Episode Cats174 - Revision history

RLSJ1997 at 02:13, 9 February 2026

2026-02-09T02:13:21Z

RLSJ1997 at 15:51, 8 February 2026

2026-02-08T15:51:04Z

RLSJ1997 at 00:13, 25 January 2026

2026-01-25T00:13:20Z

RLSJ1997: Last Friday's Catsdown episode, will try to catch up with this week's one as soon as possible, here we go again!

2026-01-24T15:06:02Z

Last Friday's Catsdown episode, will try to catch up with this week's one as soon as possible, here we go again!

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{{episode|previous=Episode Cats173|next=Episode Cats175}}
'''Episode Cats174''', billed as '''Series 29, Episode 1''' in the UK, was a [[special episode]] broadcast on 16 January 2026, as part of [[8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown Series 29]].

The Team Captains were regulars Rob Beckett and Jon Richardson, their teammates were [[Katherine Parkinson]] and [[Judi Love]] respectively, while Jimmy Carr reprised his role as the host. [[John Tothill]] subsequently joined Rob's team as an additional teammate just before Round 5 as they were behind, with the team's nameplate being changed to accommodate him.

The match saw Jon Richardson, with the assistance of Judi Love, winning by {{score|17|74}} in a [[7 round format|7-rounder]] thanks to the conundrum being worth 29 points and in a failed attempt to let Rob's team win, and they won a [[Countdown]] fencing kit.

[[Rachel Riley]] was, as ever, the [[arithmetician]]. The [[Dictionary Corner]] guest was [[Spencer Jones]], and the [[lexicographer]] was [[Susie Dent]].

Interesting and notable moments from the episode are listed below:

1) During the Introduction, Rob revealed that he was wearing extra long sneakers and demonstrated walking with them around the studio. Later on, Jon featured tribute band artworks, one of which was ''oasisters'' which led to two uncredited women walking up on stage to perform ''{{w|Don't Look Back in Anger}}'' by the namesake band {{w|Oasis (band)|Oasis}} and ended with both of them feuding with each other in reference to Oasis' fallout in 2009. Finally, Spencer made use of a glove to blow it and tie it into different figures similar to a balloon.

2) In Round 1, as the audience groaned at Katherine for selecting a vowel as the last letter, she went with a consonant instead. Immediately after, two dogs (which Jimmy named them as "Barker Balmer" and "Oprah Woofrey") sat on a couch, with Jimmy acting as a counsellor to deal with their "marriage issues". The time ended with the dogs "reconciling" and "paying" Jimmy £500 for the service.

3) In Round 2, despite Judi not hitting the target, she presented her solution which left Jimmy and Rob laughing in tears despite the incorrectness, with the former joking that she should be his accountant.

4) In Round 3, the clock music was replaced with ''Feel the Burn'' by {{w|Billen Ted}} and was used to accompany Jon and Jimmy exercising using a pilates machine.

5) During the 30 seconds in Round 6, Jimmy proceeded to "brush" "Barker Balmer"'s teeth (which were a set of false ones) on a dental chair which ended with him noticing an uncanny resemblance to Rob's smile.

6) After the conundrum was solved by Judi, she proceeded to do a victory lap by shaking the hands of audience members seated at the front row and even embraced one of them.

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

NOTE 2: In Round 4, the solution was provided by Jon after he obtained it out of time. Additionally, it was assumed he initially had the same solution as Katherine's even though he was not asked to present.

NOTE 3: As part of John's introduction, he played a short tune on his clarinet. Subsequently, he proceeded to do so as an accompaniment to the actual clock music in Round 5 and hence, he is considered to not have played that round.

==Rounds==
{{Rounds-start|Katherine & Rob|Jon & Judi}}
{{R-letters|1|ENAGISLUC|CLAUSE ALIENS|GLANCES UNCLES|LUNACIES, SCUNGILE* | 0|7 |8 }}
{{R-numbers|2| 100|25|50|10|9|7| 112
|112 112|sol1=9 − 7 + 10 + 100 9 − 7 + 10 + 100 *
|112 99 {{x}}|sol2=50 ÷ 10 + 7 + 100
|10|17|18}}
{{R-TTT|WANGSITE|Is it hot in here?|SWEATING}}
{{Rounds-start|Rob Beckett|Judi Love|cont=}}
{{R-letters|3|ETSAIOTRE|teatees {{x}}|STEREO |ITERATES*, TEARIEST, TOASTIER, TREATIES, TREATISE*|10|23|26}}
{{Rounds-start|Katherine Parkinson|Jon Richardson|cont=}}
{{R-numbers|4| 25|50|4|5|6|10| 223
|224|sol1=25 × 10 − 5 × 4 − 6
|224|sol2=25 × 10 − 5 × 4 − 6*
|rr=223|solrr=50 × 4 + 25 − 10 ÷ 5
|17|30|36}}
{{R-TTT|ARSESNOB|Thank you my lady.|BARONESS}}
{{Rounds-start|Katherine & Rob|Jon & Judi|cont=}}
{{R-letters|5|OMDIATNTE|TAINTED TAINTED|DOMINATE donte {{x}}|ANTIDOTE, TETANOID*, TOMATINE|17|38|44}}
{{R-TTT|ROBSPOLE|Try and keep a straight face.|BLOOPERS}}
{{Rounds-start|Katherine & John & Rob|Jon & Judi|cont=}}
{{R-letters|6|NOLUREQKG|longure {{x}} NOR LONER|LOUNGER NO| |17|45|51}}
{{R-conundrum|7|FREEGROIN|c1time=10.75|c1sol=foraging {{x}}|c2time=3.25, 13.5|c2sol={{x}} FOREIGNER|17|74|80}}
{{Rounds-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:8/174}}
[[Category:Cats Do Countdown episodes|174]]
[[Category:7-round games]]
[[Category:Episodes presented by Jimmy Carr]]
[[Category:Episodes with Rachel Riley as arithmetician]]
[[Category:Episodes with Susie Dent as lexicographer]]
[[Category:Episodes with Spencer Jones as a guest]]
[[Category:Episodes with Bonus Points]]

@@ Line 2: / Line 2: @@
 '''Episode Cats174''', billed as '''Series 29, Episode 1''' in the UK, was a [[special episode]] broadcast on 16 January 2026, as part of [[8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown Series 29]].
-The Team Captains were regulars Rob Beckett and Jon Richardson, their teammates were [[Katherine Parkinson]] and [[Judi Love]] respectively, while Jimmy Carr reprised his role as the host. [[John Tothill]] subsequently joined Rob's team as an additional teammate just before Round 5 as they were behind, with the team's nameplate being changed to accommodate him.
+The Team Captains were regulars [[Rob Beckett]] and [[Jon Richardson]], their teammates were [[Katherine Parkinson]] and [[Judi Love]] respectively, while Jimmy Carr reprised his role as the host. [[John Tothill]] subsequently joined Rob's team as an additional teammate just before Round 5 as they were behind, with the team's nameplate being changed to accommodate him.
 The match saw Jon Richardson, with the assistance of Judi Love, winning by {{score|74|17}} in a [[7 round format|7-rounder]] thanks to the conundrum being worth 29 points and in a failed attempt to let Rob's team win, and they won a [[Countdown]] fencing kit.

@@ Line 20: / Line 20: @@
 ) During the 30 seconds in Round 6, Jimmy proceeded to "brush" "Barker Balmer"'s teeth (which were a set of false ones) on a dental chair which ended with him noticing an uncanny resemblance to Rob's smile.
-) After the conundrum was solved by Judi, she proceeded to do a victory lap by shaking the hands of audience members seated at the front row and even embraced one of them.
+) After the conundrum was solved by Judi, she proceeded to do a victory lap by shaking the hands of audience members seated in the front row and even embraced one of them.
 NOTE 1: In this version, both players' declarations were allowed, although points were only awarded for the best answer.
@@ Line 32: / Line 32: @@
 {{R-letters|1|ENAGISLUC|CLAUSE<br/>ALIENS|GLANCES<br/>UNCLES|LUNACIES, SCUNGILE* | 0|7 |8 }}
 {{R-numbers|2| 100|25|50|10|9|7| 112
-|112<br/>112|sol1=9 − 7 + 10 + 100<br>9 − 7 + 10 + 100 *
+|112<br/>112|sol1=9 − 7 + 10 + 100<br>9 − 7 + 10 + 100*
 |112<br/>99 {{x}}|sol2=50 ÷ 10 + 7 + 100
 |10|17|18}}

@@ Line 4: / Line 4: @@
 The Team Captains were regulars Rob Beckett and Jon Richardson, their teammates were [[Katherine Parkinson]] and [[Judi Love]] respectively, while Jimmy Carr reprised his role as the host. [[John Tothill]] subsequently joined Rob's team as an additional teammate just before Round 5 as they were behind, with the team's nameplate being changed to accommodate him.
-The match saw Jon Richardson, with the assistance of Judi Love, winning by {{score|17|74}} in a [[7 round format|7-rounder]] thanks to the conundrum being worth 29 points and in a failed attempt to let Rob's team win, and they won a [[Countdown]] fencing kit.
+The match saw Jon Richardson, with the assistance of Judi Love, winning by {{score|74|17}} in a [[7 round format|7-rounder]] thanks to the conundrum being worth 29 points and in a failed attempt to let Rob's team win, and they won a [[Countdown]] fencing kit.
 [[Rachel Riley]] was, as ever, the [[arithmetician]]. The [[Dictionary Corner]] guest was [[Spencer Jones]], and the [[lexicographer]] was [[Susie Dent]].