Episode ZD143
From Countdown
Episode ZD143 was broadcast on 24 June 2025 as part of ZoomDown Series 5.
Game 1
Martyn Pegram played Ellen Harrison, with Martyn Pegram winning 99 – 46. The Dictionary Corner guest was Joe Henry, and the lexicographer was Adam Beach, who also helped with the technical aspects.
NB: In Rounds 9 and 14, the solutions were assumed on account of the targets being easy. Martyn in Round 9 offered a solution using only the small numbers.
| Rnd | Selection | Martyn Pegram | Score | Ellen Harrison | Others | Max. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LAWERAGTE | RELATE | 6 – 0 | legater ☓ | GALEATE | 7 |
| 2 | RSIEZIRAD | DIARIES | 13 – 0 | DEARS | DIARIZES | 15 |
| 3 | 25 100 75 50 3 1 → 919 | — | 13 – 0 | — |
Best: 918 = ((50 − 1) × 75) − 3) ÷ (100 ÷ 25) |
22 |
| 4 | EOSPNEPTO | OPPOSE | 19 – 0 | openest ☓ | POSTPONE | 30 |
| 5 | TVOEXITSH | SOVIET | 19 – 7 | HOTTIES | 37 | |
| 6 | 25 1 10 2 5 10 → 332 | 332
((25 − 2) × (10 + 5 − 1)) + 10 |
29 – 7 | 331 |
|
47 |
| 7 | SOLETOMEH | HELMETS | 36 – 7 | HOSTEL | SMOOTHE | 54 |
| 8 | TADIPERRU | PARTIED | 43 – 14 | PIRATED | IRRUPTED, RAPTURED | 62 |
| 9 | 100 4 6 8 7 1 → 300 | 300
((7 + 8) × (6 − 1) × 4)* |
53 – 24 | 300
3 × 100* |
|
72 |
| 10 | EAOPCGESG | ESCAPE | 59 – 24 | SPACE | APOGEES | 79 |
| 11 | YANOSADAI | DAISY | 64 – 29 | DAISY | NAYSAID | 86 |
| 12 | OAUBTSDNE | BOUTADES | 72 – 29 | ABOUNDS | EASTBOUND | 104 |
| 13 | FACENIDNL | FANNIED | 79 – 36 | FANCIED | FINANCED | 112 |
| 14 | 50 25 8 2 6 6 → 600 | 600
(6 + 6) × 50* |
89 – 46 | 600
(6 + 6) × 50* |
|
122 |
| 15 | LABIAVALE | AVAILABLE
(2.7 seconds) |
99 – 46 | 132 |
Game 2
Martyn Pegram played Joe Henry, with Martyn Pegram winning 102 – 68. The Dictionary Corner guest was Ellen Harrison, and the lexicographer was Adam Beach, who also helped with the technical aspects.
| Rnd | Selection | Martyn Pegram | Score | Joe Henry | Others | Max. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CEDATEGSN | SCENTED | 7 – 0 | SEDATE | ENDGATES | 8 |
| 2 | KSOUTDOLU | LOOKS | 12 – 5 | LOUTS | OUTSOLD | 15 |
| 3 | 100 75 50 25 3 2 → 394 | 394
((100 − 2) × 3) + 75 + 25 |
22 – 15 | 394
((100 − 2) × 3) + 75 + 25 |
|
25 |
| 4 | SNREOVLET | RESOLVE | 29 – 22 | REVOLTS | RESOLVENT | 43 |
| 5 | GIWEPESTD | DESPITE | 36 – 22 | wisped ☓ | DEWIEST, EDGIEST, PEEWITS, PIGWEED, WEDGIES, WIDGETS | 50 |
| 6 | 25 50 75 1 4 8 → 854 | 854
((75 + 25) × 8) + 50 + 4 |
46 – 22 | 851 |
|
60 |
| 7 | NUMISAFNI | MAINS | 51 – 27 | MAINS | ANIMUS, FUSAIN, MUNIAS, MUNSIF, NUMINA, SIMIAN, UNMANS | 66 |
| 8 | DRTEOSNFI | EDITORS | 58 – 34 | FINDERS | FRONTSIDE | 84 |
| 9 | 100 3 8 9 5 7 → 839 | 839
((100 − 7) × 9) + (5 − 3) |
68 – 44 | 839
((100 + 5) × 8) − (3 − (9 − 7)) |
|
94 |
| 10 | DWREUTMEN | RENTED | 74 – 50 | DEMENT | DENTURE, RETUNED, TENURED | 101 |
| 11 | GARUPATIO | GUITAR | 80 – 56 | UTOPIA | PIRAGUA | 108 |
| 12 | NRNAEVACR | CAVERN | 86 – 62 | CRAVEN | ARCANE, CANNAE, CANNER, CARVEN, CARVER, CRAVER | 114 |
| 13 | MEDILEQOS | SLIMED | 92 – 68 | SMILED | MELODIES, MELODISE | 122 |
| 14 | 50 100 25 75 3 1 → 998 | — | 92 – 68 | — |
Best: 999 = ((25 − 3) × 50) − 100 − 1 |
129 |
| 15 | PUNECLOUD | UNCOUPLED
(4.3 seconds) |
102 – 68 | 139 |