Episode Cats151

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Episode Cats151, billed as 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown Series 24, Episode 2, was a special episode broadcast on 11 August 2023, as part of 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown Series 24.

The Team Captains were Sarah Millican and Tom Allen, their teammates were Phil Wang and Roisin Conaty respectively, while Jimmy Carr reprised his role as the host.

The match saw Sarah Millican, with the assistance of Phil Wang, winning by 43 – 10 in a 7-rounder and they won a Countdown afternoon tea set.

The arithmetician was Rachel Riley, the Dictionary Corner guest was Sam Campbell, and the lexicographer was Susie Dent. Joe Wilkinson also made a special appearance just before Round 5 where he pretended to bodybuild between his apperances and tore up the set by smashing a piece of the backdrop and the temporary table in between. This also suggests that the episode was filmed before October 2022 when the original table returned after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Interesting and notable moments from the episode are listed below:

1) During the Introduction, Phil showed off "Dimmy the Dim Sum Steamer" which he claimed could spot nine-letter words and was operated by a crew stooped down (who revealed himself before Round 1). After failing to spot the nine-letter word PAINTWORK from the letters selection of PANIRKWOT, it went haywire and started swearing at him, forcing Phil to destroy it.

2) In Round 1, the clock music was replaced by a tango piece, with Jimmy dancing the tango with an uncredited lady in the centre of the studio.

3) In Round 3, a silhouette of a lion was made out beside Jimmy, but it turned out to be a kitten pretending to be one. Sarah later had the opportunity to carry it after the clock stopped.

4) In Round 6, Joe flung out the first letter which was originally a Q. Had that not happened, the maximum length of words would only have been seven letters. Also, the clock music was replaced by a rendition of it with Jimmy playing using a laser harp.

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

NOTE 2: In Round 2, the original target was 500. However, as this was obviously too easy, Rachel pressed CECIL again and it generated the eventual target of 982. Tom and Roisin's declarations in that same round are also based on the assumption that they were 79 and 28 off from the target respectively.

NOTE 3: The correct spelling of SERRATES is not valid in the current version of the ODO (the past tense, SERRATED, is valid).

NOTE 4: The conundrum had two valid solutions: REDAWNING and WANDERING.

Rounds

Rnd	Selection	Phil & Sarah	Score	Tom & Roisin	Others	Max.
1	SEMIHAPNO	MISHAP mishapen ☓	6 – 0	PENIS phosem ☓	MEANISH*, MOHSINE*, MONESIA*, MOPANES*, MOPANIS*, OPHANIM*, PHENOMS*, PHONIES, SHOPMAN, SHOPMEN*	7
2	75 100 6 1 4 2 → 982	979 979 (6 + 1 + 2) × 100 + 75 + 4 (6 + 1 + 2) × 100 + 75 + 4 *	13 – 0	903/1061 954/1010	RR: 982 = (75 × 2 − 4 + 1) × 6 + 100	17
TTT	ITSANOSH	Wow, that's amazing.			ASTONISH
Rnd	Selection	Sarah Millican	Score	Tom Allen	Others	Max.
3	LTIASGRES	TIGERS	19 – 0	serates ☓	REGALISTS	35
Rnd	Selection	Phil Wang	Score	Roisin Conaty	Others	Max.
4	75 50 2 5 9 4 → 532	532 9 × 50 + 75 + 5 + 2	29 – 0	530/534		45
TTT	SORTLUBE	I've got problems.			TROUBLES
Rnd	Selection	Phil & Sarah	Score	Tom & Roisin	Others	Max.
5	BOPEGITNL	PELTING ELOPING	36 – 0	POLE POLITE	BELTING*, BILTONG, BOLTING*, IGNOBLE*, LENTIGO*, POINTEL*, POLTING*, PONTILE*, POTLINE*	52
TTT	ARSEICON	Picture this.			SCENARIO
6	MRINOASTE	MOISTER REMAINS	43 – 0	STRAIN starmen ☓	MATRONISE, RANSOMITE*, ROMANITES*	70
7	WANGDINER		43 – 10	WANDERING** (20.25 seconds)		80