- 25/07/2025
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00:30Hello, everybody. Welcome to Countdown, our final week before the Christmas break.
00:35And that means on Friday, we will crown the Series 90 champion.
00:39Two semifinals and the last quarterfinal before we get to that moment.
00:43And we're very excited. But, Rachel Riley, have I spotted a theme to your outfits this week?
00:51I mean, the set is looking like this, so I thought it was a good excuse to get the sequins out.
00:54I've got a range of Mrs Claus outfits. Today, I'm Mrs Claus chilling at home with the big guy,
00:59making gingerbread.
01:01OK. Well, I look forward to seeing what the Claus theme is tomorrow.
01:05Just wait for date night.
01:07Can't wait.
01:08Well, I've decided to shirt up for the quarters and semis and final,
01:13just to bring a little bit more respect to it.
01:16But we'll come back to you in just a second, because you need to help out with something.
01:19But first of all, let's introduce, as always, Dictionary Corner,
01:22our Doyen of the Dictionary, Susie Dent, and alongside our Christmas tradition,
01:27as he will be forevermore, Christopher Biggins.
01:31It's so funny, because I remember that shirt vividly.
01:34Well, because I sat on you once, because I thought you were a dick chair.
01:39Well, listen, this is the one.
01:41We're first and second seed gone through.
01:43We had our sixth seed toppled our third seed yesterday.
01:46But this is always the toss-up.
01:48It's the fourth against fifth.
01:49It's anyone's game.
01:50And we welcome back the Eggman, David Rowe.
01:53How are you, David?
01:54I'm fine, thank you.
01:55Always the best turned out, let me tell you.
01:57Back in 2001, you won a few shows.
02:00You won a teapot.
02:01You're an octo-chump, this type around.
02:03You've been, I love this, pure countdown nerdery.
02:06You've been comparing both the teapots.
02:10So what's, are there differences?
02:11What are the differences?
02:12Well, the old one, the 2001 one, had some yellow shading around it
02:17and a different shaped spout.
02:21Which is easier to make a cup of tea with?
02:23I have never made a cup of tea in either.
02:25No, that's true.
02:27To brew or not to brew.
02:29When you win a countdown pot, you've chosen to respect the show
02:33and not to brew.
02:34Excellent.
02:35Let's see how it goes.
02:36David, you're up against Alex at call,
02:38who will remember from Swindon.
02:40And then, in fact, after becoming an octo-champ,
02:44Susie has not only visited Bert's books in Swindon, your shop,
02:48she did a book signing for a novel.
02:50She did.
02:50We had a great event with her.
02:52Yeah.
02:52I heard loads of people turned up.
02:55Police got involved.
02:57Still an ongoing case.
02:58We can't talk about it.
02:59But let's just say two days from page of the local newspaper.
03:02Yeah, it was.
03:03I'll leave it at that.
03:04People can look it up.
03:05Can I just say, it's the most beautiful bookshop.
03:07Yes.
03:08It's one of the nicest I've visited.
03:09Thank you, it's lovely.
03:10And given everything, we didn't give you a nickname.
03:13We kind of drew a blank.
03:15I think we were concentrating too much in the bookshop.
03:17And then Rachel came up with it after you'd left,
03:20after you became an octo-champ.
03:21So, go ahead, explain the nickname.
03:23We had a bit of a debate.
03:25We thought Shirley.
03:26We thought you'd say, don't call me Shirley.
03:28So, cool was basically the theme of all of these.
03:31Colin wanted to call you the Ghostbuster.
03:33Who are you going to call?
03:34Yes.
03:35But I thought a bit more Countdown-y.
03:38Alphabetical.
03:39Yes.
03:40Yes.
03:41So, it's the Eggman against alphabetical.
03:43I love it.
03:44Here we go.
03:45Good luck both of you.
03:46APPLAUSE
03:46David, you're choosing these letters.
03:50Hi, Rachel.
03:51Hi, David.
03:51I'll start with a consonant, please.
03:53Start the final quarterfinal with P.
03:57And another consonant.
04:00M.
04:01And a vowel.
04:03I.
04:04A vowel.
04:06E.
04:07A consonant.
04:09B.
04:11A consonant.
04:13P.
04:13Another consonant.
04:16N.
04:18A vowel.
04:21O.
04:23Another consonant.
04:25Lastly, R.
04:27At home and in the studio, let's play Countdown.
04:43What are you saying, David?
05:01Six.
05:02OK, and for you, Alex, seven.
05:04I'm going to try a seven, OK, the six, David.
05:06Bopper.
05:07OK, yes, big bopper.
05:09And Alex, bromine.
05:11Bromine!
05:12Yes, bromine, I think, rather than bromine, but excellent.
05:15The chemical element of atomic number 35, dark red, fuming and toxic.
05:20Good start, yet again, from our lower seat, just like yesterday.
05:23Second round, your letters.
05:25Hi, Rachel.
05:25Hi, Alex.
05:26Could I have a consonant, please?
05:27You can indeed.
05:28N.
05:29And a vowel, please.
05:31I.
05:33And a consonant.
05:35C.
05:36And a vowel, please.
05:37U.
05:38And a consonant.
05:41G.
05:41And another consonant.
05:44L.
05:46And another consonant, please.
05:48R.
05:49And a vowel.
05:52E.
05:53And a final consonant, please.
05:57A final B.
05:58And 30 seconds.
05:59father Q.
06:01And a vowel.
06:01A vowel.
06:02Inch
06:16A lengua.
06:17And a vowel.
06:18So,
06:18E.
06:19And a vowel.
06:19A vowel.
06:28And that's time. Alex.
06:32I'll stick with a six. David. Seven.
06:35Seven. A chance to draw a level straight away. Alex.
06:38Bugler. A bugler? And for you, David?
06:41Curling. Curling. Curling's all there, yes. Very good.
06:44Excellent. What a ding-dong start. Merrily on high indeed.
06:48Seven points each. How did you get on, Beggins? Kringle.
06:51Oh, what a Christmas word, despite. Exactly.
06:54It is, but it's not that criss-cringle. It's something slightly different.
06:57In sailing, it's a ring of rope that contains a thimble
07:00and another rope passes through it. Excellent.
07:02We're going to completely ignore the truth.
07:04We're just going to have criss-cringle. Exactly.
07:07We don't care. Numbers for the first time today.
07:10Seven all. Fourth versus fifth. David, it's your numbers.
07:14I'm going to have six small, please. You can indeed.
07:17It's going straight in. First choice.
07:19Six little ones up in the ante, putting you under pressure.
07:22And they are six, seven, four, four, seven and two.
07:30And the target you need to reach? 154.
07:33One, five, four. Numbers up.
07:35Two little ones up in the ante, putting you under pressure.
07:36And that's the point of time.
07:38One, five, five, four, four, four.
07:41And that's the point of time.
07:43Yeah.
07:45One, five, four.
07:48One, five, five.
07:50One, seven, nine.
07:51Two, five, five.
07:54Two, five, six, seven, nine.
07:56Two, five, five.
07:58One, five, five, six.
08:00Four, five, six, eight.
08:01MUSIC
08:061, 5, 4. David? 1, 5, 4.
08:09Yes. And Alex? I've missed it.
08:11Missed it. David, go ahead.
08:137 times 6...
08:1542. Times 4.
08:17Times 4 is 168.
08:207 times 2 is 14.
08:22The other 7. Subtract.
08:24Well done. 1, 5, 4. Nice.
08:26APPLAUSE
08:28Look at that, from 7-0 down to 17.
08:317 and 10 points in the lead.
08:33Deep Salt. Deep Salt is her first Tea Town teaser.
08:37Show respect to the Sink supporter.
08:39Show respect to the Sink supporter.
08:42MUSIC
08:45Welcome back. Deep Salt becomes Pedestal to show respect to the Sink supporter.
09:02Right. 17 players is seven. Every round has told a different story.
09:08So let's have our fourth. And Alex?
09:10Can I start with a consonant, please, Rachel?
09:12Thank you, Alex. D.
09:14And a vowel, please.
09:16A.
09:17And a consonant, please.
09:19R.
09:20And another consonant, please.
09:22L.
09:23And a vowel, please.
09:25O.
09:26And a consonant.
09:28T.
09:29And a vowel.
09:31T.
09:32T.
09:33E.
09:34And a consonant, please.
09:35N.
09:36And another consonant, please.
09:38Lastly, C.
09:39All right, half a minute.
09:40Lastly, see.
09:42All right, half a minute.
10:10MUSIC
10:13Alex, how many?
10:14Seven. Not written down.
10:15Not written down. And for you, David?
10:17Eight.
10:17Eight and written down. What did you not write down, Alex?
10:20Trolled.
10:21What did you? He's about to do it to you. Let's find out, David.
10:24Collated.
10:25Collated.
10:25Very nice indeed.
10:26APPLAUSE
10:27Excellent. Three rounds on the bounce for the Eggman.
10:33What about you, Biggins?
10:34I'm keeping in touch with Christmas.
10:36Caroled.
10:36Caroled? Is that two Ls?
10:38Two Ls, yes.
10:39To go around caroling.
10:41Obviously, wonderful singing.
10:42There's also collared as well.
10:43That would give me another eight.
10:44Fantastic. Right.
10:46Onwards with the letters.
10:47And, David, it's back with you.
10:49I'll have a consonant, please.
10:51Thank you, David.
10:52K.
10:52And another consonant.
10:54N.
10:55A vowel.
10:57I.
10:58Another vowel.
10:59A.
11:00Another vowel.
11:02E.
11:03A consonant.
11:05S.
11:07A consonant.
11:08H.
11:09A consonant.
11:12A consonant.
11:13J.
11:15And a consonant.
11:17And lastly, R.
11:19And half a minute.
11:20A consonant.
11:21A consonant.
11:21A consonant.
11:21A consonant.
11:22A consonant.
11:22A consonant.
11:23A consonant.
11:23A consonant.
11:23A consonant.
11:23A consonant.
11:24A consonant.
11:24A consonant.
11:25A consonant.
11:25A consonant.
11:25A consonant.
11:26A consonant.
11:26A consonant.
11:26A consonant.
11:26A consonant.
11:27A consonant.
11:27A consonant.
11:27A consonant.
11:27A consonant.
11:27A consonant.
11:28A consonant.
11:28A consonant.
11:28A consonant.
11:29A consonant.
11:29A consonant.
11:30A consonant.
11:30A consonant.
11:30A consonant.
11:31A consonant.
11:31A consonant.
11:31A consonant.
11:32A consonant.
11:33A consonant.
11:33A consonant.
11:34A consonant.
11:34A consonant.
11:35A consonant.
11:35A consonant.
11:36A consonant.
11:37A consonant.
11:38All right, time is up. David?
11:55Seven. And for you, Alex?
11:57Yes, seven. Seven as well. OK, David?
11:59Jankers. And Alex?
12:01Harkins? Harkins.
12:03Harkins is brilliant. Yes, you can spell it without the two E,
12:06so just one E. And Jankers, in military slang,
12:10punishment for those who have committed a military offence.
12:13Christopher. Yeah, I got Harkins as well.
12:15You know, another Christmassy Hark the Aerald Angels thing.
12:18Sort of, yeah. And anything else?
12:21Hankies. Hankies. I'll play Hankies for seven.
12:24Right, back to the numbers. About ten points.
12:26And Alex, your first time choosing in this fourth quarterfinal.
12:30I'll go with one large and five small, please.
12:32You're not gambling. Interesting.
12:34Let's see if those tactics play off for you.
12:36One large, five, little.
12:38And the five small ones.
12:40Four, two, seven, ten, six.
12:45And the large one, 50.
12:46And the target, 905.
12:49905. Numbers up.
12:50All right.
13:089-0-5 the target, Alex.
13:239-0-4.
13:249-0-4.
13:25One away, David.
13:269-0-5.
13:27For a huge ten points.
13:29Off you go.
13:306 over 2 is 3.
13:326 over 2, 3.
13:33Add 50.
13:3553.
13:3610 plus 7 is 17.
13:38Yep.
13:3953 times 17.
13:42901.
13:42And add the 4.
13:43Well done.
13:45Wow.
13:45Well done.
13:46Very good.
13:48Wow.
13:48Absolutely brought his A-game today, David Rowe.
13:52Talking of bringing A-games, we haven't talked about this as your time to shine.
13:55What panto are you doing this year?
13:57Well, I'm doing Sleeping Beauty in Woking and it's going really well.
14:01We're having a great time out there.
14:03We've got Faye Tozer, which I mentioned, who's playing Karabosa.
14:07And is fantastic.
14:09She's a really talented girl.
14:10That's Faye from Steps.
14:12Yes, that's right.
14:13And she's terrific.
14:14Our director is a man called Richard Cadell, who is fantastic.
14:20But he not only is our director, he's also the man behind Sooty and Sweep.
14:25Oh, yes.
14:25So we've got Sooty and Sweep absolutely entrancing the audience.
14:30The kids love them.
14:31So you're obviously the beauty of the Sleeping Beauty.
14:33Of course I am.
14:34Thank you very much.
14:35Who do you play?
14:36I play the...
14:39What do I play?
14:40The spirit.
14:41The good spirit.
14:42The spirit, thank you very much.
14:43The spirit of good.
14:45And so it's fantastic.
14:48We're really having a great time.
14:50And it's such a wonderful mixture of audiences, you know.
14:53There's, you know, the parents, the grandparents, children.
14:56So it's lovely.
14:57It's a great family entertainment.
14:59And, of course, it's, you know, you get a day off every week,
15:01but it's two shows a day.
15:03Two shows a day.
15:04You know, all that work.
15:05Do you sleep in between, or are you just too excited?
15:08I do.
15:08I have a rider, and the riders, I have to have a bed.
15:11Yeah.
15:11Because I do go fast asleep in between the two shows,
15:14and also a television, because I like to keep up.
15:16Because otherwise you have no idea what's going on in the outside world,
15:19because you're just in that dressing room.
15:21I love that.
15:21TV, bed, Beggins is happy.
15:24Thank you very much.
15:25Let's get back to, OK, 42-14, but remember, still so far to go.
15:34Let's see if I can change.
15:35David, what a start, though, and it's your letters.
15:37Start with a consonant, please, Rachel.
15:39Thank you, David.
15:40F.
15:41And another consonant.
15:43G.
15:44And another one.
15:46S.
15:47A vowel.
15:49A.
15:50Another vowel.
15:52E.
15:53Consonant.
15:55X.
15:55A vowel.
15:58I.
15:59A consonant.
16:01T.
16:04And a consonant.
16:06Lastly, S.
16:07And here we go again.
16:22How many, David?
16:40Six.
16:42A six.
16:43And for Alex?
16:44Six.
16:44A six as well.
16:46David?
16:46Stages.
16:47For you, Alex?
16:48Exists.
16:49Exists.
16:49All right, let's exit stage right.
16:51And get the word from Christopher Beggins.
16:53Little seven.
16:54Six eights.
16:55Six eights.
16:56Yes.
16:57And fiestas.
16:58And fiestas.
16:58Yes, celebrations.
16:59Fix eights.
17:00No, stills to show when you use the X for sure.
17:03And here we go, Alex.
17:04More letters, please.
17:06Start with a consonant, please.
17:08Thank you, Alex.
17:09W.
17:10And a vowel, please.
17:13E.
17:14And a consonant.
17:16T.
17:17And another consonant, please.
17:20V.
17:21And a vowel, please.
17:23A.
17:25And a consonant.
17:27R.
17:28And another consonant, please.
17:31F.
17:32And a vowel.
17:34U.
17:35And a final consonant, please.
17:38A final S.
17:40And start the clock.
17:41A FIN Hunger
17:53end door, please.
17:54Double Tose.
17:55And a vowel.
17:56Let's open your vehicle.
17:56Always a tuning in.
17:57Refresh.
17:58Thank you, Alex.
17:58And a gallon for office.
18:00End.
18:00And a vowel.
18:01One of them.
18:01And a vowel.
18:02And a vowel.
18:02independently.
18:02Which is this hobby new.
18:04And a vowel.
18:04And a vowel.
18:04And a vowel.
18:05And a vowel.
18:06And a vowel sounds.
18:06Another round bites the dust. Alex?
18:13Six. And for you, David?
18:15Six. Six as well.
18:17Mr Call? Starve.
18:18Mr Rowe? Waters.
18:20And over the dictionary corner, Susie and Christopher?
18:23Not a good choice of letters there, were they, really?
18:25No, they were quite tricky. Lots of sixes.
18:27But what I like is afters, when I've had dinner.
18:30Afters. Very nice indeed.
18:32Yeah. Nothing else jumping out?
18:34Averts, no. Lots of sixes.
18:35Yeah. Right, let's get back to the numbers then.
18:39Alex has steadied the ship and he needs to make some waves.
18:42David hopes not. You're choosing.
18:44I'll have six small again, please.
18:45Six small, tricky selection.
18:47And Alex is hoping to change his nickname to numerical for this one.
18:51Let's see if he can catch up.
18:52Third one. Seven, five, three, eight, nine and ten.
18:58And we need to reach 743.
19:02743. Numbers up.
19:05Seven, four, five, four, five, four.
19:35David? 743.
19:37Absolute nails at the numbers.
19:39Alex? 742. 742.
19:41Missed it by one, so ten more points for David.
19:44The number is sensational so far. Off you go.
19:47Eight times nine. Eight times nine, 72.
19:50Plus seven, minus five. Plus seven, minus five, 74.
19:54Times ten. 740.
19:57At three. And you're raking in the points with these numbers.
20:00Well done.
20:01APPLAUSE
20:03Wonderful. Tea time. Teaser.
20:05Our second one today is Scafiche.
20:07Scafiche. Spelled F-I-C-H-E.
20:11You might make this for Ray's birthday.
20:13You might make this for Ray's birthday.
20:16MUSIC
20:17The Ray being the fish in question. A fish cake. A fish cake.
20:27All right. Here we go. 64 for David Rowe at the moment.
20:3126 for Alex. It's a long way back, but you just never know.
20:47A maximum would be nicer right now. Let's see. Alex?
20:49We'll start with a consonant, please. Thank you, Alex. D.
20:55And a vowel, please.
20:57I.
20:59And another vowel, please.
21:01E.
21:02And a consonant, please.
21:04S.
21:05And a vowel, please.
21:07A.
21:08A.
21:09And a consonant.
21:10D.
21:11And a vowel.
21:13U.
21:14And a consonant, please.
21:16M.
21:18And a final consonant, please.
21:21A final T.
21:24And good luck, everybody.
21:25MUSIC
21:53And that's time. Alex?
21:56Eight.
21:57An eight from you and David?
21:58Eight.
21:59An eight as well.
22:00Let's see if it's the same word. Alex?
22:01Muddiest.
22:02Muddiest.
22:03It is the same word, muddiest.
22:07Well done. Nice and clean. Muddiest.
22:09Eight points each.
22:10Yes.
22:11And anything else is going to be a risk, I think, Susie and Christopher?
22:14Well, when you do the countdown tour, you'll be going round stadium.
22:19Yes.
22:20And I thought, you know, obviously it's not in there,
22:22but you're left with the ED, the past test.
22:24You've been stadiumed.
22:25Stadiumed.
22:26I like that.
22:27I can't give you one more eight, though.
22:28Misdated.
22:29Misdated?
22:30Yeah.
22:31Nice. Just making a mistake.
22:32Yep.
22:33Bringing the wrong date down.
22:34Don't want to do that in your passport or whatever.
22:35OK.
22:36Right.
22:37Excellent stuff.
22:38You both scored very highly.
22:39And, David, you're choosing these letters.
22:41I have a consonant, please, Rachel.
22:43Thank you, David.
22:44N.
22:45Another consonant.
22:46H.
22:47Another consonant.
22:49G.
22:50A vowel.
22:51A.
22:52A vowel.
22:53O.
22:54And a vowel.
22:55E.
22:56A consonant.
22:57R.
22:58A vowel.
22:59I.
23:00And a consonant.
23:01And, finally, G.
23:10And let's play.
23:11.
23:21.
23:22David?
23:23Seven.
23:24And Alex?
23:25Seven.
23:26Seven.
23:27David?
23:28Hearing.
23:29And for you, Alex?
23:30Hearing.
23:31Hearing as well.
23:32Hearing as well.
23:33Well, you're going punch for punch at the moment, which is lovely to see, but David Rowe hasn't blinked once. What an impressive performance.
23:47And you, Chris, have you been great too, what do you get?
23:48Well, I think we've got a great word here.
23:49G-G-Rowing?
23:50G-Rowing, yes.
23:51So, for years, Countdown has allowed G-Row, G-H-E-R-A-O, which is from Bengali, and it's a protest where workers prevent managers from
23:52leaving work until their demands are met until their demands are met. Turns out it's a verb as well, so G-Rowing.
23:56.
23:57.
23:58.
23:59.
24:00.
24:01.
24:02.
24:03.
24:04.
24:05.
24:06.
24:07.
24:08.
24:09.
24:10.
24:11.
24:12.
24:13.
24:14.
24:15.
24:16.
24:17.
24:18.
24:19.
24:20.
24:21.
24:22.
24:25.
24:41.
24:42.
24:43.
24:44.
24:45.
24:46.
24:47.
24:48.
24:49.
24:50.
24:51That's the beauty of it. That is the beauty of it.
24:54All right, we'll stay in Dictionary Corner,
24:55because you'd also think we'd have learnt the origin
24:58of every single word in the dictionary,
24:59but we're a long way away from that, too.
25:02We are, and sometimes they are just such everyday, cosy,
25:07comfortable, sort of warming words and expressions,
25:09and that's definitely the case today.
25:11It's a question from Helen Chambers,
25:13who says she often describes one of her cats
25:16as being daft as a brush because he is.
25:19However, where does the word daft come from,
25:21and why is a brush daft?
25:23I love the word, and it seems so fitting,
25:25especially in my cat's case, and I'm sure she's not alone.
25:29It's a very affectionate word, isn't it? Daft. Don't be daft.
25:32And it started off meaning something entirely different.
25:37So if you go back to Old English, a thousand years ago almost,
25:40it meant mild and gentle and quite meek.
25:44And as is the case so often with the way our language
25:47and our attitudes go, we just gave it a negative twist.
25:50So someone who was mild and gentle was also a bit weak, perhaps,
25:55and then thought of as being possibly a bit foolish.
25:58And those associations definitely crept in,
26:00and silly has had exactly the same journey.
26:03Silly meant humble, soulful,
26:06but eventually took on those associations of silly, you know,
26:09stupidity or foolishness again.
26:11Now, daft then took on the idea of lack of intelligence
26:16in the Middle Ages, even madness.
26:18If you were daft, you were considered to be quite mad.
26:20But there was also a playful twist, and I mention this,
26:23because for a long time Christmas festivities were known
26:26as the daft days, which I think is rather wonderful
26:28and very appropriate for now.
26:30Daft as a brush, it is a bit of an odd one,
26:33as so often with our regional expressions,
26:36and I think this one did begin in English dialect.
26:39First recorded in 1932 as mazed as a brush,
26:42mazed, another word for being sort of a little bit foolish and giddy.
26:46And if you leap forward then to the 1970s,
26:49someone has tried to explain it in one of their dictionaries.
26:52Daft as a brush which flops and is unable to stand up.
26:56So that's one theory.
26:57But to be honest, I think it could have been any inanimate object
27:00that, you know, basically just...
27:02It's inanimate, so it doesn't have any intelligence.
27:04But it's a lovely phrase, and, as I say, I think,
27:07affectionately used, particularly towards Helen's cat.
27:12I mean, that's a word giddy, too.
27:14Giddy is wonderful.
27:15Giddy is a wonderful word we should use more, I think.
27:18Yeah, and that one's had a twist as well,
27:20because it originally meant possessed by God.
27:22Oh, really?
27:22Yes, so quite a journey, all of these.
27:24And while we've addressed daft as a brush,
27:27you will have noticed that she avoided telling us
27:30why sausage is silly.
27:32That's a very good point, you see.
27:34Just alliteration, I reckon, on that one.
27:37Well, David and Alex, no silly sausages at this stage
27:40of countdown, right?
27:42Here we go, four rounds to go.
27:44Alex, long, long way back, but that smile will not disappear.
27:47Off you go.
27:49Consonant, please, Rachel.
27:50Thank you, Alex.
27:51W.
27:53And a vowel, please.
27:56U.
27:57And a consonant, please.
27:59T.
28:00And another consonant, please.
28:02S.
28:04And a vowel, please.
28:05I.
28:06And a consonant.
28:08R.
28:10And a consonant, please.
28:13Q.
28:15And a vowel.
28:17E.
28:19And a final consonant, please.
28:23Final L.
28:24Kind O.
28:25A стало L.
28:26I.
28:26I.
28:27I.
28:28I.
28:29fo'
28:31MUSIC PLAYS
28:56That's time. Alex, how many?
28:57Eight. Yes, and for David?
28:59Six.
29:00Oh, so there's six, David?
29:02Er, square.
29:03OK, so there's eight. What have you spotted?
29:06Quilters.
29:06Yes, absolutely brilliant.
29:08Well done.
29:08Nice.
29:11I'll keep you warm at night.
29:12Wonderful. Eight points for you.
29:14Christopher Biggins?
29:15I got a small seven last year.
29:18Yes.
29:19Excellent.
29:19Yeah.
29:20And we're all done.
29:21We're all done.
29:21Excellent.
29:22Well, as I said, it was a long, long way back.
29:24It's now a long way back, but it's OK.
29:26All you need is a maximum in these last letters
29:29to keep the game alive.
29:31Could happen.
29:32You never know, David.
29:32You're choosing.
29:33I'll have a consonant, please.
29:35Thank you, David.
29:36G.
29:37And a vowel.
29:39O.
29:40A consonant.
29:41T.
29:43A consonant.
29:45N.
29:45T.
29:46A vowel.
29:50E.
29:52A vowel.
29:54A.
29:57Another vowel.
29:59I.
30:01And a consonant.
30:03Lastly, R.
30:04And last letters.
30:05A vowel.
30:26A vowel.
30:29And that's time. David Rowe.
30:37Eight. Alex.
30:39Eight. Well done. Let's get those points up, David.
30:42Rotating. Rotating. And Alex.
30:44Treating. And treating. Excellent both, yeah.
30:47Nice. Absolutely. Taking a look at those letters,
30:51a lot of different ending choices. Could we push it to the maximum?
30:54No? He couldn't, no.
30:55No. Treating, same, you know, it's a good one, treating.
31:01That's what it's like now, the standard that we get to
31:03at this stage of the series. Right, OK, well, we know it's over
31:07as a contest, but it's not in terms of the fun we have together
31:10every afternoon. Alex, your final numbers.
31:13Let's go four large. Why not? Four large.
31:17It's almost Christmas. Early presents.
31:20Two little ones. Let's have a look. Final numbers.
31:22Three, one, and then the big ones.
31:25Fifty, one hundred, seventy-five and twenty-five,
31:28and you need to reach 576.
31:32Five, seven, six. Numbers up.
31:34One.
31:34One.
31:37One, two, three.
31:44Five, four.
31:46Two, three.
31:55Five, five.
31:56One, two, three.
31:575, 7, 6 for you, Alex.
32:06Yeah, 5, 7, 6.
32:07And for you, David?
32:085, 7, 6, but not written down.
32:09You go first, then.
32:10100 minus 75.
32:1225.
32:13Times 25.
32:14625.
32:16Minus 50.
32:175, 7, 5.
32:18Plus 1.
32:18Perfect.
32:19Well done again.
32:20By your high standard, that would have been bad to miss.
32:23Alex?
32:24I did it a different way.
32:25100 plus 75.
32:27175.
32:28Times 3.
32:29Times 3.
32:30525.
32:31Add 50, add 1.
32:33Well done.
32:3410 points.
32:38Well, you know, we look back at the regular series and our Eggman over there is consistent in OctoChamp as we had.
32:44And here we are again, ending around that 197.
32:48A chance to get 107.
32:50Alex, with a tear in her eye, this is our last round together.
32:54Let's enjoy it.
32:55Fingers on the buzzers.
32:55As we reveal this quarterfinal countdown conundrum.
33:26Not even a late guess, but within about three seconds,
33:35Rachel had the look of somebody who nailed it.
33:37It's a shame Terence isn't here. I think it's gentility.
33:39Let's have a look. That's brilliant.
33:43Absolutely sensational as Alex Cole goes gentle into the countdown at night.
33:48It is about not having a blip.
33:51We saw that in the last quarterfinal. We saw that again today.
33:54And that early great start by David, it's like trying to climb a mountain.
33:58It is, yeah. Impossible.
34:00Good luck with everything at Bird's Book.
34:01Thank you. Excellent.
34:02And David, how do you feel about coming back and doing it in the quarterfinal?
34:06I was nervous, but...
34:08Yeah? Didn't show? Didn't show.
34:10How do you feel about playing the number one seed tomorrow?
34:13Oh, what fun.
34:15The Eggman and the grip. We cannot wait.
34:17We'll see you tomorrow. Big in. Susie, we'll see you tomorrow.
34:21Can't wait.
34:22And all done. Semi-final time tomorrow.
34:23Yep. Eggman's still not scrambled.
34:25Excellent. Very good indeed.
34:27Three shows left.
34:29Four contestants left standing.
34:32We'll see you tomorrow.
34:33First semi-final.
34:34You can count on us.
34:35APPLAUSE
34:36You can contact the programme by email at countdown at channel4.com.
34:41You can also find our webpage at channel4.com forward slash countdown.
34:45APPLAUSE
34:46technologiesанию.
34:56And we'll see you tomorrow.
34:57Yes, that's what we tell you.
34:58You can also join us today.
35:00Before we visit our website, we'll be in the next one now.
35:00Happy the episode.
35:00Oh, my name is Jennifer.
35:02Happy the episode.
35:04Haven't you to watch.
35:05Happy terall.
35:06Happy to get to the этому now.
35:08Happy to get to that.
35:08Happy to get to you today.
35:09You can get to the table that was a wonderful sequel.
35:10We will see you tomorrow anyway.
35:12Amen.
35:13You can actually do awesome.
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