Episode Cats115

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Episode Cats115, billed as 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown Series 18, Episode 4 was a special episode broadcast on 16 August 2019, as part of 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown Series 18.

Regular Sean Lock and Acting Team Captain Alan Carr were the contestants, along with 8 Out of 10 Cats Regular Rob Beckett and Sarah Millican who were their teammates respectively, while Jimmy Carr reprised his role as the host.

The match saw Alan Carr, with the assistance of Sarah Millican, winning by 49 – 21 in an 7-rounder and they won a Countdown limbo set.

Rachel Riley was, as ever, the arithmetician. The Dictionary Corner guest was Nick Mohammed (portraying his alter ego Mr. Swallow), and the lexicographer was Susie Dent.

Just before Round 5, both Sean and Alan had to feel objects which were all spelt with eight letters one at a time while blindfolded and guess what they were. Sean got the words PONYTAIL and BALLOONS while Alan got the words CUCUMBER, FEATHERS and LOLLIPOP. Hence, Alan's team won the game with the score at 3 – 2 and five points were awarded to his team.

Interesting and notable moments from the episode are listed below:

1) During the Introduction, Alan introduced his prop which was a grandfather clock with the face consisting of Gemma Collins and the handles made of "her" fingers and the initials "G.C." inscribed on top. He also showed off the "cuckoo" which was actually a head of her repeatedly saying "Alright Babe", before ending his segment by toppling the clock in a reference to her fall on Dancing on Ice.[1] Also, Rob introduced his teddy bear which would mimic singing an old song, to which it would eventually replace the clock music in Round 5.

2) In Round 1, the clock music was replaced with Physical by Olivia Newton-John. Simultaneously, Jimmy ran using a treadmill beside his seat with Rachel gradually increasing the speed until he fell off.

3) In Round 2, Sean and Alan were not asked to show their solutions. However, it can be assumed they had the same method as Rob.

4) In Round 4, even though Sarah misread the target, one bonus point was awarded to her team as she proved to Jimmy she managed to get 545 correctly.

5) In Round 6, at Sean's team and Jimmy's request, the fourth letter Z was thrown out and was replaced by a V. Had that not happened, the selection would have been IOEZRDVRC which would have still given the same maximum number of points. Also, during the 30 seconds in that round, the studio lights turned yellow to reflect the sun setting on a beach and props such as palm trees were laid out across the studio. Five uncredited people, along with Susie and Rachel took seats in a deckchair with the exception of a guy who lay on top of the table where Jimmy was. Because of this, Rob was asked to temporarily take over both Susie and Rachel's place as well.

6) During the Conundrum, Sean's team initially buzzed in first, to which it was cancelled out by Alan's buzzer shortly and both fought for the buzzer momentarily. Since Alan eventually gave the correct answer, there is only one timing to reflect that instant.

NOTE: In this version, both players' declarations were allowed, although points were only awarded for the best answer.

Rounds

Rnd	Selection	Rob & Sean	Score	Alan & Sarah	Others	Max.
1	ICTROAENG	GREAT REACTING	8 – 8	CREATING CREATING	RECOATING	18
2	50 75 9 6 6 5 → 949	950 950 (6 + 6) × 75 + 50 (6 + 6) × 75 + 50 *	15 – 15	950 950 ☓ (6 + 6) × 75 + 50	RR: 949 = ((75 − 50) × 6 + 9) × 6 − 5	28
TTT	ODDPILES	That doesn't feel right.			LOPSIDED
Rnd	Selection	Rob Beckett	Score	Alan Carr	Others	Max.
3	AUOHMATLS	MOTHS	15 – 21	SHALOM	THALAMUS	36
Rnd	Selection	Sean Lock	Score	Sarah Millican	Others	Max.
4	25 100 5 2 7 10 → 585	—	15 – 22	545*	RR: 585 = (100 + 7 + 10) × 5	46
TTT	REDGROIN	I asked for it.			ORDERING
Rnd	Selection	Rob & Sean	Score	Alan & Sarah	Others	Max.
5	LIEMBAFCN	LIE AMBLE	15 – 33	MALICE CLAIM	ALEMBIC*, FEMINAL*, INFLAME*, LIFEMAN*, MALEFIC, MELANIC*, MINABLE*	58
TTT	IDLENUTS	How rude.			INSULTED
6	IOEVRDRUC	DRIVER DEVOUR	21 – 39	COVER DRIVER	COURIER*, CURRIED*, CURVIER*, DIVORCE, OUVRIER*	65
7	GROINPOPS	☓ sponsoring ☓ (19.75, 27 seconds)	21 – 49	PROPOSING (27 seconds)		75