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00:31Good afternoon and welcome to the Countdown Studio.
00:33Now, we've only just got over the pleasure and excitement and delight of seeing Andy Murray win his second Wimbledon.
00:41And what a pleasure. What a great thing that was.
00:43Then we're off again.
00:44This time we're off to Flushing Meadows in New York for the US Open.
00:49And good luck to Andy and all the other Brits that will be playing there.
00:53Travelling abroad for sport.
00:55That's exciting if you really love the sport.
00:57You travel abroad because you're a sporty woman.
01:00I like sport. I've seen the basketball a couple of times in the States.
01:03And you're looking at this guy that's only, you know, 6'4".
01:07You're thinking, how did he make the team when everyone else has got a 7 foot, 6 foot 10.
01:11Amazing.
01:12It's incredible.
01:13Amazing.
01:14Amazing.
01:14The thing is, in fact, just the other week there was a piece in the paper about how the Europeans
01:20have grown.
01:22And the Brits, on average, because of diet and health and all the rest of it.
01:25And the Latvians and the Dutch.
01:28Well, I went to Holland and you do notice that everyone's much taller.
01:31Big guys, yeah.
01:32Yeah.
01:33We've got stats to prove it now.
01:34All right.
01:35Now, who have we got?
01:36Martin Hurst is back, Rachel.
01:37Insurance document rider from Ashevale in Surrey.
01:40Two good wins under his belt.
01:41And you've got a great oleanders on Friday.
01:47Yeah.
01:47Fantastic.
01:48My new favourite plant, yeah.
01:49Yeah.
01:50Brilliant.
01:50And you're joined today by Arnold Solomon, a retired pharmacist from Bury, member of the University of the Third Age.
01:58And his favourite film is Singing in the Rain.
02:02Go on, then.
02:02Why is it your favourite film?
02:04Well, it's got an amazing cast and it's very funny.
02:09And also, it tells you a lot about the history of the cinema.
02:11Yeah.
02:12Cinematic history, yes.
02:13Yeah.
02:14Brilliant.
02:15And lots of lovely music.
02:16Well, good luck to you.
02:17Big round of applause for Arnold and Martin.
02:21And over in the corner, of course, Susie.
02:23Had a peaceful weekend, I trust.
02:25Joined by the wonderful Gloria Harniford.
02:28I find this very difficult to believe, but a broadcaster for more than 40 years.
02:33Look at you.
02:33Well, there we go.
02:34We'll have to celebrate it.
02:35Actually, the last time I saw you, we were at Chelsea.
02:38We were.
02:38We bumped into each other at the flower show.
02:40And I said to the man who you were buying something off, I said, don't trust him.
02:44Yeah.
02:45A check will bounce, definitely, but you bought something for your garden.
02:48I did.
02:48I bought a table and chairs, which would be a great success.
02:51And did we ever get invited for lunch or dinner?
02:53No.
02:54You can come any time.
02:56In fact, there's a standing invitation for you.
02:59All of you.
03:00That's the best thing anybody's said to me today.
03:02All right.
03:02Now then, let's get down to business.
03:04Martin, let us go.
03:06Hi, Rachel.
03:07Hi, Martin.
03:08Can I have a vowel, please?
03:09Start the week with A.
03:11And another vowel.
03:13U.
03:14And another vowel.
03:15I.
03:16And a consonant, please.
03:18S.
03:19And another.
03:20P.
03:21And another.
03:23T.
03:24And another.
03:26C.
03:28And another.
03:31R.
03:32And a final consonant, please.
03:36And a final L.
03:38And here's the countdown clock.
04:11Martin.
04:12Eight.
04:13An eight from Martin.
04:14Arnold.
04:15Only a four, I'm afraid.
04:17And that four?
04:18Spit.
04:21And?
04:22Curtails.
04:23Curtails.
04:23All right.
04:24I've got a mess.
04:27Actually, we also have curtails, which is a really lovely word.
04:30But then there's another very unusual word that you're going to deal with.
04:33Yeah.
04:34There's another eight there.
04:35Spicula.
04:36S-P-I-C-U-L-A-R.
04:38Relating to a spicule, which is a small needle-like or a sharp-pointed structure.
04:43So, spicula means needle-like.
04:44Very, very sharp.
04:45Never heard of that word.
04:46No.
04:47Spicula.
04:47Never heard of it.
04:48Well done, Martin.
04:49Eight points there.
04:50And Arnold.
04:51Your letters game.
04:52Hi, Rachel.
04:53Hi, Arnold.
04:53Consonant, please.
04:55Start with N.
04:57Consonant.
04:59F.
05:02Consonant.
05:04S.
05:05Vowel.
05:07E.
05:10Another vowel.
05:12I.
05:15Consonant.
05:16P.
05:19Vowel.
05:21U.
05:24And consonant.
05:26H.
05:31And consonant.
05:33And lastly, R.
05:35Countdown.
05:36And consonant.
05:48MUSIC CONTINUES
06:06Arnold. A six. A six. Martin.
06:10Eight.
06:11Arnold. Fisher. Martin.
06:15Punisher.
06:16Punisher.
06:18Absolutely.
06:18You're a copy of me.
06:20You're a copy of me.
06:24Look, weren't you, Martin? I had Punisher written down as well. I know.
06:28Couldn't get anything else, could you?
06:29No, going down to seven. Otherwise, Furnish is there as well.
06:33Thank you. 16 good points to Martin.
06:35Arnold, plenty of time to go.
06:38Martin, numbers time.
06:40One large, please.
06:41Thank you, Martin. One from the top row. Five little ones.
06:44And the first numbers game of the week is two, five, five, six, ten.
06:51And the large one, 50.
06:54And the target, 843.
06:56Eight, four, three.
06:58One, two, three.
07:02One, two, three.
07:15One, two, three.
07:16One, two, three.
07:16One, two, three.
07:17One, two, three.
07:17One, two, three.
07:18One, two, three.
07:20One, two, three.
07:28Martin.
07:29843, not properly written down.
07:32Arnold.
07:32845.
07:34845.
07:35Let's hear from Martin.
07:37OK, 50 plus 5 minus 2 is 53.
07:4153.
07:4210 plus 6 is 16.
07:45Yep, 16.
07:46Multiply them together.
07:47Is 848.
07:50No, yep.
07:51And then take the 5.
07:52And you've got the other 5.
07:53Well done.
07:54843.
07:55Well done indeed.
07:58Well done, good start there, Martin.
08:01So 26 points as we turn to our first Tea Time teaser,
08:04which is Ask Choir.
08:05And the clue, you ask the choir
08:07if they'd like some tasty Indian snacks.
08:11You ask the choir if they'd like some tasty Indian snacks.
08:31Welcome back.
08:32I left you with the clue.
08:33You ask the choir if they'd like some tasty Indian snacks.
08:37And the answer, Susie, is catcherers.
08:40Yes.
08:41Now, what are, when they're at home, catcherers?
08:44I like the sound of these.
08:45In Indian cookery, they're puri, which are sort of small round pieces of bread,
08:50stuffed with spiced lentils, potato or beans.
08:53Sounds good.
08:54Sound nice.
08:55Sounds good.
08:56Thank you very much indeed.
08:57Now, 26 points to Martin, and it's Arnold's letters game now.
09:01Arnold.
09:02A consonant, please.
09:03Thank you, Arnold.
09:05G.
09:08A consonant.
09:10T.
09:19Vowel.
09:21E.
09:23A consonant.
09:26R.
09:27R.
09:29A consonant.
09:31S.
09:33Vowel.
09:35I.
09:38And a consonant.
09:39Actually, I need three vowels.
09:41I'm going to have a third.
09:42Oh, sorry, Arnold.
09:45And here's the countdown clock.
09:48I'm going to have a third.
09:48I'm going to have a third.
10:01I'm going to have a third.
10:03I'm going to have a third.
10:03I'm going to have a third.
10:04I'm going to have a third.
10:04I'm going to have a third.
10:04I'm going to have a third.
10:04I'm going to have a third.
10:05I'm going to have a third.
10:06I'm going to have a third.
10:06I'm going to have a third.
10:06I'm going to have a third.
10:07I'm going to have a third.
10:07I'm going to have a third.
10:07I'm going to have a third.
10:10I'm going to have a third.
10:15I'm going to have a third.
10:18Arnold.
10:20Seven.
10:21Seven, Martin.
10:22Seven.
10:23Arnold.
10:24Testers.
10:26Goiters.
10:27And goiters.
10:28Goiters.
10:29Goiters, yes.
10:30We had that one.
10:31What was your word?
10:32Sorry.
10:32Testers.
10:33Testers.
10:34Oh, you need two E's for testers.
10:36Two T's and two S's, but not two E's.
10:39Sorry.
10:40Easily done.
10:41Now then, Gloria, what else have we got?
10:42Martin, you were not copying this time, because we have egotists.
10:46There you go.
10:47Good word for eight, though.
10:48Excellent.
10:49Susie, anything else?
10:51No, that was our top sitters.
10:52Quite a few sevens there, but egotists was our best.
10:54Well done.
10:55Well done.
10:5633 points, and it's Martin's letters game.
10:59Can I have a vowel, please?
11:00Thank you, Martin.
11:01A.
11:02And another vowel.
11:04O.
11:04And another vowel.
11:06I.
11:07And a consonant.
11:09M.
11:10And a consonant.
11:11G.
11:12And a consonant.
11:14D.
11:14And a consonant.
11:17W.
11:19And a consonant.
11:22S.
11:23And a final vowel, please.
11:25And a final E.
11:28Stand by.
11:29T Speak.
11:45Do you have a vowel.
11:46I don't feel...
11:46And a Commonwealth.
11:51To, you have a vowel.
11:58And a consonant.
11:59And a consonant.
12:00Yes, Martin?
12:01Seven.
12:03Arnold?
12:04Six.
12:05And that's six?
12:06Midges.
12:07Midges.
12:08Midges.
12:09The scourge of midges.
12:10Now then, Martin.
12:12Meowd.
12:13Meowd?
12:14Meowd.
12:15Excellent.
12:16Yeah, all the vowels.
12:16Very, very good.
12:17That's very good.
12:18That's good.
12:19Now then.
12:20Meadows.
12:21Meadows, thank you.
12:22Seven.
12:23And, uh, Susie?
12:25Seven was tops, Nick.
12:26Yep, meowd and meadows.
12:27All right.
12:28Forty points.
12:29Very good.
12:30Arnold, numbers time.
12:31Too large, please.
12:33Thank you, Arnold.
12:34Too large for little.
12:36And this time, your numbers are five, three, seven, eight, 75 and 50.
12:45And the target to reach 805.
12:48805.
12:49And this time, your numbers are five, four, five, six, seven, five.
13:20Arnold.
13:21800.
13:23800 dead.
13:25And Martin?
13:25805.
13:26805.
13:27Let's hear it.
13:29OK.
13:293 plus 7 is 10.
13:313 plus 7 is 10.
13:32Times 75.
13:34750.
13:35Add the 50 and the 5.
13:36Yeah.
13:36Well done.
13:37805.
13:38Well done.
13:41Well done indeed.
13:42And now we turn to Gloria.
13:45Gloria.
13:46You love Ireland.
13:47I love it.
13:48And you're getting back there occasionally.
13:48I do.
13:49I love going back.
13:50And I also love sort of just collecting sort of silly stories that happen in Ireland.
13:54And as a family, we went back not all that long ago for a memorial for a dear old friend
13:59of ours.
14:00And we were staying with our neighbor who lived across the road from us in the place called Hillsborough in
14:06Northern Ireland.
14:06And they had a rather beautiful house.
14:08But the bed that we were sleeping in, our host said, I'm so sorry, it's just a four foot six
14:12bed.
14:13So fine.
14:14Absolutely fine.
14:15Now, my husband's a bit of a snorer.
14:18So in the middle of the night, I gave him a bit of a dig in the ribs to sort
14:21of move him over.
14:22And he fell right out of bed altogether, taking the duvet with him and cracking his head on the side
14:28table.
14:29And so we had this bizarre setup of remaking the bed in the middle of the night, getting back in
14:35the bed.
14:35Anyway, cut a long story short, in the morning, did my makeup.
14:40We were up quite early.
14:40And all of a sudden, Stephen said, what are all those marks on this white, beautiful carpet?
14:45And it turned out that somehow I had dropped a bit of lipstick or something, and it was on his
14:50shoe.
14:50And we tramped the lipstick in.
14:52It must have been about 30 marks all over the carpet.
14:55Now, he said, give me the hairspray.
14:57And I'm going, what's the hairspray going to do?
14:59I'm thinking, I've got to buy a new carpet.
15:01And the alcohol and the hairspray, painstakingly, down on the floor with buds, taking out the lipstick of the carpet,
15:08got everything removed, sauntered down for breakfast.
15:11And they went, oh, you must have slept well.
15:13Gosh, you've slept in really a long time.
15:15Wink, wink.
15:17If they only knew, I tell you, we were absolutely exhausted.
15:21Exhausted.
15:22At half the night, removing the thing.
15:24So anyway, it was a great return.
15:25We had a great time, despite all of that.
15:27And I never told them about the lipsticks.
15:29I hope they're not watching.
15:31Oh, very good.
15:36It's the realisation, when something like that happens, the dread you suddenly realise.
15:41Dread? My heart just sank.
15:42I thought, I'm going to just have to replace the carpet, no other way.
15:45Oh, it was funny.
15:46Lovely.
15:4750 points, well done.
15:48And Martin, let's have a letters game.
15:50A vowel, please.
15:51Thank you, Martin.
15:53I.
15:54And another vowel.
15:56O.
15:56And another vowel.
15:58A.
15:59And a consonant.
16:01D.
16:01And a consonant.
16:03T.
16:05And a consonant.
16:07N.
16:09And a consonant.
16:11G.
16:12And a consonant.
16:15R.
16:17And a final consonant, please.
16:19And a consonant.
16:20And a final tea.
16:22Countdown.
16:23And a consonant.
16:41And a consonant.
16:41And a consonant.
16:42And a consonant.
16:42And a consonant.
16:42And a consonant.
16:42And a consonant.
16:43And a consonant.
16:43And a consonant.
16:43And a consonant.
16:46And a consonant.
16:53Martin seven Arnold seven Martin ratting ratting Arnold trading trading
17:02absolutely fine yes what's anything batting we can rat on somebody can't
17:07you if you're writing yes we've got an eight as well we got rotating very good
17:13which is a good eight yes anything else Susie no that was our top rotating 57
17:19place seven well done Arnold and it's Arnold letters game a continent thank
17:25you Arnold consonant y s consonant n vowel I well a consonant L
17:47continent M
17:53continent R and the last one a stand by
18:04so
18:35eight Arnold Marines Marines and minerals and minerals
19:11excellent yes
19:12nine five four one and another nine and a large one fifty and this target 974 974
19:27so
19:54nine seven seven nine seven seven Arnold nine nine seven seven
19:59seventy not written down fully right let's hear from Martin okay 50 times four is 200
20:07yep minus one one nine nine times by five is nine nine five and then take away the two
20:15nines and then the two nines for 18 and 9 7 7 which is what you said yeah lovely very
20:23good
20:23but three away 974 um it was there if you say 50 times 5 is 250 minus 9 for 241
20:36times that by 4 for
20:39964 and then the other nine plus one is 10 and add it over 974 ah terrific well done rachel
20:45perfect
20:49perfect as always so 72 plays seven as we turn to our second tea time teaser which is
20:55tuna band and the clue you can buy tuna at all the supermarkets there's plenty of it
21:00you can buy tuna at all of the supermarkets there's plenty of it
21:19welcome back i left you with the clue you can buy tuna at all the supermarkets there's plenty of it
21:24in fact it's abundant abundant so arnold your letters came a consonant thank you arnold
21:35a consonant a consonant b a vowel o a consonant t vowel e a consonant
21:58a vowel o three and vowel and the last one you countdown
22:44Arnold.
22:46A five.
22:47A five.
22:48Martin?
22:49Seven.
22:49And a seven.
22:50Arnold.
22:51And a boost.
22:52Boost and?
22:53Booster.
22:54And a booster.
22:56A booster seat.
22:58Actually, I had reboots for a seven.
23:01That's good.
23:01It's a strange mix, actually, but you've got a rather clever word, haven't you?
23:04Yes, so it's a seven.
23:06Subvert.
23:07As in, subvert the course of justice.
23:09Yes.
23:09Undermine.
23:11All right.
23:11So, seventy-nine to seven, and it's Martin's letters game.
23:16Martin?
23:17Vowel, please.
23:18Thank you, Martin.
23:19E.
23:20And another.
23:22U.
23:23And another.
23:24A.
23:25And consonant.
23:27L.
23:28And another.
23:29D.
23:30And another.
23:32T.
23:33And a consonant.
23:36K.
23:38And a consonant.
23:41S.
23:43And a final consonant, please.
23:47And a final D.
23:49Countdown.
23:50D.
23:51And another.
23:52And one.
24:18And another.
24:19And a collapsus.
24:21Martin. Seven. A seven from Martin. Arnold. Risky seven. All right. Martin. Saluted. Arnold. Laddest. Laddest. How are you spelling
24:33it? L-A-double-D-E-S-T.
24:37It's funny because I started looking for ladette, but it's not their laddest, I'm afraid. Gladdest, maddest, baddest and saddest.
24:44We're all there, but not laddest.
24:45Bad luck, bad luck. No. There is a rather clever seven, actually, with Susie's help. Stalked.
24:54Well done. Anything else, Susie? I've just got a six. I've always liked slaked, as in he slaked his thirst
24:59on a hot summer's day.
25:00All right. Well done. My word, Martin. 86 points. Arnold, you've come on the wrong day, I think. That's what
25:07happens, I guess.
25:08Susie, what have you got for us today in your wonderful origins of words?
25:13Well, last week, if you remember, Nick, I was talking about the origins of writing, ancient forms of writing, whether
25:17it was text or paper, which comes from papyrus, which is one of the first implements, if you like, that
25:25was used for communicating.
25:26But I haven't actually mentioned to write itself, the acts of writing.
25:31And in the ancient Germanic languages, to write were the earliest forms of writing, or, of course, carving or scoring
25:38on runes, inscriptions, etc.
25:40So people would use wood, for example, or anything that they could find that they could sort of mark, literally,
25:47with either a chisel or a sharp piece of stone in the earliest days.
25:51And some of the wood that was used was beech.
25:54And the old English for beech was bock, B-O-C.
25:58And that, of course, is the root of our modern book.
26:01All goes back to beech woods.
26:03And in German, in fact, a letter, a letter of the alphabet, is still called a Buchstabe, sorry, Buchstabe, which
26:09is a beech staff.
26:10So it still refers to the tree that gave us that earliest form of writing, and indeed something that you
26:16could read.
26:18But continuing that idea of scoring, of course, we talk about football scores all the time today.
26:23That looks back to the tally sticks on which scores or the sort of progress in a competition would be
26:31literally marked on a piece of wood, again, using something sharp.
26:35So amazing to think that when we're talking about scoring, whatever sport today, we're looking back again to that very
26:39early form of communicating.
26:41And just to finish off, a pen, of course, we write with a pen.
26:44It comes from the Latin penna, meaning a feather, referring, of course, to quill pens.
26:49And pencil is from the Romans penicillum, a little tail.
26:54Penicillin has the same root, because to scientists looking at these little microbes under the magnifying glass, they look like
27:00little tails swimming around.
27:02And finally, the stylus, again, an ancient writing implement.
27:06It was a small rod with a pointed end used for scratching and communicating on stone or wood.
27:16I mean, something was basically as book.
27:19Yeah.
27:19You know, as I said it was Bach.
27:21Yeah, a tree.
27:21Yeah, the beach tree.
27:22That's fantastic.
27:22I love that.
27:23It's brilliant.
27:24And the number of facts that Susie can squeeze into a couple of minutes.
27:29I was throwing them at you.
27:30Defies belief.
27:31I mean, brilliant.
27:32Thank you so much, Susie.
27:33Wonderful stuff.
27:34Now, Arnold.
27:35Penultimate letters game.
27:38Consonant.
27:39Thank you, Arnold.
27:40N.
27:42A consonant.
27:44Z.
27:46Consonant.
27:49H.
27:50Consonant.
27:53S.
27:54Vowel.
27:56O.
27:58A vowel.
28:00I.
28:02Consonant.
28:04R.
28:06Vowel.
28:06E.
28:10And a vowel.
28:13And the last one.
28:15O.
28:16Countdown.
28:50Yes, Arnold?
28:52Five.
28:53Five.
28:54Martin?
28:55Eight.
28:55And an eight, my word.
28:57Arnold?
28:58Zones.
28:59Martin?
29:00Horizons.
29:02Oh, brilliant.
29:03Well done.
29:04Very good, John.
29:06Well, this is something, Martin, you're not.
29:10A snoozy-er for eight.
29:13Very good.
29:14Yeah.
29:14Very good.
29:15Brilliant score.
29:15Susie, anything else?
29:17No, we like snoozy and snoozy-er.
29:19Not that we're feeling it particularly yet.
29:22All right, 94, Martin.
29:24Tremendous performance today, my word.
29:26Martin, letters for you.
29:28Can I have a vowel, please?
29:29Thank you, Martin.
29:30E.
29:31And another.
29:32I.
29:33And another.
29:34A.
29:35And a consonant.
29:37M.
29:38And another.
29:40F.
29:41And another.
29:43M.
29:43And another.
29:46N.
29:47And another.
29:50L.
29:51And a final consonant, please.
29:57And a final T.
29:59Stand by.
30:01M.
30:01And another.
30:27And another.
30:29You'll find the next one.
30:30And this one to my E.
30:31Martin.
30:32I'll stick with a seven.
30:34Arnold.
30:35Six.
30:37And your six?
30:38Famine.
30:39Martin.
30:40In flame.
30:42Yep.
30:43Excellent.
30:44In flame.
30:45Yes, we have an eight.
30:46Carry on.
30:47Filament.
30:48Ah, very good.
30:49Very good.
30:50Very short of spelling.
30:51Ah.
30:55Susie, anything else?
30:56No, filament, obviously, the very narrow wire that you will find,
31:00in an electric light bulb, for example,
31:02often found in plants and stamens as well.
31:04Ailment we had for seven.
31:05Very good.
31:07Thank you, Gloria.
31:08And it's 101, 101 to seven,
31:11and it's Arnold's numbers game, Arnold.
31:13Two large and four small, please.
31:15Thank you, Arnold.
31:17Try and find a friendly one for the last one of the day.
31:19And this selection is two, eight, ten, five,
31:25and the large one's 125.
31:28And this target, 176.
31:30One, seven, six.
31:32One, seven, six.
31:34One, seven, six.
32:05Arnold 177 one away and Martin 176 176 firmly spoken now 25 minus 5 plus 2 25
32:17minus 5 plus 2 22 times by 8 times by 8 yep you're straight there well done well
32:25done and so we go into the final round Martin Arnold fingers on buzzers let's reveal today's
32:35countdown conundrum
33:08well we're foxed here even Martin Hurst is foxed who in the audience will have a shot
33:14at this nobody this must be tricky let's roll it and see what uh what the answer is
33:20triathlon well done all right so Arnold as I said before you came on the wrong day because
33:32young um Martin Hurst is a tremendous player that's three tremendous wings 111 so it's back
33:39to bury with our very best wishes to you with your goodie bag and Martin congratulations
33:45that's a great performance fantastic and we look forward to seeing you tomorrow well done
33:49and we look forward to seeing you tomorrow Gloria and Susie and I look forward to that as well
33:53we're going to have some well no you're not but I am I'm going to have some brain food tonight
33:57or
33:57brain pills or something so that I can admire Martin even more exactly will you save some for me
34:02please all right well done no he's good he's very good yep something's telling me I'm going to have
34:08an easy week ahead I think so see you tomorrow same time same place see how Martin does tomorrow
34:13there's always somebody creeping up on the inside you'll be sure of it good afternoon
34:18contact us by email at countdown at channel 4.com by twitter at c4 countdown or write to us at
34:26countdown leads ls3 1js you can also find our webpage at channel 4.com forward slash countdown
34:36teaching us a bit of self-confidence this evening joe wicks is the body coach at 10 past 7 and
34:43turning
34:4316 after that parties exams it's a lot to get through with my millionaire dads and me that's at 10
34:49o'clock
34:50next today gox fill your house for free
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