Episode Cats130

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Episode Cats130, billed as 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown Series 21, Episode 1 was a special episode broadcast on 14 January 2021, as part of 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown Series 21. Disclaimers on the Channel 4 website and the subtitles at the very start of the show clarified that this episode was filmed before the COVID-19 pandemic, meaning it was intended for 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown Series 20, but rationed across both series.

Regulars Sean Lock and Acting Team Captain Katherine Ryan were the contestants, along with Johnny Vegas and Joe Lycett who were their teammates respectively, while Jimmy Carr reprised his role as the host.

The match saw Katherine Ryan, with the assistance of Joe Lycett, winning by 42 – 33 in a 7-rounder and they won a Countdown go-kart.

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

Interesting and notable moments from the episode are listed below:

1) During the introduction, Johnny showed off artworks featuring a comical version of him standing with famous casts from various shows drawn by a woman named Josephine, who flew from Denmark to be in the audience. Notably, both agreed on liking the artwork titled "Ghost" the most. Also, Sean pretended to be a Eurovision contestant with his own fancy suit and sang his own song "Mayor of Sexy Town" which was more of a poem.

2) Once the time was up in Round 1, Jimmy "flexed his abs" to the sound of the music as well as did it based on the length of Johnny and Sean's word.

3) In Round 3, the clock music was replaced with Get Ready for This by 2 Unlimited. At the same time, six uncredited dodgeball athletes, Rachel and Jimmy played dodgeball in the centre of the studio with a referee watching, to which ended with Rachel "popping" a ball on top of Jimmy's head.

4) Round 5 was dubbed a Tension Round; points were doubled, the clock music was replaced with a techno version of it coupled with sirens, flames and a voice counting down from ten was heard as well. When the time was up, confetti shot out from behind the contestants, notably scaring Johnny. Thus, the maximum was worth 14 points in this case.

5) During the 30 seconds in Round 6, Jimmy tried to glue a piece of loose wallpaper back, but instead "glued" himself within the wallpaper and commented "I've gone wrong somewhere". Also, Johnny declared a seven rather than a six but it went unnoticed as the word was invalid to start with.

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

NOTE 2: In Round 4, just as Rachel was about to show the perfect solution, Katherine, who initially got 930 but went wrong, mentioned she had 925 and at Jimmy's discretion, it was allowed. However, she was only awarded five points rather than seven despite being five away from the target. Thus, the final score should have been 33 – 44.

NOTE 3: Joe was not asked to spell his word in Round 6; therefore, he may have intended PAILS rather than PALES.

Rounds

Rnd	Selection	Johnny & Sean	Score	Katherine & Joe	Others	Max.
1	OEUSLNWAR	sloan ☓ LEARNS	6 – 6	SLOWER SWEAR	LOANERS, RELOANS*, SOLUNAR	7
2	100 50 8 8 7 9 → 690	5000 691 100 × 7 − 9	13 – 13	692 691 100 × 7 − 8 − (9 − 8)	RR: 690 = 100 × 7 − 9 − 8 ÷ 8	17
TTT	DREROTIC	He calls the shots.			DIRECTOR
Rnd	Selection	Johnny Vegas	Score	Joe Lycett	Others	Max.
3	IECDANRTI	DANCER	13 – 20	TRANCED	ACRIDINE*, ACTINIDE*, CRINATED*, CTENIDIA*, DAINTIER, DICENTRA*, INDICATE, INDICTER*, INDIRECT, RATICIDE*, REINDICT*	25
Rnd	Selection	Sean Lock	Score	Katherine Ryan	Others	Max.
4	25 50 9 6 4 10 → 930	915	13 – 25	925 10 × 9 × (6 + 4) + 25​	RR: 930 = (25 − 10)​ × ((9 − 6) × 4 + 50)	35
TTT	PIPERASH	I gave one to my partner.			SAPPHIRE
Rnd	Selection	Johnny & Sean	Score	Katherine & Joe	Others	Max.
5	OBVRUENTF	OFTEN BURNT	23 – 35	BONER VOTER	FORTUNE, REFOUNT*	49
TTT	ASSSEEDS	Let me have a look.			ASSESSED
6	NAPISEOLD	saplin ☓7 SLOPED	23 – 42	PLAINED PALES	PALINODES	67
7	GETORGASM	MORTGAGES (30 seconds)	33 – 42			77