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Episode Cats86

From Countdown

Episode Cats86, billed as 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown Series 13, Episode 3 was a special episode broadcast on 6 July 2017, as part of 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown Series 13.

Regular Sean Lock and Acting Team Captain Richard Ayoade were the contestants, along with Stephen Mangan and Katherine Ryan who were their teammates respectively, while Jimmy Carr reprised his role as the host.

The match saw Sean Lock, with the assistance of Stephen Mangan, winning by 55 – 5 in an 7-rounder and they won a Countdown cricket set.

Rachel Riley was, as ever, the arithmetician. The Dictionary Corner guest was Bill Bailey, and the lexicographer was Susie Dent.

Interesting and notable moments from the episode are listed below:

1) During the Introduction, Bill played his keyboard to make out the corresponding music for the letters in the words CAGED, AGED, AGE, GA and A in that particular order with chord progressions. The letters came out on the screen as the notes were played out as well.

2) In Round 1, the clock music was replaced by Achy Breaky Heart by Billy Ray Cyrus with six people dressed as cowboys and cowgirls dancing in the centre of the studio. Simultaneously, the side of the contestants' table turned pink.

3) During the 30 seconds in Round 3, Jimmy blew into molten glass so hard that he "encapsulated" himself within it.

4) In Round 4, Rachel swapped the positions of the "1" and "25" around before showing Stephen's solution, to which Jimmy questioned. Stephen, thinking that Jimmy directed that question at him as he'd questioned him earlier as to why his method was the hard way around, replied "Because you can."

5) Just after Round 4, Bill performed a modified version of Old MacDonald Had a Farm in line with the theme of Vowels and Consonants. Also, a closer look at the Numbers Board shows that the numbers "1", "7" and "25" were missing from the previous round.

6) About 12 seconds into Round 6, just as Jimmy unplugged a wire from an overloaded socket, the Countdown studio "lost power", resulting in the lights being dimmed and the clock stopped ticking. He then re-plugged the wire and the clock resumed with the power restored. Later, when he plugged his iPhone charger into the same socket, it caused sparks and resulted in him getting an "electric shock".

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

NOTE 2: In Round 4, Jimmy claimed that the Numbers Puzzle was the easiest puzzle the show ever had. This is in fact incorrect; the easiest puzzle was in Round 4 of 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown Series 11, Episode 2 with a target of 101 back in October 2016. There was also an out-take where the selection was WANKSHAFT. This would later be featured in 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown Series 14, Episode 6.

NOTE 3: In Round 1, Dictionary Corner offered desistor as an 8, however that word is neither in ODE3 nor the ODO.

Rounds

Rnd Selection Stephen & Sean Score Richard & Katherine Others Max.
1 STHIORDES HOISTERS
SHORTED
8 – 0 redshits ☓
THESIS
DESISTOR**, HORSIEST*, ORTHESIS*, ORTHIDES*, ROSSITED*, SHORTIES*, STEROIDS* 8
2 25 75 3 9 7 4 → 838 838
837
(4 + 7) × 75 + 25 − (9 + 3)
18 – 0 842
839


18
TTT NOBALARM That's not right. ABNORMAL
Rnd Selection Sean Lock Score Katherine Ryan Others Max.
3 UEYPNGASE GAPES 23 – 5 PANGS NGAPEES*, PUNGEYS* 25
Rnd Selection Stephen Mangan Score Richard Ayoade Others Max.
4 100 25 10 9 7 1 → 190 190
(9 − 1) × 25 − 10
33 – 5


35
TTT WETRIDES Things are about to get crazy. WEIRDEST
Rnd Selection Stephen & Sean Score Richard & Katherine Others Max.
5 IUEARNDMC RANCID
DRAIN
39 – 5 rundmc ☓
mcruined ☓
MANICURED 53
TTT IBUMPETS Not a smooth ride. BUMPIEST
6 EUEAPVNRD PRUNED
ENDURE
45 – 5 nerder ☓
unvapered ☓
UNREAPED* 61
7 BESTGIRTH BRIGHTEST
(8.75 seconds)
55 – 5 71