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Episode Cats113

From Countdown

Episode Cats113, billed as 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown Series 18, Episode 2 was a special episode broadcast on 2 August 2019, as part of 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown Series 18.

Regulars Sean Lock and Jon Richardson were the contestants, along with Victoria Coren Mitchell and James Acaster who were their teammates respectively, while Jimmy Carr reprised his role as the host.

The match saw Jon Richardson, with the assistance of James Acaster, winning by 42 – 21 in an 7-rounder and they won a Countdown beekeeping kit.

Rachel Riley was, as ever, the arithmetician. The Dictionary Corner guest was Morgana Robinson (pretending to be Natalie Cassidy's character Sonia Fowler from EastEnders), and the lexicographer was Susie Dent.

Just before Round 5, the teams took part in "The Stupidest Quiz on Television" involving general trivia. Jon's team won the game with the score at 2 – 0, thus five points were awarded to his team.

Interesting and notable moments from the episode are listed below:

1) During the Introduction, James introduced his pen containing invisible ink which resembled a candlestick in an attempt to prevent copying or cheating in the letters round. He would subsequently use it throughout the entire show and the words could only be made out after using a separate brush to paint over the paper.

2) In Round 1, the clock music was replaced with Theme from Jurassic Park by John Williams. Simultaneously, the studio lights turned dim and the atmosphere noticeably became tense when a shadow of a dinosaur appeared behind Jimmy, only to be revealed at the end it was in fact, the work of a dog who had been dressed up as one.

3) In Rounds 2 and 4, the solutions were provided by Sean and Jon respectively. However, as both of them realised the solutions too late, no points were awarded to them.

4) During the 30 seconds in Round 6, Jimmy and Fabio, the show's long-time male model, co-hosted Bingo with the audience in the front row playing along; two elderly women got it almost simultaneously and shortly got into an argument, both physically and verbally before Jimmy resolved the conflict by giving both of them a toaster each.

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

NOTE 2: In Round 3, for unknown reasons, all four contestants took part in the round rather than just Sean and James only. Also, James' offering of BRUISEY should have been allowed as it is in the ODO. However, this would not have impacted the final score.

Rounds

Rnd Selection Victoria & Sean Score Jon & James Others Max.
1 DATRIECVO CAVORTED
TIRADE
8 – 0 CAROTID
TRACED
DEVIATOR 8
2 25 100 10 3 7 2 → 561
561 ☓
8 – 7 560
500
(25 + 3) × 2 × 10

RR: 561 = (100 − 25) × 7 + 3 × (10 + 2)

18
TTT LESSBUTT Be discrete. SUBTLEST
3 RSNIUETBY bunters ☓
BURIES
8 – 14 BUSTIER
bruisey ☓**
BUTYRINS*, SUBENTRY*, TRIBUNES*, TURBINES 26
Rnd Selection Victoria Coren Mitchell Score Jon Richardson Others Max.
4 7 4 5 8 3 1 → 299 8 – 14

RR: 299 = 5 × 4 × (8 + 7) − 1

36
TTT FIREPLOP Not as hard as you thought. FLOPPIER
Rnd Selection Victoria & Sean Score Jon & James Others Max.
5 AOEIOMSTH HOMIES
STEAM
14 – 25 SMOOTH
MOIST
MOOTHIES*, SMOOTHIE 49
TTT RIPENADS See your doctor. SPRAINED
6 SATELUFAL FULLEST
FLUTES
21 – 32 FULLEST
sateful ☓
FLAUTAS*, FLUATES*, SULFATE* 56
7 LICKSDUNG 21 – 42 DUCKLINGS
(3.75 seconds)
66