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Episode Cats68

From Countdown

Episode Cats68, billed as 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown Series 11, Episode 3 was a special episode broadcast on 8 October 2016, as part of 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown Series 11.

Acting Team Captain David Walliams and Regular Jon Richardson were the contestants, along with Jessica Hynes and Rhod Gilbert who were their teammates respectively, while Jimmy Carr reprised his role as the host.

The match saw Jon Richardson, with the assistance of Rhod Gilbert, winning by 32 – 22 in an 8-rounder and they won a Countdown hammock.

Rachel Riley was, as ever, the arithmetician. The Dictionary Corner guest was Sam Simmons, and the lexicographer was Susie Dent. Entertainer and Winner of Series 8 of Big Brother Brian Belo also made a special appearance in Round 1 where he "magically" appeared after Jimmy kissed a frog, making this the second time he has appeared on the show.

Interesting and notable moments from the episode are listed below:

1) During the Introduction, Jon introduced his cheerleading team consisting of three middle-aged ladies which he called "Rico's Old Dearleaders". They would appear again in Round 2 when they were summoned to cheer before he declared what number he had.

2) In Round 1, Jessica originally declared five, but she was allowed to change it to six since it wouldn't score any points because Jon and Rhod had seven.

3) During the 30 seconds in Round 3, Jimmy drove a sweeper and cleaned up the mess that was close to the centre of the studio. He then invited David to accompany him and drive it. In that same round, Jon was accused of cheating by David when he declared he had the same answer as Jessica although it was very small on camera. In spite of this, the benefit of doubt was given and his team was awarded points as well.

4) In Round 4, as David and Rhod "finished" their calculations before the round ended, both teams tapped to the beat of the clock before the round ended while Jessica mimicked the generic sound effect of a clock, much to the annoyance of the directors who increased the volume of the clock music to drown out their noises but lowered it after Rhod ordered them to "shut up".

5) In Round 5, Rhod spoke very fast and asked for a "Vowel, Vowel, Vowel, Consonant, Consonant, Vowel, Vowel, Consonant" in that order although he missed one letter out. Instead, Rachel gave him "Vowel, Consonant, Vowel, Consonant, Vowel, Consonant, Vowel, Consonant" which is an alternating pattern. After realising Rhod missed out one letter, he asked for the last letter to be a consonant.

6) During the 30 seconds in Round 7, the clock music was drowned out when Jimmy used a saw to cut wood to durve a wooden bust of himself. Also, there was a second mention of Carol Vorderman since her departure from the show in 2008 when Jimmy quipped to Rachel that the definition of Rhod's invalid nine-letter word referred to how she deliberately took Carol's job from her. Furthermore, after David declared his invalid nine-letter word, Sam jokingly pointed out it could be arranged to the invalid analdicer ☓, then Rhod suggested analcider ☓.

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

NOTE 2: During the Conundrum, although Jessica gave her response after the clock stopped, her response is recorded as Jimmy allowed it. Also, similar to the episode a fortnight earlier, for unknown reasons the camera was not adjusted properly, resulting in the edges of the board being seen in the superimposed shot.

A short segment of this episode was sampled in the 15 April 2021 episode of Jon Richardson and Lucy Beaumont's sitcom Meet the Richardsons.

Rounds

Rnd Selection Jessica & David Score Jon & Rhod Others Max.
1 EORISNTAN TRAINS
stroan ☓5
0 – 7 RATIONS
TANNERS
ANOINTERS, REANOINTS* 18
2 75 50 8 4 5 10 → 623 629
12008 ☓
0 – 17 623
624
8 × 75 + 25 − 10 ÷ 5


28
TTT HUNGTOSS Aim and fire. GUNSHOTS
Rnd Selection Jessica Hynes Score Jon Richardson Others Max.
3 EOEAQWRDT WATERED 7 – 24 WATERED DEWATER*, OARWEED*, TARWEED*, TOWERED* 35
Rnd Selection David Walliams Score Rhod Gilbert Others Max.
4 25 50 75 7 8 8 → 408 408
8 × 50 + 8
17 – 24 407


45
TTT SPITRASH Give it a pluck. HARPISTS
Rnd Selection Jessica & David Score Jon & Rhod Others Max.
5 ENAPITEMP PAINT
PAINT
22 – 24 tenpipe ☓
EMPTAIN*, MATINEE, NAPTIME*, PEAIMEN*, PEINETA*, PIPEMAN*, PIPEMEN* 52
6 50 100 75 25 2 9 → 759 759 ☓
22 – 24 759 ☓
759 ☓

RR: 759 = (50 + 75) × (100 ÷ 25 + 2) + 9

62
TTT PISSLOAD Get rid of it. DISPOSAL
7 DALEICNAR NAILED
lanadicer ☓
22 – 32 CALENDAR
narceladi ☓
CARDINAL*, LANDRACE*, RADIANCE 70
8 EATENTURD adventure ☓
(30 seconds)
22 – 32 UNTREATED 80