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00:00This programme contains strong language and adult humour.
00:03APPLAUSE
00:31Hello and welcome to Countdown.
00:33On this day in 1859, Big Ben started striking for the first time.
00:39I don't think the countdown clock is quite in the league.
00:43Do you, Rachel? It's not.
00:45But seeing as Robert's here, I'm sure I heard some really interesting
00:48stuff about the royal family.
00:50And the Queen's household has, apparently, about 1,000 clocks
00:53and it takes a team of people 40 hours to get them to the right time
00:57when the clocks change each year or each twice a year.
01:00Why don't they have those sort of radio clocks?
01:03LAUGHTER
01:05They do have some wonderful clocks, but no, Rachel's absolutely right.
01:08There is a man at Windsor called the Clockmaker
01:11and he has a very sleepless weekend twice a year
01:14when the clocks go forward and backwards.
01:16And he has to go round the entire castle.
01:18He needs hundreds of clocks.
01:20And the trickiest ones are the turret clocks
01:22at the top of towers and things.
01:24Some of them are hundreds of years old.
01:26And there's even one which has a special piece of music by Handel.
01:30It's just commissioned for that clock.
01:32And he has to get it absolutely right.
01:34Thank you, Robert.
01:36Let's meet our contestants.
01:38Will, you had a very, very good game, didn't you?
01:41Yes, it went well. Yes, thank you.
01:43Ian was doing very well, having won five games,
01:46so congratulations on that. Thank you.
01:49Let's see how Adam fares against you.
01:52Adam's 28.
01:54He's from Ealing.
01:57Very smart. What do you do?
01:59I'm a senior pricing analyst at an insurance company.
02:02You think I know what that is.
02:04Yeah, so essentially my job is to build risk models
02:08to predict the frequency and severity
02:11that customers potentially could have accidents.
02:13What sort of accidents?
02:15So I'm focused in motor insurance,
02:17so it's generally car accidents.
02:19So you know before I do if I'm going to drive into a tree trunk.
02:24Depending on a number of different factors,
02:26that will determine whether you're more likely to have an accident.
02:29OK, what factors?
02:31So the biggest one, I think, is age.
02:33Right.
02:35But also things around, you know, the vehicle you drive,
02:37the area that you live.
02:39Let me tell you, I'm 77,
02:41and I've got a nearly new boy racer.
02:44Then you'd be probably classed as quite high risk.
02:47But I've got a clean driving licence.
02:49Well, that will also count in your favour.
02:51It's a balancing act depending on a number of different factors.
02:55Some of these models have, like, over 100 factors.
02:58Yeah. Can I tell you, with insurance companies,
03:01it's never in our favour.
03:03You have nothing else to say after that.
03:06A round of applause for the contestants.
03:08APPLAUSE
03:11Hi, Susie. Hi, Anne.
03:13Hi, Susie. Hi, Anne.
03:15And Robert Hardman, author of a new book on the Queen,
03:18has already contributed to this programme.
03:20Nice to see you back. Thanks, Anne.
03:22Let's get going. Will, your letters.
03:25Hello, Rachel. Hi, Will.
03:27Can I have a consonant, please? You can indeed.
03:29Starts the day with R.
03:31And another, please.
03:33P.
03:35And another, please.
03:37D.
03:39And a fourth.
03:41Vowel, please.
03:43U. And a second.
03:45O.
03:47And a third, please.
03:49O. And a fourth, please.
03:53A. Finish with a consonant, please.
03:55Finish with N.
03:57Let's play Countdown.
04:11CLOCK TICKS
04:29Will? Six.
04:31Good. Adam? Five.
04:33What's your five? Allowed.
04:35Will? Pardon.
04:37Yes. See, fine.
04:39In the corner.
04:41I have five and allowed as well.
04:43OK.
04:45There were a couple of sevens hiding away there.
04:47Lardoon, which is the anglicised version of a lardon.
04:49Little cube of bacon.
04:51And nodular. Thank you.
04:53Adam, your letters.
04:55Can I have a consonant, please, Rachel?
04:57Thank you, Adam. C.
04:59And another.
05:01P.
05:03And a vowel.
05:05O. And another vowel.
05:07A.
05:09And a consonant.
05:11T.
05:13A vowel.
05:15U. And another consonant.
05:17W.
05:19And a vowel.
05:21O.
05:23And a final constant, please.
05:25A final R.
05:27Time starts now.
05:29CLOCK TICKS
05:37CLOCK TICKS
05:59Will? Six.
06:01Adam? Seven.
06:03Good. Will, your six.
06:05Captor. Adam?
06:07Proctor.
06:09Proctor, you need two Rs, unfortunately.
06:11Yeah. Bad luck.
06:13Robert?
06:15Six, Anne. Uproot.
06:17Good. And you can just about get to a seven without crop.
06:21A rock formation that is visible on the surface.
06:23Thank you.
06:25Will, your numbers.
06:27I have one large, five small, please.
06:29You can indeed.
06:31The popular choice of one big and five little.
06:33And they are...
06:43And the target, 215.
06:45215.
07:03CLOCK TICKS
07:17Will? 215.
07:19Good. Adam?
07:21215. Will?
07:23Ten minus seven equals three.
07:25Yep.
07:27Times 75 is 225.
07:29It is indeed.
07:31215.
07:33Adam? I'll do it the same way.
07:35Yep.
07:37APPLAUSE
07:39Easy enough.
07:41First teaser, camel duo, camel duo.
07:43And the clue,
07:45you'll have to shell out for a serving of this.
07:47You'll have to shell out for a serving of this.
07:49See you in a minute.
07:51CLOCK CHIMES
07:59APPLAUSE
08:07Welcome back. I left you with the clue,
08:09you'll have to shell out for a serving of this.
08:11And the answer is roux clard.
08:13Have I pronounced that correctly?
08:15You absolutely have, yes.
08:17And it's French and it's a dish of mussels in cream.
08:19Lovely.
08:21Love mussels.
08:23The score's 22-10.
08:25Adam, your letters.
08:27Right, can I have a vowel, please?
08:29Thank you, Adam. E.
08:31And another one?
08:33E.
08:35And a consonant?
08:37L.
08:39And another vowel?
08:41I.
08:43And a consonant?
08:45B.
08:47And another?
08:49S.
08:51And another consonant?
08:53N.
08:55And another vowel?
08:57A.
08:59And a final consonant?
09:01A final T.
09:0330 seconds.
09:17CLOCK CHIMES
09:33Adam?
09:35Seven. Will?
09:37Seven. Adam?
09:39And tails? Will?
09:41Leanest.
09:43Yeah, that's absolutely fine.
09:45Seven. And enables?
09:47Good.
09:49Very good. Tenable, another seven.
09:51But there is an eight there with baseline.
09:53Of course there is.
09:55Will, who's an accountant
09:57at a veterinary hospital.
09:59Yes.
10:01When you're not stroking the dogs
10:03and saying meow to the cats,
10:05what do you do in your spare time?
10:07I play bowls, lawn bowls.
10:09Do you? I do.
10:11So it's no longer an old ladies' game?
10:13It can be.
10:15But it can be for anyone.
10:17I started when I was eight years old.
10:19I'm playing 30 years later.
10:21Oh, so you're a bit good at it.
10:23Well, I've played
10:25for a fair while.
10:27I wouldn't say I'm good at it.
10:29Well, are you in the Olympics?
10:31No, no. Bowls isn't in the Olympics.
10:33It's in the Commonwealth Games.
10:35Are you in the Commonwealth Games?
10:37No, I'm certainly not.
10:39Well, if you won anything?
10:41That's good.
10:43You can have your lettuce now.
10:45Thank you. Consonant, please.
10:47Thank you, Will.
10:49And again.
10:51And a third, please.
10:55And another one.
10:59Vowel, please.
11:01And a second.
11:03And a third, please.
11:07Another consonant.
11:11And finish with a vowel, please.
11:13Finish with E.
11:15Good luck.
11:41MUSIC PLAYS
11:47Will.
11:49Six. Adam.
11:51Six. Will.
11:53Narrow. Adam.
11:55Loner. Yes.
11:57I think you're fine.
11:59Fictionary Corner.
12:01Five, I'm afraid, Anne. Learn.
12:03Anything else, Susie?
12:05There is a countdown favourite, Anne.
12:07Aileron for seven.
12:09And also for eight, Ironware.
12:11Thank you.
12:13Adam, when you're deciding
12:15how much you're going to charge me
12:17for my car insurance,
12:19I've had both cataracts done.
12:21Do you take that into account?
12:23I don't think so.
12:25No, you see, you're learning so much
12:27from me today.
12:29I definitely am. Thank you, Anne.
12:31Thank you, Anne. That's good.
12:33Your numbers.
12:35One large and five small, please, Rachel.
12:37One large, five small coming up.
12:39And for you, Adam,
12:41they are...
12:43Nine. One.
12:45Another one.
12:47Six. Eight.
12:49And 50. And the target
12:51to reach...
12:53764.
12:55764.
12:57MUSIC PLAYS
13:07MUSIC CONTINUES
13:25Adam?
13:27765.
13:29OK. Will? 764.
13:31Good.
13:33Nine plus six is 15.
13:35Fifty plus one is 51.
13:37It is. Times them together,
13:39I'm hoping, is 765. It is.
13:41And minus the other one. Lovely.
13:43764. Well done. Very good.
13:45APPLAUSE
13:47Robert is
13:49encyclopaedic on the royal family
13:51and particularly the Queen.
13:53In your book,
13:55you look at the various
13:57princesses who
13:59have been related
14:01to the Queen in her reign.
14:03Princess Margaret,
14:05Princess Anne,
14:07Princess Diana,
14:09and Princess Kate.
14:11When you look at the...
14:13You know, Princess Margaret,
14:15quite tricky, yeah?
14:17She was...
14:19She was a very different character
14:21to her elder sister.
14:23It was often said of the King
14:25that Elizabeth was his pride
14:27and Margaret was his joy.
14:29Margaret was the cheeky one.
14:31Margaret would be waiting,
14:33whereas Elizabeth would be very punctual.
14:35But they were devoted to each other
14:37and they would speak to each other
14:39almost every day.
14:41And I think the Queen was always
14:43very conscious that she'd been born
14:45with a lot of the advantages.
14:47She got the education that Margaret never had.
14:49Margaret got very, very annoyed
14:51when Elizabeth was allowed
14:53to put on army uniform in the war
14:55and effectively join the army.
14:57She said to someone,
14:59all through her life,
15:01that was a constant theme.
15:03The Queen was conscious of that.
15:05Princess Anne, very much her own princess,
15:07wasn't she?
15:09She very much is.
15:11People often say how like her father
15:13Princess Anne is,
15:15but like her mother as well.
15:17Very dutiful, very hardworking,
15:19doesn't really seek the limelight,
15:21has a tiny staff
15:23and yet is always busy.
15:25She's now into her 70s.
15:27Not that you'd know it,
15:29the first Royal Olympian.
15:31She survived a kidnap attempt,
15:33a really nasty kidnap attempt,
15:35but was still back in action
15:37the following day.
15:39She's a grafter, she's a doer.
15:41I found out in the course of writing this book
15:43what her secret is actually.
15:45Wherever she goes, she never eats much,
15:47she doesn't drink, but she always keeps
15:49a kiwi fruit in her handbag.
15:51Oh, that's a lesson to us all.
15:53And we come to Diana.
15:55It's interesting in your book
15:57that week after she died,
15:59we've read about
16:01Alistair Campbell's account
16:03of that week
16:05and Tony Blair's
16:07and it was very much in their minds
16:09that they had saved the day
16:11by persuading
16:13the Queen to come back
16:15from Balmoral where she remained
16:17I think till the Wednesday
16:19of that week.
16:21Actually till later,
16:23there is that settled narrative
16:25largely because
16:27Tony Blair and Alistair Campbell have written books about it
16:29but the Royal Family haven't
16:31so we've got their word to go on.
16:33This idea has come across
16:35that the Royal Family were somehow
16:37dithering in Scotland
16:39and didn't know what to do
16:41and that the government saved the day.
16:43The Queen by then
16:45had been on the throne for nearly 50 years.
16:47She knows a thing or two.
16:49She didn't need to be told how to do that.
16:51There were certain things
16:53there was the argument over
16:55should the flag fly at half-mast
16:57on the palace where eventually
16:59she had to be talked round
17:01but a lot of the key decisions, the tone of the funeral
17:03the fact that this was going to be a
17:05people's funeral if you like
17:07they were going to tear up the script
17:09they were going to start again
17:11they were going to do an entirely new sort of funeral
17:13all that was coming from within the Royal Household
17:15long before Downing Street
17:17got anywhere near the plans.
17:19And which do you think
17:21has been the more traumatic
17:23for her?
17:25Meghan and Harry
17:27which is totally unexpected
17:29and the turn of events
17:31with Diana and Charles?
17:33Oh I think that the 90s
17:35unquestionably were a much more challenging time
17:37for the Queen because that was
17:39if you like, that was
17:41a sort of threat to the direct line of succession
17:43and there was that sort of series of events
17:45it was a very bleak few years the 90s
17:47and at the same time
17:49the monarchy was under attack
17:51because of the finances
17:53and the situation
17:55in terms of paying tax
17:57the castle burnt down
17:59I mean there were all sorts of other things going on
18:01yet at the same time the Queen on the world stage
18:03she was still very much
18:05doing these pioneering visits to places
18:07and meeting Nelson Mandela
18:09so it was
18:11a very turbulent decade the 90s
18:13that was a much tougher deal
18:15and what she did after all that
18:17it's something unfortunate
18:19but it's not nearly as dramatic
18:21Robert Hardman
18:23thank you
18:2945 to 23
18:31and Will, your letters
18:33Consonant please Rachel
18:35D
18:37and another
18:39S
18:41and again please
18:43and a fourth
18:45S
18:47Vowel please
18:49I
18:51and again
18:53A
18:55and a third
18:57I
18:59Consonant please
19:01R
19:03Finish with a vowel please
19:05Finish with E
19:07Time starts now
19:13Music
19:35Will
19:37Six
19:39Adam
19:41Adam
19:43I've got the same
19:45In the corner
19:47I think I may have eight Anne with sidecars
19:49So you're brilliant
19:51Very good indeed
19:53APPLAUSE
19:55Susie
19:57There's some comfy cardies in there
19:59for seven and another eight
20:01with diarises
20:03Adam your letters
20:07Can I have a consonant please Rachel
20:09M
20:11and another one
20:13C
20:15and another one
20:17T
20:19and a fourth
20:21T
20:23and a vowel
20:25U
20:27E
20:29and another one
20:31A
20:33and another vowel
20:35E
20:37And a final M
20:3930 seconds
21:07Music
21:09Adam
21:11Five
21:13Will
21:15Six
21:17Muted
21:19Will
21:21Teamed
21:23Teams
21:25Susie
21:27Educate
21:29Seven
21:31Six
21:33Mudcat
21:35You're an inhabitant of Mississippi
21:37Thank you
21:39Will your numbers
21:41Can I have one large
21:43Five small please Rachel
21:45One large
21:47Five little
21:49And for this round
21:51The small numbers are
21:53Three, two, eight
21:55Three and four
21:57And a large one
21:59Fifty
22:01And the target to reach
22:03Music
22:05Music
22:31Will
22:33Eight, three, eight
22:35Adam
22:37Eight, three, six
22:39Will
22:41Fifty times two is a hundred
22:43One hundred
22:45Add the four for a hundred and four
22:47Yep
22:49Times by eight for eight, three, two
22:51Then add on both threes
22:53Yep
22:55That gets you to one below
22:57Rachel
22:59If you turn these threes into a one there
23:01That was the best you could have done
23:03Oh, OK, thank you
23:05Second teaser coming up
23:07Sting rig, sting rig
23:09And the clue
23:11Telephone the unpleasant people about a currency
23:13Telephone the unpleasant people
23:15About a currency
23:17See you in a minute
23:19MUSIC
23:27APPLAUSE
23:31APPLAUSE
23:33Welcome back
23:35I left you with the clue
23:37Telephone the unpleasant people about a currency
23:39And the answer is
23:41Ringgits
23:43Susie
23:45Yes, basic currency of Malaysia
23:47Oh, I certainly didn't know
23:49Did you know that, Robert?
23:51I didn't know that, no
23:53I've been there
23:55Have you?
23:57Of course
23:59Four to twenty-nine
24:01Adam, your letters
24:03Thanks
24:05Can I have a vowel, please, Rachel?
24:07Thank you, Adam
24:09A
24:11And another one
24:13O
24:15And a third
24:17O
24:19And a fourth, please
24:21E
24:23And a consonant
24:25D
24:27L
24:29And a final consonant, please
24:31Final, P
24:33Off you go
24:35MUSIC
24:57MUSIC
25:03Adam
25:05Seven
25:07Good, Will?
25:09Seven
25:11Adam
25:13Paroled
25:15Will
25:17Leopard
25:19Both excellent, yes
25:21Over to the corner
25:23Six, pedalo
25:25Will, you're running ahead
25:27Your letters
25:29Consonant, please, Rachel
25:31Thank you, Will
25:33M
25:35And again
25:37Y
25:39And a third
25:41N
25:43And a fourth
25:45S
25:47Vowel, please
25:49E
25:51And again
25:53And a final consonant
25:55D
25:57And another vowel, actually, please
25:59And a final U
26:01Start the clock
26:03MUSIC
26:23MUSIC
26:33Will
26:35Six
26:37Adam
26:39Six
26:41Will
26:43Amused
26:45Adam
26:47Seaman
26:49Robert
26:51Seaman
26:53Seaman
26:55is a person that sells seeds
26:57And that is you, Suzy
27:03We were talking earlier, about Princess Diana
27:05, and an icon of
27:07her century
27:09And I thought I should talk a little about
27:11Because it has been diluted over time
27:13And there is this big drive
27:15towards linguistic
27:17inflation, hyperbole
27:19everyone's a hero and everything is tragic.
27:21So when you really need to express something
27:22that is heroic or tragic,
27:24it's actually quite difficult to find the right word.
27:26An icon is quite similar.
27:27I think we just call football stars, pop stars, icons,
27:31without perhaps realizing just how powerful
27:34the word it once was.
27:35And the beginning of its very distinguished history,
27:39an icon in the Eastern Orthodox churches
27:41meant a representation of Christ or of the Virgin Mary
27:44or another Christian figure.
27:46So somebody who was considered worthy of real reverence
27:50and considered to be very sacred,
27:52a focus of worship, if you like.
27:54And it comes from the Greek icon, E-I-K-O-N,
27:57and that's simply meant a likeness or image.
27:59But as I say, a likeness is something really important.
28:01But when it slipped into English,
28:03it actually lost some of its power already
28:05because it was used pretty much for a simile.
28:08So to say as white as snow, for example,
28:11would have been an icon, which seems strange.
28:13But it was this idea of the likeness, I suppose, there.
28:16And then it became used for a portrait
28:19or an illustration in a book.
28:21And it was only later that it recovered some of that power
28:25when it was applied to people who were considered
28:27highly significant and highly important.
28:29But the religious associations
28:31had pretty much fallen away by this point.
28:33And as I say, today, almost anybody can be an icon
28:37if they achieve something,
28:38even in their few minutes of fame.
28:40So hopefully it will find its way back up.
28:43But what's quite interesting is that that history
28:45of it being used for an illustration
28:47is there again in the icons on our computer screen.
28:51So they're little tiny pictures.
28:53And do you remember when we were sending emoticons,
28:55the predecessors to our emojis?
28:58Those again, that's emote and icon.
29:01So they found a little bit of their past,
29:02but as I say, not that much of its power,
29:05but hopefully one day it will come back.
29:06Thank you, Susie.
29:07You're welcome.
29:08APPLAUSE
29:13Adam, your letters.
29:14Consonant, please, Rachel.
29:16Thank you, Adam.
29:17T.
29:18And another one.
29:20F.
29:22And another one.
29:24D.
29:26And a vowel.
29:27A.
29:29And another vowel.
29:31E.
29:32And a third vowel.
29:33I.
29:35And another consonant.
29:37T.
29:39And a vowel.
29:42E.
29:43And the final consonant, please.
29:45Final, K.
29:47Good luck.
30:07MUSIC CONTINUES
30:19Adam. Six.
30:21Will. Six as well.
30:23Adam. Defeat.
30:24Will. Fitted.
30:26Yes.
30:28Robert. Six. Defeat as well.
30:30Susie. Yes, no better than six.
30:32Fatted was the only other one we had.
30:34Thank you.
30:35Round 13. Will.
30:37Consonant, please, Rachel.
30:39Thank you, Will.
30:39M.
30:41And again.
30:42R.
30:44And a third.
30:46T.
30:47And again, please.
30:49S.
30:51Vowel.
30:52I.
30:53And a second.
30:54A.
30:55And a third, please.
30:57E.
30:59Consonant.
31:01G.
31:02And a final consonant, please.
31:04Looks fairly promising.
31:05A final N.
31:0730 seconds.
31:08MUSIC CONTINUES
31:34MUSIC CONTINUES
31:39Will. Nine.
31:41Oh, good.
31:43Adam. Nine.
31:44Ah. Will.
31:46Streaming.
31:47Adam. Yeah, same.
31:49APPLAUSE
31:52Have you got a nine, Robert?
31:54I wish. Well done, you two.
31:56I got as far as teaming.
31:58Seven. Nearly there, actually.
32:00Definitely nearly there.
32:01No, there is one other anagram of that which is mastering.
32:04Also nine.
32:05Thank you.
32:06Adam.
32:08Numbers.
32:09One large and five small, please.
32:10Thank you, Adam. One from the top.
32:12And five not for the final time today.
32:15And this selection is two, five, three, nine, seven,
32:20and a large one, 100.
32:22And your target, 856.
32:25856.
32:27MUSIC CONTINUES
32:31MUSIC CONTINUES
32:58Adam.
32:59858.
33:00Will.
33:01856.
33:03OK.
33:04100 minus five is 95.
33:0795?
33:08Times by nine is...
33:10Times by nine, yeah, 855.
33:12Three minus two is one.
33:14So, Adam.
33:15One way to get there. 856.
33:17Well done.
33:18APPLAUSE
33:22We're into the final round.
33:24Will is over the century, very much over the century.
33:27Adam, you're on 66.
33:30But, of course, this is a game in itself.
33:33Fingers on buzzers.
33:34Please reveal today's Countdown Conundrum.
33:42Adam.
33:44Abandoned.
33:45Let's have a look.
33:47Well done.
33:48APPLAUSE
33:52That was a very good ending for you, Adam.
33:54Yeah, ended on a high.
33:56Yes, you did indeed.
33:57I'm sorry to see you go, but the good thing is, Adam,
34:00you know so much more about car insurance now
34:04since I've helped you, don't you?
34:05Yeah, definitely. Thank you very much.
34:07Yeah, thank you for being here.
34:09Will, we'll see you tomorrow.
34:10You shall, yes.
34:11Thank you very much.
34:12Susie, thank you.
34:13Thank you.
34:14Robert Hardman, thank you.
34:15Rachel.
34:16And Robert can go back to the Royal Household
34:18and put your suggestion forward about going to digital alarm clocks.
34:22It'll go down a treat.
34:24Thank you for watching. Bye.
34:25APPLAUSE
34:27You can contact the programme by email at Countdown at Channel4.com
34:31or write to us at Countdown Leeds LS3 1JS.
34:36You can also find our web page at Channel4.com forward slash Countdown.
34:43Coastal towns, cracking cuisine, one grey stent and an Ainslie Harriet.
34:47A tour of the UK like no other.
34:49Best of Britain by the sea, all four of them now.
34:52Now, Channel 4 tonight, a brand new week, a brand new challenge
34:55and a brand new suit for Benoit,
34:56which makes him look very handsome indeed.
34:58Bake off the professionals at eight.
35:00Next, let's see the sun.