Episode Cats157

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Episode Cats157, billed as 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown Series 25, Episode 5 in the UK and Series 16, Episode 2 in international markets, was a special episode broadcast on 9 February 2024, as part of 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown Series 25.

The team captains were Roisin Conaty and Jon Richardson, their teammates were Joe Wilkinson and Asim Chaudhry respectively, while Jimmy Carr reprised his role as the presenter.

The match saw Jon Richardson, with the assistance of Asim Chaudhry, winning by 72 – 23 in a 7-rounder and they won a Countdown stylophone.

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

Interesting and notable moments from the episode are listed below:

1) During the Introduction, Roisin was delivered a huge ice cream in which she was seen consuming for the remainder of the show.

2) In Round 1, Roisin mistakenly called for "2 Large" when it was a letters round, sending the audience into hysterical laughter. Additionally, as Joe wanted Rachel to spell out a word, the letters were shuffled and had they not, the selection would have been WSEADPUO. During the 30 seconds, a large troll entered the studio and growled at Asim before forcibly swiping the OED3 and mug off the tabletop where Jimmy was seated, before finally carrying "him" away off stage after he told it off.

3) In Round 2, Jon challenged Joe to give his solution since he claimed it was identical. However, it turned out to be different. At Jimmy's discretion, since an effort was made to declare the solution jointly, seven points were awarded to the latter's team.

4) Before the first Teaser, Lucy called an audience member seated in the front row to assist her in "undressing" which ended in her "exposing" herself and making sexual remarks.

5) During the 30 seconds in Round 3, "Jimmy" was cracking "Jon's" back in the centre of the studio and it ended in an awkward position where the former's face was in the latter's genitals. The real Jimmy and Jon later stepped up to recreate the position of their stunt doubles with their assistance.

6) In Round 5, it was dubbed a Lightning Round. Only Roisin and Jon 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 16 points in this case. Additionally, Roisin had spotted the valid word PIGEONS after the round, but it was too late.

7) During the 30 seconds in Round 6, Jimmy performed some magic spells in which he turned Rachel into a lamp, a tree, and the troll from Round 1 (which was wearing her dress), before changing her back to normal.

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

Rounds

Rnd	Selection	Joe & Roisin	Score	Jon & Asim	Others	Max.
1	AESWDPSUO	swape ☓ SOUPED	6 – 6	PAUSED dead ☓	PSEUDOS, SPOUSED*	7
2	50 75 5 5 6 1 → 528	527 530 75 × (6 + 1) + 50 ÷ 5 ÷ 5 **	13 – 13	527 — 75 × (6 + 1) + 50 ÷ 5 ÷ 5		14
TTT	WILLYFLU	I got it deliberately.			WILFULLY
Rnd	Selection	Roisin Conaty	Score	Asim Chaudhry	Others	Max.
3	AOREAHLER	HEALER	13 – 20	lahore ☓/AREOLAR	AREOLAE, EARHOLE*	21
Rnd	Selection	Joe Wilkinson	Score	Jon Richardson	Others	Max.
4	100 4 4 3 1 10 → 191	191 10 × (4 × 4 + 3) + 1	23 – 30	191 10 × (4 × 4 + 3) + 1		31
TTT	TUNALIPS	You may now kiss the bride.			NUPTIALS
Rnd	Selection	Roisin Conaty	Score	Jon Richardson	Others	Max.
5	SNOUEGDIP	opening ☓	23 – 44	DOUSING	DEPOSING, POUNDIES*, UNPOISED*	47
TTT	TRYLUBES	It's windy down there.			BLUSTERY
Rnd	Selection	Joe & Roisin	Score	Jon & Asim	Others	Max.
6	HTCLCEAOO	CLOTH cloot ☓	23 – 62	CHOCOLATE CLOT		65
7	CALMSHITE	christmas ☓ ☓ (26.5, 29.25 seconds)	23 – 72	ALCHEMIST (29.25 seconds)		75