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Episode Cats109

From Countdown

Episode Cats109, billed as 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown Series 17, Episode 4 was a special episode broadcast on 1 February 2019, as part of 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown Series 17.

Regulars Sean Lock and Jon Richardson were the contestants, along with David Mitchell and Sara Pascoe who were their teammates respectively, while Jimmy Carr reprised his role as the host.

The match saw Jon Richardson, with the assistance of Sara Pascoe, winning by 54 – 37 in an 8-rounder and they won a Countdown saxophone.

Rachel Riley was, as ever, the arithmetician. The Dictionary Corner guests were Ellie White and Natasia Demetriou (portraying as Lemily and Cassandra from Mum's The Word respectively), and the lexicographer was Susie Dent.

Interesting and notable moments from the episode are listed below:

1) During the Introduction, as a play on Cambridge Analytica, Jon set up a company called "Rico Analytica" and the database was a hard copy book full of car number plates and credit card pin numbers.

2) In Round 1, the clock music was replaced by Rock Around the Clock sung by Bill Haley & His Comets. At the same time, three pairs of swing dancers performed in the centre of the studio.

3) During the 30 seconds in Round 3, the "golf course" was shot in a separate, enclosed room with the exception of the ending which turned out to be anti-climatic as the ball failed to get into the hole (albeit a second take later proved successful).

4) In Round 5, similar to the previous episode, it was dubbed a Tension Round; points were doubled and the clock music was replaced with a techno version of it coupled with sirens. When the time was up, confetti shot out from behind the contestants, notably scaring all the contestants except Sean. Thus, the maximum was worth a whopping 36 points in this case.

5) In Round 6, Sean was not asked to show his solution. However, it can be assumed it was identical to David's one.

6) During the 30 seconds in Round 7, Jimmy sat on a dentist's chair and she used a blade saw to treat him, resulting in very polished teeth. In addition, there was another assistant but both were not credited.

NOTE 1: In this version, both players' declarations were allowed, although points were only awarded for the best answer.

NOTE 2: In Round 5, Susie erroneously listed NORMALISE as being an eight-letter word rather than a nine-letter one.

Rounds

Rnd Selection David & Sean Score Jon & Sara Others Max.
1 UADVIRHDE HAIRED
DIVER
6 – 6 VARIED
VARIED
DIEHARD 7
2 50 100 1 5 10 9 → 226
229
6 – 16 226
226 ☓
(50 − 1) × 5 − (10 + 9)


17
TTT FALSENIP We've all got one. LIFESPAN
Rnd Selection Sean Lock Score Sara Pascoe Others Max.
3 WTNIAELBC CABLE 11 – 16 CLAW CABINET, CITABLE 24
Rnd Selection David Mitchell Score Jon Richardson Others Max.
4 5 2 3 10 6 4 → 609 604 11 – 23 610
(5 × 2 × 6 + 4 − 3) × 10

RR: 609 = (5 + 2) × ((10 + 4) × 6 + 3)

34
TTT IRATENOB It's a low blow. BARITONE
Rnd Selection David & Sean Score Jon & Sara Others Max.
5 SOLIRNEMA SOILER/MENIALS
SOLEMN
25 – 37 MARINES
LINERS
ALMONRIES, NORMALISE 70
6 100 25 9 8 3 1 → 542 535
535
(8 − 3) × 100 + 25 + 9 + 1
(8 − 3) × 100 + 25 + 9 + 1*
30 – 37

RR: 542 = (9 × 3 − 1) × 25 − 100 − 8

80
TTT CATMINGE Both attractive and replusive. MAGNETIC
7 GEIOUOTRP GROUPIE
GROUPIE
37 – 44 POUTIER
GOITRE
GOOPIER*, GOUTIER*, OUTGOER*, PIROGUE, TROOPIE* 87
8 WANGERSIN 37 – 54 ANSWERING
(3.75 seconds)
97