Countdown:Recap checking style guide

This page is an attempt to help with the task of recap checking. It is written in two sections. First, a definition the content of a recap. And second, a set of suggestions as to how such a recap can be produced.

Definition

Here's an example of a recap of a fictitious cut-down game, with one example of each type of round.

Rnd	Selection	Gordon Brown	Score	David Cameron	Others	Max.
1	NTSOIEZNV	INVEST	6 – 0	VENTS	INTONES, INVENTS*, TENSION*, TENZONS*, VENISON	7
2	100 7 4 1 3 2 → 623	627 100×3×2+7×4−1	13 – 0	615	CV: 624 Best: 623 = (100+4)×3×2−1	17
TTT	GINBIDET	Taking what's yours, by all accounts.			DEBITING
3	FIESTATED	fitseated ☓ (13 seconds)	13 – 10	DEFEATIST (29 seconds)		27

The column headings are fixed, and pretty self-explanatory.

The Rnd column contains the round number, normally 1 to 15, with the tea-time teaser shown as TTT, as it is not actually part of the competition.

The Selection column contains the selected letters for each round or the numbers together with the target.

The third column heading is the name of the contestant sitting closer to dictionary corner, and the column contains that contestant's offerings.

The Score column contains the cumulative score of the two contestants.

The fifth column heading is the name of the contestant sitting closer to programme presenter, and the column contains that contestant's offerings.

The Others column contains answers not offered by the contestants.

The Max. column contains the cumulative score that would have been achieved by the "perfect contestant".

Now to look at each of the four types of round in more detail.

Letters rounds

In the Selection column, the letters are given in the order chosen and displayed.

Under the contestants' names, if a contestant gives an incorrect solution because they've given a word not in the dictionary or they've used a letter which isn't in the selection, then the word is given in a smaller font, and is followed by a cross. If a contestant gives a valid word, but had declared the wrong word length, then again the word is given in smaller font followed by a cross, but this in turn is followed by the declared word length in superscript form. Both are illustrated here, Gordon Brown not realising that there was only one D in the selection, and David Cameron thinking that TOTAL had only four letters.

Rnd	Selection	Gordon Brown	Score	David Cameron	Others	Max.
1	DLONATGIT	adding ☓	0 – 0	total ☓4	DOTTING, LOADING*, LOTTING	7

If words are found which equal or better those given by the contestants, they are listed in alphabetical order in the Others column. Only the longest words found are listed, and an asterisk is appended to any word which was not offered during the programme, by dictionary corner or by anyone else. In the above example, DOTTING and LOTTING were offered by dictionary corner, and the recap writer discovered LOADING. Dictionary corner also came up with GLOAT, but that is not listed because longer words were found.

If a contestant fails to offer any word at all, then a dash is given. For example:

Rnd	Selection	Gordon Brown	Score	David Cameron	Others	Max.
1	DLONATGIT	adding ☓	0 – 0	—	DOTTING, LOADING*, LOTTING	7

Numbers rounds

In the Selection column, the numbers are given in the order displayed, followed by an arrow, and then the target number.

In the contestants' columns, a winning offering is shown as the number offered, with the method of solution shown below. An offering which is beaten by the other contestant is simply shown as the number offered. If a total is offered, but the contestant then fails to produce it, the number is shown followed by a cross. If the contestant fails to make a declaration, then a dash is shown. These are illustrated here:

Rnd	Selection	Gordon Brown	Score	David Cameron	Others	Max.
5	100 7 4 1 3 2 → 623	627 100×3×2+7×4−1	19 – 0	615		49
10	100 9 6 2 5 1 → 938	938 ☓	26 – 0	—		85

The Others' column only contains entries if a winning contestant's score in that numbers round can be bettered, and there are four different possibilities.

1. Carol gets the target and shows her method.
2. Carol gets better than the contestants and doesn't show her method, but it's impossible to beat Carol.
3. Carol gets better than the contestants, but she herself can be beaten.
4. Carol can't beat the contestants, but Jono can!

These are illustrated below in rounds 1, 2, 3, 4 respectively.

Rnd	Selection	Gordon Brown	Score	David Cameron	Others	Max.
1	100 7 4 1 3 2 → 623	627 100×3×2+7×4−1	7 – 0	615	CV: 623 = (100+4)×3×2−1	10
2	100 50 25 75 1 7 → 394	394 ☓	7 – 0	—	CV: 393 Best: 393 = (75−25−1)×7+50	17
3	100 7 4 1 3 2 → 623	627 100×3×2+7×4−1	14 – 0	615	CV: 624 Best: 623 = (100+4)×3×2−1	27
4	100 1 9 6 2 5 → 938	933 100×9+6×5+2+1	21 – 0	—	Best: 938 = (100+5)×9−6−1	37

When giving solutions, either in the contestants' columns or in the other column, the following are guidelines, but not obligatory.

• Use brackets only when necessary. e.g. ((50×3)+4)×5 is better written as (50×3+4)×5. The brackets around the addition are necessary, but those around the multiplication are not.
• With a string of additions and subtractions, put the additions first, and remove brackets if possible. e.g 100−(50−(25−1) is better written as 100+25−50−1
• With a string of multiplications and divisions, put the multiplications first, and remove brackets if possible. e.g 100÷(8÷2) is better written as 100×2÷8
• Omit spaces

Tea-time Teasers

The only entries required here are:

• under Selection, the scrambled word
• under the central three columns, the clue as given by the programme presenter
• under Other, the solution

No scores are given, as this is not part of the contest.

Conundrums

to follow (fairly simple)

Suggestions for producing a recap

to follow (this will cover the formatting)