Episode Cats159

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Episode Cats159, billed as 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown Series 26, Episode 2, was a special episode broadcast on 26 July 2024, as part of 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown Series 26. This episode was recorded in 2022 as evident by the truncated desk set from COVID-19 times and premiered on Australian BBC UKTV on 21 February 2024, months before being transmitted in the UK.

The Team Captains were Joe Wilkinson and Sarah Millican, their teammates were Rosie Jones and Tom Allen respectively, while Jimmy Carr reprised his role as the host.

The match saw Joe Wilkinson, with the assistance of Rosie Jones, winning by 43 – 36 in a 7-rounder and they won a Countdown Jazz Band Kit consisting of a trumpet and a double bass.

Rachel Riley was, as ever, the arithmetician. The Dictionary Corner guest was Nick Mohammed (portraying his alter ego Mr. Swallow), and the lexicographer was Susie Dent. Nick's son, Fin, also made a special appearance as "Master Swallow" after Round 4 where he demonstrated his extraordinary memory recalling 60 animals names in reverse order and received a standing ovation from the entire studio thereafter. [1]

Interesting and notable moments from the episode are listed below:

1) During the Introduction, Tom made various sexual innuendos using gardening tools and plants and following on from that theme, Joe revealed a fencing post in which four groins from sex dolls were nailed into it, to which he hung a mug on one of them.

2) After the time was up in Round 1, Jimmy presented plasticine models of himself, Sarah, Rosie, Tom (resembling Humpty-Dumpty) and Joe (resembling poo) to the corresponding celebrities. Additionally, when Sarah declared her word, Rachel cheekily arranged the letters as A MANS TURD instead.

3) In Round 2, as Joe deliberately wanted a "10", Rachel selectively picked that last number in the selection before generating the target.

4) During the 30 seconds in Round 3, "Jimmy" dreesed up as a courier of "Jimmy Eats" and performed various tricks on his BMX in the center of the studio. After the time was up, each of the panel members got a small pizza, while the actual Jimmy cycled around the studio, claiming "he never felt better". Finally, Rosie attempted to feed Joe with a slice of her pizza, generating laughter from the audience.

5) In Round 5, it was dubbed a Lightning Round. Only Rosie and Tom took part where both would be jolted with an electric shock at random times by Jimmy via a pad attached on their spine (Joe was also wearing a pad even though he did not play this round). Points were doubled and the clock music was replaced with a spooky version of it coupled with sparks shooting out in front of the celebrities at various intervals, notably scaring everyone. Thus, the maximum was worth 12 points in this case.

6) During the 30 seconds in Round 6, Jimmy served a romantic table for two before pulling off the tablecloth without breaking any of the dishes. Fabio, the show's permanent male host subsequently proceeded to place a single glass cup on the table, and as soon as that happened, the table tilted, resulting in all the tableware shattering on the floor.

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

NOTE 2: Round 1's maximum length word, ARMSTAND, was valid at time of recording. Following a major update to the ODP in July 2024, this is no longer the case.

NOTE 3: In Rounds 2 and 3, Rosie claimed she had the same declaration as Sarah, but as there was no proof she had it written down, the former declaration is listed as a mistake while the latter is put alongside with her other word of the same length.

Rounds

Rnd	Selection	Rosie & Joe	Score	Sarah & Tom	Others	Max.
1	NASTUMDAR	DRAMAS RUST	0 – 7	MUSTARD DUSTMAN	ARMSTAND**	8
2	100 7 5 5 6 10 → 634	635 ☓ 633 (100 + 5) × 6 + 10 − 7	7 – 14	633 637 6 × 100 + 7 × 5 − 10 ÷ 5	RR: 634 = (100 − 10) × 7 + 5 + 5 − 6	18
TTT	SEMITOUR	It's gone all soggy.			MOISTURE
3	WINRSECAL	WINCES/SLICER SCALER	13 – 20	WINCES LACES	CARLINES	26
Rnd	Selection	Joe Wilkinson	Score	Sarah Millican	Others	Max.
4	100 25 1 4 2 5 → 236	236 (100 + 5) × 2 + 25 + 1	23 – 20	235/237		36
TTT	ARSENUTS	Slowly does it.			SAUNTERS
Rnd	Selection	Rosie Jones	Score	Tom Allen	Others	Max.
5	GONOBAPTO	BONGO	33 – 30	TANGO	GABOON	48
TTT	SHITRUMP	Give me a medal.			TRIUMPHS
Rnd	Selection	Rosie & Joe	Score	Sarah & Tom	Others	Max.
6	AGNCOELRS	longers ☓ glancers ☓	33 – 36	GLEANS RANGES	CLANGERS, CONGEALS*, RECLANGS*	56
7	GOINGPISS	GOSSIPING (14.75 seconds)	43 – 36			66