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00:32Good afternoon. Welcome to the Countdown studio on the day that 50 years ago, the hotline was installed. It was
00:40a telephone line, a direct telephone line between the White House and the Kremlin. And who was in power in
00:46those days? Jack Kennedy, the great, great Jack Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev. And it enabled them really to, if there's
00:54sort of a bit of problem, they could get on the phone and sort it out quickly. These days, of
00:58course, you don't know where to put a hotline.
01:00You don't know where the attack's coming from. But in those days, the Cold War was on and it was
01:05down to Jack and Nikita to straighten it out, even as they did over the Cuban Missile Crisis.
01:10I've got a hotline, I suppose, down to kitten the kids. That's Catherine, my lovely partner and my children. And
01:17where does your hotline ring most frequently?
01:22Well, Brad's the husband and cats, I guess. They haven't got their own phones, but, you know, he's generally with
01:27them. Who's on speed dial? I guess that's what we're asking.
01:29Yeah, it's just the husband, the mum, you know, the usual. Dad, mum-in-law, dad-in-law.
01:35Well, dad's normally with mum and dad's normally with Jamie.
01:37How is that brother of yours, by the way?
01:40He's good. He's just finishing up his post-grad masters in eggshells. So he's almost an eggshell expert.
01:47Excellent start.
01:47And I think he'll be looking for a job in conservation, if anyone needs one.
01:51Well done. Yes. Yes, please. Send your job applications here.
01:55Now, who have we got with us? Peter, a stunning victory yesterday. You beat Gemma Church, who herself, actually, was
02:03heading towards something rather special.
02:05But you beat her, 78 to 62, I think. Peter, a writer from Skelmersdale. And you're now writing your fourth
02:13book.
02:13I am, Nick.
02:14But let's wash all that aside for a second, because today's a special day, Peter.
02:19Yes, sir.
02:19Happy birthday.
02:21Thank you, 60 today.
02:22Happy birthday. Come on, let's have a big round of applause in there.
02:26Well done, Peter. Of course, to me, you're a kid, actually.
02:30And you're joined by Jen Stedman from Paddock Wood, recently graduated from Exeter with a first class degree in English
02:38and was voted her sixth form college's future Bridget Jones.
02:43What does that tell us about you?
02:45It tells you that I'm frequently making mistakes, but I'm going to end up with Colin Firth in the end.
02:51So I'm quite happy with that.
02:52Well done. Well done. Anyway, good luck.
02:55Big round of applause for Jen and the birthday boy.
03:02Very good. And over in the corner, of course, Susie, desperate to get away for a lovely weekend down there
03:06in Oxfordshire.
03:07And she's joined once again by Jonathan Edwards, that great Olympian, and indeed a chap who really was right at
03:15the heart of the Olympics last year.
03:17So we'll come and talk to you a little bit more about that later.
03:20But right now, it's birthday boy. It's Peter, 60 today, to lead the charge. Let us go.
03:28Hello, Rachel.
03:29Happy birthday, Peter.
03:30Thank you very much. Consonant, please, Rachel.
03:32Thank you. Start today with D.
03:35Vowel.
03:37A.
03:38Consonant.
03:40B.
03:42Consonant.
03:43S.
03:45Consonant.
03:47T.
03:49Vowel, please.
03:51E.
03:52Consonant.
03:55M.
03:58Consonant.
04:00F.
04:01And a vowel, please.
04:04And the last one.
04:05I.
04:06And here's the countdown clock.
04:09S.
04:11And now, we'll see you there in the next two weeks.
04:24S.
04:26And we'll be right back.
04:39So, Peter.
04:40A six.
04:41A six.
04:42And Jen?
04:42Eight.
04:44Hello.
04:45Peter.
04:46A mateys.
04:48Jen?
04:48Missed dates.
04:50Happy enough?
04:51Very happy with that, yes.
04:53Very good.
04:54Jonathan?
04:55We had the same.
04:56Missed dates.
04:57Very good.
04:58Nothing else?
04:59No, we thought we had bedmates until we realised that we were lacking an E.
05:02Now then, Jen, eight points to Peter's nil, and it's your letters game.
05:07Jen?
05:08Can I start with a consonant, please, Rachel?
05:10Thank you, Jen.
05:10Start with K.
05:12And another.
05:15M.
05:16And a third.
05:18M.
05:19And a vowel.
05:21O.
05:22And another one.
05:24I.
05:25And can I have another one, please?
05:28A.
05:29And a consonant.
05:32F.
05:33And a vowel.
05:37I.
05:38And a final consonant, please.
05:41And a final T.
05:43Stand by.
05:44And a vowel.
06:00You can't agree.
06:01Then, don't you?
06:06Don't you?
06:12Well, yes.
06:14Yes, Jen?
06:16A six.
06:17A six. Peter?
06:18Six.
06:19Do sixes, Jen?
06:20Aminos.
06:21Aminos. You're both aminos?
06:23Same way, Jen.
06:24Yep.
06:24Happy enough?
06:26And in the corner.
06:27Now then, Susie, Jonathan.
06:30We thought maison, but no.
06:33It's maisonette, isn't it?
06:34It's a kind of maison.
06:35Yes.
06:36And we're looking at intimus.
06:38Yes, actually, you can have intima in the singular for six,
06:42but the plural is intimae, sadly.
06:43But it's intimae, it's from anatomy and zoology,
06:47the innermost coating of a part or organ,
06:49especially of a vein or artery.
06:5114 to six.
06:52Jen's still in the lead.
06:53And Peter, first numbers game of the day.
06:55There's Rachel.
06:56Tell her what you want.
06:57One big and five little ones, please, Rachel.
06:59Thank you, Peter.
07:00One large one.
07:01Five small ones for the first birthday numbers game.
07:04And for this round, they are four, ten, two, nine, five, and 25.
07:13And the target, 827.
07:15Eight, two, seven.
07:16One more one.
07:45And the target, 827.
07:47Now then, Peter.
07:498.30, I think.
07:518.30, three away. What about you, Jen?
07:538.25, not written down.
07:55Right, 8.25.
07:58Hmm, go on then.
07:59Can I have 9 times 4 for 36?
08:049 times 4, 36.
08:06Minus the 5.
08:0831.
08:09Plus the 2.
08:1133.
08:12And times that by 25?
08:13Times by 25. Yes, for two away, 8.25.
08:15Very good, and unwritten down.
08:18Now then, Rachel, 8.27?
08:21I got to 1 away, but I'll have another look.
08:24But 8.27, be tricky, if not impossible.
08:27I think it's possible.
08:29All right.
08:29Give me a few seconds.
08:30I'll leave it with you.
08:31All right then.
08:31So 21 plays 6 as we go into a tea time teaser,
08:35which is odd hacks.
08:37And the clue, this sounds rather fishy,
08:40but it's actually quite fruity.
08:42This sounds rather fishy, but it's actually quite fruity.
09:01Welcome back.
09:02I left you with the clue.
09:03This sounds rather fishy, but it's actually quite fruity.
09:07And the answer is Shaddock.
09:10Shaddock, Susie?
09:11Well, Shaddock, it's another name for the pomelo.
09:14And the pomelo is the largest of the citrus fruits
09:16with a thick yellow skin and a bitter pulp.
09:18It looks a little bit like a grapefruit
09:20and tastes a bit like a grapefruit.
09:21A bitter pulp?
09:22Yeah.
09:22Not too great to eat then, presumably.
09:24Same as a grapefruit, slightly sour.
09:26Yeah, I suppose so.
09:27But now, what's not sour is the fact
09:29that I see 8.27 and a smiling Rachel.
09:32Yes, it's in there.
09:33If you say 25 times 4 is 100,
09:385 add 2 is 7,
09:40take it away for 93,
09:42times by 9 for 8, 3, 7,
09:44and take away the 10.
09:468, 2, 7.
09:46Perfect.
09:47Well done.
09:48Well done.
09:52And now, 21 points to Jen,
09:54and our last victor, Peter, on 6.
09:57So, watch out, Peter.
09:59Jen, your letters game.
10:00Can I start with a consonant, please?
10:03Thank you, Jen.
10:05P.
10:06And another.
10:08N.
10:09And another.
10:11P.
10:13And can I have a vowel, please?
10:15E.
10:16And another.
10:18U.
10:19And another.
10:20A.
10:21Can I have another consonant, please?
10:25L.
10:26And a vowel.
10:30O.
10:31And a final consonant, please.
10:33And a final S.
10:35Stand by.
10:35The End
10:37To
10:38And a vowel.
11:06Yes, Jen?
11:07Seven.
11:08Seven, Peter?
11:09Six.
11:10And that six is?
11:12Slightly risky, actually.
11:13Salon, ending in an E.
11:16Salon, with an E on the end.
11:18And Jen?
11:18No parlours.
11:20How does that strike you?
11:23Salon, you would have to have it without the E, I'm afraid, Peter.
11:26And no parlours is brilliant, actually.
11:28I was just looking at that.
11:29They're the edible fleshy pads of a cactus, which are used in Mexican cuisine.
11:34Well, well, well.
11:36Very good indeed.
11:39Are you a fan of Mexican food?
11:41I love a bit of Mexican food.
11:43Did you know that?
11:44I didn't know that.
11:46You're just guessing.
11:47You old gambler.
11:48Well done.
11:4928 points, anyway, to Pete Six.
11:51And Peter, take it away.
11:53Consonant, please, Rachel.
11:54Thank you, Peter.
11:56R.
11:57Foul.
11:59I.
12:00Consonant.
12:02J.
12:04Consonant.
12:06S.
12:08Consonant.
12:10B.
12:11Vowel.
12:13E.
12:16Vowel.
12:18U.
12:20Consonant.
12:22N.
12:23And the vowel, please.
12:25And the last one.
12:26A.
12:27Countdown.
12:28B.
12:29J.
12:30And the vowel, please.
12:58Yes, Peter. Six. Six, Jen. Eight. Thank you. Peter. Baddies. Thank you.
13:07Perth and Jen. Urbanize. Urbanize. Great countdown word, that one. Very good. Yes, well done.
13:13Well done. And in the corner, Jonathan. We're feeling rather redundant, actually.
13:21Very true. Brilliant. Very good. Nothing else? Injures is there for seven.
13:25Oh, all right. Very good. But Urbanize takes the crown in that round.
13:30And now we turn to Jen. Numbers.
13:34I'm going to be adventurous and ask for one large and five small.
13:37Drew us a dummy there. One large, five small ones. Thank you, Jen.
13:41And for this round, they are five, three, four, eight, ten, and the large one, fifty.
13:50And the target, 831. 831.
13:55Oh, oh, oh, oh.
13:56Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh.
14:25Jen 8 3 2 8 3 2 1 away what about Peter a million and one a million and one
14:31all right
14:32well let's try Jen first Jen 10 over 5 is 2 10 over 5 2 times 50 is 100 yep
14:41add the 4
14:43for 104 and times by 8 8 3 2 1 away 1 away well done Jen very good but 8
14:503 1
14:52what do you think about that it's tricky if it's possible if you say 10 plus 8 is
14:5718 50 minus 4 is 46 times the two together for 828 and add on the 3 8 3 1
15:07yes sir very good
15:09well done very good Jen's built up a bit of a lead here Peter so it's 43 points so you're
15:18going to have to step on the gas a bit but now it's time to talk to Jonathan who stepped
15:23on the gas more than once in his athletic career and then suddenly it was the London Olympics and
15:29I worked through those Olympics didn't see a thing didn't even see television it was terrible
15:33but you were there I was what was your highlight I think the moment when the games really came
15:39alive from a British medal point of view it was Super Saturday and I was fortunate enough to be in
15:44the Olympic Stadium in my BBC commentary position you know it's always great you know on the finishing
15:48line you couldn't ask for any more to be honest first of all seeing Jess Ennis finish off off the
15:54heptathlon winning a gold medal with the 800 meters to see her go through two days seven events and win
16:00the gold medal then there was Mo Farah final event on that Saturday winning the 10,000 meters and
16:07the pressure that just built up lap after lap after lap and then sandwiched in between not quite my
16:12old event but the long jump Greg Rutherford really really talented athlete but one who'd always been
16:18injured for many many years on and off never quite fulfilled his potential and on that night that
16:23magical Super Saturday he got it right and and won the long jump so just to view three gold medals
16:30within what 40 minutes you know it was it was incredible and it was so it's part of what made
16:36the game so
16:37magical we needed that British success and we needed a night like that to bring the whole thing alive the
16:43stadium must have lit up must have been amazing interestingly enough there was a photo finish a picture
16:49taken from Mo Farah's 5000 meter race which was the following Saturday and it was like there was an earthquake
16:56you
16:56you couldn't actually get a proper fix on the photo finish because it was like you know seven on the
17:02Richter scale such was the noise within the stadium when he got his second gold medal yeah yeah amazing
17:08great stuff big round of applause for Jonathan very good and Jen's not doing a bad job here either
17:1943 points to Peter's six Peter it's your letters game now then consonant please Rachel thank you Peter
17:26P P vowel E consonant F consonant N consonant R vowel O vowel A consonant T
17:55G and a consonant please and the last one G countdown
18:10so
18:13so
18:14so
18:14now
18:31so
18:33now
18:34Now then, Peter.
18:35I've got a gamble, a slightly dodgy eight.
18:38A dodgy eight. What about Jen?
18:39Eight as well.
18:41Confident eight. I'll put that down now.
18:43Now then, Peter.
18:44Pronates.
18:46Pronates, yes.
18:46Exactly the same.
18:47There we go.
18:49Thank you, Jen.
18:50Well done.
18:52Yes, madam.
18:53Such a good countdown word, that one, isn't it?
18:55Yes, it is indeed.
18:55It's when the sole of your foot or the palm of your hand is slightly turned inwards.
19:01Yeah.
19:01Very good.
19:02Now then, Jonathan.
19:04Yes.
19:05Oranges as well, but that's one less.
19:07And I know a lot about pronation, because they used to put orthotics into your shoes to make sure.
19:12In fact, I mean, you can do that in a good shoe shop today, can't you?
19:14If you're going to do running, they'll find shoes where you pronate or supinate.
19:18It's the opposite.
19:18That's right.
19:19Is that right?
19:20Very good.
19:21Thank you, Jonathan.
19:21Now then, 51 plays 14.
19:23And Jen, your letters game.
19:25Can I start with a constant again, please, Rachel?
19:28Thank you, Jen.
19:29F.
19:30And another.
19:32And another.
19:33And another.
19:35R.
19:36And a vowel, please.
19:38E.
19:39And another.
19:40I.
19:42And another.
19:43A.
19:45And a consonant.
19:47G.
19:48And another consonant.
19:52S.
19:53And a vowel, please.
19:55And the last one.
19:57E.
19:58Stand by.
19:59Ding.
20:00Ding.
20:01Ding.
20:29Yes, Jen?
20:30I'll stick with an eight.
20:31An eight, Peter?
20:33I'm gambling again.
20:34I'm going for a very dodgy nine.
20:37Right.
20:38Jen?
20:39Realises.
20:41Realises.
20:41And the dodgy Peter?
20:43Regalises.
20:44We thought that was in as well, because regalism is in,
20:47but regalise isn't, I'm afraid.
20:48Sorry to do that until your birthday.
20:49Good old gamble there.
20:51It was.
20:52Yeah.
20:52Yeah.
20:53Nothing silly about that.
20:54So, in the corner, what have we got there?
20:56Jonathan?
20:57Glacier.
20:58Yes.
20:59Yep.
20:59Glacier, surface of the lake.
21:01Anything else?
21:02Nope.
21:02Stay safe.
21:03All right, well done.
21:03Fifty-nine plays.
21:04Fourteen.
21:05And, Peter, it's your numbers game.
21:09One from the top and five tiny little ones, please.
21:12Thank you, Peter.
21:12One from the top and five little.
21:14And we'll try and get your birthday back on track.
21:16Right, for this round, the small numbers are eight, nine, five, three, and ten.
21:24And the large one, 75.
21:26And the target, 518.
21:29Five, one, eight.
21:32We'll be right back on track.
22:00Yes Peter? 517. 517, one away. Now then Jen? 518. 518, all right. Jen? 9 minus 8 is 1. Yep.
22:1475 minus 1 is 74 and then 10 minus 3 is 7 and times them together.
22:20Well done. Very good indeed. Very good indeed. So Jen, 69 to Peter's 14 as we go in to a
22:29tea time teaser which is Rob Dives and the clue, Rob Dives in at the auction and ends up paying
22:36too much. Rob Dives in at the auction and ends up paying too much.
22:56Welcome back. I left you with the clue, Rob Dives in at the auction and ends up paying too much.
23:03He overbids. Overbids. 69 to 14, Jen in the lead, Jen in charge and it's Jen's letters game.
23:12OK, can I start with a consonant again please? Thank you, Jen. X. And another. T. And another. C. And
23:24a vowel. I. And another. A. And another. O. And a consonant. D. And another. P.
23:40T. And a final. Consonant please. And the last one. T. And it's clock time.
24:10T. Now then, Jen. Six. A six. A six. Peter. Six. Two sixes. Jen. Dacoit. Yes. Both of you. Dacoits.
24:31Dacoits. Dacoits. The armed robbers.
24:32Dacoits. Yeah. Burma. Yep. Very good. Very good. What else have you got there? Jonathan. Coppeter. Yes. Yep. That's a
24:39sherry glass.
24:40I just wondered if, you know, Chow actually makes it on countdown. Chow. Chabella. I'm pretty sure it will. Yes.
24:47It is. Yes. Chow. But it's quite romantic.
24:51Now then, Peter. Let us go. Consonant please, Rachel. Thank you, Peter. F. Foul.
24:57What? I. Consonant. R. Vowel. E. Consonant. H. Vowel. U. Consonant. T. Consonant.
25:22N. And a consonant, please. And the last one. M. Stand by.
25:29N. And a consonant, please. And the last one.
26:01Peter? I'll stick with a save six. A save six, Jen? Save six as well. Peter? Hunter. Hunter, yes, Jen?
26:09Same word. Both of you? Same dubs. All right. And in the corner, setting Hunter aside, we couldn't come up
26:18with anything better. That's it. We thought it infutes, but it's not there, is it? Not there, no.
26:23Good luck. So Hunter takes the day. Six, yes. The Hunter takes the day. But we've now reached that moment
26:29of the day for which I and the rest of the nation thrill at. Susie, your origins of words, please.
26:38Teach us.
26:38Well, I'm going to talk about the very dramatic beginnings of a very ordinary word. And looking back to Greek
26:44and Roman actors who wore masks in every dramatic performance that they gave.
26:49And the masks would cover the whole face and they had incredibly exaggerated features on them. Grotesque sometimes.
26:56And that was so that even the remotest spectators in these huge amphitheaters could actually see what it was that
27:02they was representing.
27:03And they were representing emotions. So in a Greek tragedy, for example, a pale mask with hollow cheeks meant a
27:09very sick and anxious young man.
27:12Whereas if the hair was black mixed with gray, perhaps, and the mask was pale, the character would be recognized
27:17as a man of middle age, suffering probably from a battle wound.
27:21So very precise situations and emotions that they were portraying. And the gods also were represented by particular masks.
27:28So every character could be recognized from the features that the mask was portraying.
27:32And the Roman name for mask was a persona. And so that word came to signify a character within a
27:38play.
27:38And from there, personam came to mean the player who wore the mask, not just the mask itself.
27:43And eventually, simply a human being. And that's where we get person from today, personal, personality.
27:50They all go back to these incredibly exaggerated Greek and Roman masks.
27:53Brilliant. Brilliant stuff. Thank you very much indeed.
27:59Now then, Jen. 81 to Peter on 26. And Jen, let us go.
28:06Can I start with a consonant again, please? Thank you, Jen.
28:10R. And another.
28:13L. And another.
28:16C. And a vowel, please.
28:19O. And another.
28:22I. And another.
28:25E. And a consonant.
28:28V. And another.
28:32G. And a final vowel, please.
28:36And lastly.
28:38O.
28:39Countdown.
28:40E. And a vowel, please.
28:43I. And a vowel, please.
28:59I. And a vowel, please.
28:59I. And a vowel, please.
28:59I. And a vowel, please.
28:59I. And a vowel, please.
28:59I. And a vowel, please.
29:00I. And a vowel, please.
29:08I. And a vowel, please.
29:11very good now then Jen six a six Peter six two sixes yes Jen cooler thank you
29:20Peter both of you come in a bit of a habit all right 87 plays 32 and we go
29:27into the final letters game Peter a constant please Rachel thank you Peter
29:31W a vowel please a consonant L consonant F consonant G vowel a consonant H
29:54consonant N and vowel please and the last one oh here we go
30:36yes Peter six a six Jen seven Peter flunge a flange and yes Jen halogen halogen fantastic
30:47pretty good stuff very very good well done bad luck Peter halogen my word what else have
30:54we got over there Tuesday Jonathan wangle yes well anything else no halogen that's
31:02brilliant very good indeed 94 plays 32 and here we are pretty much the last
31:10knockings here numbers game Jen can I have one large and five small again please
31:15thank you Jim one large and five small for the last time today and for this round
31:20they are seven four five three ten and a large one 75 and the target 902 902
31:36so
31:48so
31:50so
32:04Jen?
32:05902.
32:06902.
32:07Peter?
32:07902.
32:08Very good.
32:09Jen?
32:1075 times 3 times 4 is 900.
32:14900.
32:15And then 10 over 5 is 2 and add that on.
32:17Well done.
32:18902.
32:19Thank you very much.
32:20And Peter?
32:21I went round the house the same.
32:237 plus 5 is 12.
32:257 plus 5, yep, 12.
32:26Times 75 is 900.
32:28It is.
32:2910 minus 4 is 6.
32:3260 divided by 3 is 2.
32:34Perfect.
32:34I like that on.
32:35Well done.
32:36902.
32:36Good stuff.
32:37Well done, Peter.
32:38Well done.
32:40So Jen.
32:42So Jen Stedman has been bossing it, I think is the expression these days.
32:47At 104 to Peter's 42.
32:49As we go into the final round, that'll be conundrum round.
32:52So, fingers on buzzers.
32:54Let's reveal today's countdown conundrum.
33:00Peter?
33:01Bandwagon.
33:03Bandwagon.
33:04Let's see whether you're right.
33:35I've got a feeling you might be.
33:35A party pot.
33:36Because it's a birthday present.
33:38Look at that.
33:38How lovely.
33:39Oh, thank you.
33:40Well done.
33:42All right?
33:43Thank you very much.
33:44All right.
33:45Very good.
33:46And don't drink it on the way home in the train.
33:48Are you having a party tonight?
33:50I am yet.
33:50There's 150 people come on now.
33:52Excellent.
33:53Excellent.
33:53Well, well done.
33:54And bad luck.
33:55But listen, in a sense, you know, silver cloud and linings and all that sort of stuff,
33:59because otherwise you'd have to stay overnight here and you'd have missed your party.
34:03Anyway, well done.
34:05Well done.
34:05So, Miss Tedman, we shall see you on Monday and have a restful weekend.
34:10Have you gone home to Paddock Wood?
34:12Yeah.
34:13Well, there's many, many excitements as a small rural town in Kent.
34:17Very good, indeed.
34:18See you on Monday.
34:19See you on Monday.
34:20And Jonathan will be back.
34:22Excellent stuff.
34:22Great news.
34:24Brilliant stuff.
34:24And brilliant work up there.
34:26Wasn't he?
34:27These guys.
34:28Yeah.
34:28But you had a couple of crackers for which we are very grateful.
34:32See you on Monday, Rachel.
34:33See you on Monday.
34:33See you on Monday.
34:34Same time, same place.
34:35You be sure of it.
34:35We'll be here waiting for you.
34:37Good afternoon.
34:39Good afternoon.
35:04Good afternoon.
35:06Good afternoon.