Episode Cats126

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Episode Cats126, billed as 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown Series 20, Episode 1 was a special episode broadcast on 31 July 2020, as part of 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown Series 20. It was planned to be the first episode of the next series, but another episode intended for the current season was shown there instead.

Regulars Sean Lock and Jon Richardson were the contestants, along with Kerry Godliman and Joe Wilkinson who were their teammates respectively, while Jimmy Carr reprised his role as the host.

The match saw Jon Richardson, with the assistance of Joe Wilkinson, winning by 30 – 24 in a 7-rounder and they won a set of Countdown pan pipes.

Rachel Riley was, as ever, the arithmetician. The Dictionary Corner guest was Nick Mohammed (portraying his alter ego Mr. Swallow), and the lexicographer was Susie Dent.

Interesting and notable moments from the episode are listed below:

1) During the Introduction, Jon showed off drawings which were done by his daughter along with a brief audio recording featuring her voice and that of his wife Lucy Beaumont. Later on, Joe showed off his "parrot" (which was fake) which continuously sweared to the point he had enough and had to shut it off by covering its cage with a cloth.

2) In Round 1, the clock music was replaced with You're the Best sung by Joe Esposito and in a reference to the movie The Karate Kid in which this song was performed, Jimmy was "beaten" up by an uncredited karate black belt man before he took him down and "knocked him unconscious".

3) In Round 3, the clock music was replaced with Don't Go Breaking My Heart sung by Elton John and Kiki Dee. Simultaneously, Rachel and Jimmy sang this song albeit with their mics altered on a karaoke stand such that the sound produced was very different from their own voices.

4) In Round 4, Sean assisted Kerry by giving her the solution: (4 + 5) × 75 + 50 − 6 − 7 after she panicked when she did not know how to make the 9 in the first step. As a result, no points were awarded to her team.

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

NOTE 2: In Round 5, Joe's declaration of CHODE should have been allowed as it is in the ODO. However, this would not have impacted the final outcome as Jon had a longer word to beat his.

NOTE 3: This was the first new episode of any version of Countdown to be aired in three months due to the 2020 COVID-19 hiatus which saw the temporary suspension of all recording sessions on the normal, afternoon programme.

Rounds

Rnd	Selection	Kerry & Sean	Score	Jon & Joe	Others	Max.
1	SUDRELSIT	RUSSET STRUDELS	8 – 0	SLIDERS studers ☓/TURDS	DILUTERS, STUDIERS*, STUDLIER, SURLIEST	8
2	50 9 6 10 10 6 → 847	— 850	8 – 7	846 979 ☓ (10 × 9 − 6) × 10 + 6		15
TTT	WANGLILO	Can I have a go?			ALLOWING
Rnd	Selection	Sean Lock	Score	Joe Wilkinson	Others	Max.
3	ERSOUWEON	swooner ☓	8 – 7	swooner ☓	ONEROUS	22
Rnd	Selection	Kerry Godliman	Score	Jon Richardson	Others	Max.
4	50 75 7 6 4 5 → 712	712 ☓	8 – 17	712 (6 + 4) × 75 − 50 + 7 + 5		32
TTT	BITEDUNG	There's a first time for everything.			DEBUTING
Rnd	Selection	Kerry & Sean	Score	Jon & Joe	Others	Max.
5	ADEHOCJRT	HEAD/COAT DREAD	8 – 24	TORCHED chode ☓**	CHORDATE	40
TTT	ECOFARTS	It might get windy.			FORECAST
6	VECSANGIB	VEINS BEGINS	14 – 30	VEGANS SANG	CEASING, VEGANIC*	47
7	DONGSWEAT	DOWNSTAGE (26 seconds)	24 – 30			57