Episode 495

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Episode 495 was broadcast on 2 February 1987, and was a special extended 45-minute game to celebrate Countdown's 500th show (although the actual 500th game would not be broadcast for about a week).

Bill Tidy, aided by Mark Nyman, Brian Hudson, Peter Evans and Darryl Francis played Gyles Brandreth, aided by Clive Freedman, Michael Wylie, Joyce Cansfield and Harvey Freeman, with Bill Tidy winning 41 – 32. There were no Dictionary Corner guests in this episode, although the audience was made up of former contestants and DC guests including John Junkin, Steve Jones, Eve Pollard, Ken Bruce and Lee Peck. Also present were Channel 4 Commissioning Editor for Light Entertainment Mike Bolland, Bertrand Renard from Des chiffres et des lettres, and word game expert (and co-author of the first of the Countdown puzzle books) Peter Newby. The lexicographer was Della Thompson.

This was the only episode to be broadcast using the unique format of LLNLLNLLC.

Rounds

Rnd	Selection	Bill Tidy with Mark Nyman	Score	Gyles Brandreth with Clive Freedman	Others	Max.
1	AIYLVRESY	VIRELAYS	8 – 0	SILVERY		8
2	AORGDPITR	AIRPORT	15 – 0	PARROT	AIRDROP*, PAROTID*	15
Rnd	Selection	Bill Tidy with Brian Hudson	Score	Gyles Brandreth with Michael Wylie	Others	Max.
3	2 6 8 3 7 4 → 775	775 ☓	15 – 0	—	CV: 775 = 4 × 3 × (6 + 2) × 8 + 7	25
4	AUGYKTORA	gyrator ☓	15 – 6	RAGOUT	AUTARKY*	32
Rnd	Selection	Bill Tidy with Peter Evans	Score	Gyles Brandreth with Joyce Cansfield	Others	Max.
5	TSHOUWHJE	SHOUT/JOUST	20 – 11	HOUSE	ETHOS*, HOWES*, JOUST*, SHOTE*, SOUTH*, THOSE*, THOUS*, THEWS*, WHETS*, WHOSE*	37
6	100 10 8 2 1 3 → 239	239 8 × 3 × 10 − 1	30 – 21	239 8 × 3 × 10 − 1		47
Rnd	Selection	Bill Tidy with Darryl Francis	Score	Gyles Brandreth with Harvey Freeman	Others	Max.
7	NLWBOAENF	FLOWN/BLOWN	35 – 26	FLOWN/BLOWN	ALONE*, ANOLE*, BEANO*, BELOW*, BONNE*, BOWEL*, ELBOW*, FABLE*, FELON*, LOWAN*, NOBLE*	52
8	STPIOIWSU	SPOUTS	41 – 32	POSITS	PISTOU*, PTOSIS*, STOUPS*	58
Rnd	Selection	Bill Tidy	Score	Gyles Brandreth	Others	Max.
9	ILLGBLYSE	billglyes ☓ (14 seconds)	41 – 32	billandgyles/sybil ☓ (1 second/29 second)	GYLESBILL	68