:12much always taking it for granted but when I delved into it I was quite surprised and that word
22:16is bogus meaning false in some way and the first evidence that we have for it and from the Oxford
22:22English dictionary is in reference to machine for making counterfeit coins in 1827 a newspaper
22:29in Ohio relates the discovery of a machine in the hands of a gang of coiners in Painesville it
22:35reports it was mysterious looking object large noisy very complicated and according to the newspaper
22:41when it was discovered the crowd of onlookers were all shouting they wanted to get a closer look and
22:46someone called it bogus and that caught on but what we're not completely sure of is why that
22:52word was chosen but there is a nonsense word a tantra bogus it is a little bit like today's
22:57thingamajig except it's not just applied to any random object but to any strange objects and that's
23:04because tantra bogus may have meant the devil and so it seems that the bogus is related to a group
23:10of
23:10words that includes bugbear and bogeyman so money forges obviously were thought of as being a very very
23:16sinister lot just very quickly while we're talking about machines the problem that's a computer bug
23:21did once refer to the idea of a real insect getting in the machine that's probably not the object but
23:27there is a true story from the 1940s which tells of a moth getting caught up in a very early
23:31computer
23:33the problem was logged in the manual the moth was preserved in a glass case and because of that
23:38incident the word bug caught on and we still have it today very good very good
23:44very good what a good story so 68 plays 60 now then adam uh eight behind time to catch up
23:52and it's your
23:53letters game there's rachel well you said i might go for the six small so i'm going the other end
23:57of
23:57it's going back before large just to make me wrong thank you adam right four large and two small ones
24:03we'll go for these two small and for this challenge the two little ones are five and eight and the
24:08large
24:09four twenty five one hundred seventy five and fifty and the target for this round nine hundred and forty seven
24:16nine four seven
24:21so
24:48Yes, Adam 945 not written down 945 and it is 948 I think
24:55Right, so let's hear from you it's if you do 8 plus 5 is 13 8 plus 5 13 times
25:01by 75 for 975
25:03Yep, take away 25 for 950
25:07950 yeah, and you've got 100 divided by 50 for our two to think we do well done
25:12One away good finish. Can you take us there nine four seven? No, I think it is has perfection on
25:18this round well
25:19Done it is that's I praise indeed 75 to 60 well done
25:23But now it's time for tea time teaser which is ink water and the clue might be a form of
25:29cardiology
25:29Might be a form of cardiology
25:45Welcome back. I left you the clue might be a form of cardiology and the answer is knitwear knitwear
25:54Heavens above 75 to 60 says in this is in control for the moment, and it's your letters game in
26:00this
26:00I'll start with our vowel please. Thank you in this e and another one I
26:08Consonant
26:09D another consonant please and and again
26:15V a vowel
26:19You consonant
26:22T consonant again
26:25H and a vowel to finish please and to finish a
26:31Clock time
27:03In is six a six a six Adam six in this
27:08Dated thank you
27:10Dated thank you say look at them
27:11Yep, very good
27:14Anything fresh in the corner?
27:16Nothing first we had the date of case as well
27:19Difficult selection cases it was
27:20Yeah, very good 81 play sixty six Adam
27:24Getting near the end now Adam come on letters game
27:26Can I have a consonant please?
27:28Thank you Adam
27:30T
27:31And a vowel
27:33E
27:35Consonant
27:36R
27:37A vowel
27:39U
27:40Consonant
27:42D
27:43And a vowel
27:45E
27:46A consonant
27:47N
27:50N
27:50N
27:51A vowel
27:51I
27:53And a final vowel please
27:57And a final O
27:59And they're off
28:00And they're off
28:31Adam
28:31Adam
28:31Eight
28:32An eight good
28:33Ennis
28:34Two eights
28:35Take it away Adam
28:36Deuteron
28:37Yes
28:38And
28:38Routined
28:40Routined
28:41Routined
28:41Routined is absolutely fine
28:43Adam what was yours?
28:44Deuteron
28:44Deuteron
28:46Yep and that is also fine
28:49It is the nucleus of a deuterium atom consisting of a proton and a neutron
28:54Excellent base well done
28:55Very good
28:57Very good stuff
29:00Very good stuff
29:01Very good stuff anything else leading up to or including that sort of number?
29:04We just have one eight which was reunited
29:09Reunited
29:09Denny is in there I know it doesn't count for a lot but I do like it
29:13Okay I won't ask more
29:15We can if you want
29:1889 plays 74 very good
29:20Innis would you be good enough to pick your letters?
29:24I'll start with a consonant please
29:26Thank you Ennis
29:27G
29:28Another one
29:29J
29:31Another one
29:33R
29:35Another one please
29:37D
29:38A vowel
29:39A
29:42Vowel
29:43E
29:44Vowel again
29:46I
29:48Consonant
29:49S
29:51And a consonant
29:5310 please
29:53And lastly
29:55L
29:56Countdown
29:56That
30:25Is
30:27it is seven seven yes Adam seven okay in his gliders gliders jailers jailers happy girdles
30:38in there I'm happy to see girdles are there absolutely and gilders so lots of anagrams of
30:43each other all of these just sevens girdles you know why nylon was so called nylon talking about
30:50Denia New York London they bang them together and turn them into ah no I think it was DuPont but
30:58they don't right I think I've heard that's an urban myth but I'm gonna look it up 96 to 81
31:07Adam numbers
31:08game there's Rachel I'll try the four large again try the four large I think you should have gone
31:12with a six small like I suggested we'll see anyway right you need this one Adam thank you the last
31:18numbers game today the small two are one and three and the large four 50 25 75 and 100 let's
31:27see if
31:27you get the luck that you need the target 290 290
31:38you
32:04290 290 well done in is 290 no surprises Adam
32:0975 over 25 75 over 25 3 take that from 100 100 less 397 and
32:1825 by the three 291 and take the one yeah not the trickiest good stuff in this way same route
32:26very good so well done in this you've cracked 100 very good 106 plays 91 good scores both of them
32:34but now we're
32:35we're at conundrum time so fingers on buzzers please let's reveal today's countdown conundrum
33:01it is is it ridicule let's have a look
33:06well done well done well done in this look at that that's a pretty high score we'll be seeing you
33:14back in a few weeks time well done powerful stuff Adam great score too thank you but not quite powerful
33:20enough we're sending you home we're sending you home to stand
33:24and more with your invaluable piece of kryptonite thank you take care of it bury it in the garden don't
33:30tell anybody where it is and you can take a teapot too
33:33which you can put on the mantelpiece thank you travel safely home we shall see you very shortly look forward
33:38to it yeah so friday amazing school see you on monday have a very good weekend
33:42yes margaret we won't see margaret again for a while but just to emphasize how devoted to wagner and we
33:50spoke earlier in the week about wagner
33:52margaret is that she took herself off to biroid to sit through the whole of the ring cycle how long
33:57does that take margaret
33:58uh well you had to be there for a whole week which seemed quite a long time um although it
34:03didn't last
34:03continuously but it must be over 15 hours biroid has the most uncomfortable seats of any
34:11operas and the the cloakroom attendants sell cushions actually bring them in from home so you
34:15get this odd assortment of cushions which you rent uh to to make it a bit more tolerable it's tough
34:23but
34:24you told me a funny little story about the charades which i love well the acoustics are fantastic no
34:29and i'm playing charades on for some friends and i drew the ring uh to to you know to act
34:34and after five
34:36minutes i've got about you know 20 minutes into the first one you don't have to do the whole thing
34:42you'll be there for a week brilliant stuff will you come and see us soon again it's such a joy
34:47i'd love to brilliant thank you well done now then rachel have a very lovely weekend and if you're north
34:54of
34:54the border do be careful but have a lot a lot of fun and if you're south of the border
34:58be jealous of those
34:59in the north and join us again same time same place on monday you'll be sure of it good afternoon
35:16a question that's on everybody's lips how to go on holiday this summer steph mcgovern is on that with
35:22insider tips and advice for the safest and most viable 2020 holiday sunday at 7 15 a place in the
35:29the sun is up next
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