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00:00This programme contains strong language and adult humour.
00:05APPLAUSE
00:31Hello, everybody. Welcome to Countdown this Tuesday afternoon.
00:35Thank you so, so much for choosing us for your afternoon company.
00:38Rachel Riley, let's just get this out of the way.
00:41I know you're at the end of your tether
00:43with the amount of time I talk about this particular wonderful thing,
00:46but it would be remiss of me not to say it's World Penguin Day today.
00:50Didn't we just have International Penguin Day, like, five minutes ago?
00:54Don't denigrate any of the penguin days in my company.
00:57I'm going to have to ask Susie,
00:59is there a word for a weirdo that loves penguins a little bit too much?
01:02I think the word's Colin, but I love it.
01:04But I'm just mentioning it, I'm not going to do anything about it.
01:07Instead, I'm going to tell you that on this day in 1990,
01:10the Hubble Space Telescope was launched.
01:13And, of course, it's been so, so important, both up there and down here.
01:17But here's the thing, it's famous for the mirror inside it,
01:207ft 10in, which, interestingly,
01:24is slightly larger than the largest fossilised penguin that's ever been found,
01:29which is 6ft 8in.
01:31It's amazing, right? The colossus penguin.
01:34Two inches short of Gerry.
01:35Yeah, exactly! That's so true.
01:37Gerry's taller than the tallest ever penguin.
01:39You haven't got a penguin costume, have you?
01:41Why would I ever dress as a penguin when we know,
01:44when it comes to dressing in black and white, she's the greatest at it.
01:47Susie Dent, our James of the day, is here.
01:50Susie, lovely to have you back and joining us all this week.
01:5350 years old in one day, it's Gabby Logan.
01:57APPLAUSE
02:00And Gerard Bower's got two wins, Gerry Ferris,
02:03originally from Essex, moved up north to West Yorkshire.
02:06And we're getting to know you really well, and I love this,
02:08I'd never heard of this job before, you're retired now,
02:11but you were a water bailiff.
02:13Yes.
02:14No idea. Tell me.
02:16OK, well, you get salmon and trout poachers,
02:19or used to, in the rivers.
02:21Not so much these days, cos there's not so many fish around,
02:24but we used to just go and catch the poachers.
02:27You chased the poachers away? Chased the poachers.
02:29It was a nightmare of a job, and the first time we went out,
02:33I had to use my car, because none of the poachers knew my car.
02:37So we used my car, went off and drove.
02:39All of a sudden, this inspector in the car said,
02:41''Stop the car, stop the car!''
02:43So he pulled down the brakes, and there was a guy on his pushbike
02:46walking towards a local hotel,
02:48and underneath the crossbar was this newspaper wrapped up big lump,
02:52and it was a £25 salmon.
02:54No!
02:55And that was the sort of size you used to get out regularly
02:58out of the rivers, up in the lakes.
03:00What a great job. I wouldn't mess with you, that's for sure, Gerard.
03:03I love it.
03:04Well, listen, you're up against Ian Laird today,
03:06who's from the Wirral.
03:08Not quite new, though.
03:10We have to go back a long, long way.
03:12Tell us about your first Countdown experience.
03:15It was 19 years ago,
03:17with the late, great Richard.
03:19Susie was obviously there.
03:21Of course!
03:24Yeah, and it was great. It's been a long, long time.
03:27Well, obviously you didn't win, right?
03:29This is not a good experience.
03:31Can you even remember, did you have a bad day or a good day?
03:35I can't remember.
03:36It was a bad day. It was a bad day.
03:38This is redemption time right now for Ian Laird.
03:40Ian and Gerry, good luck.
03:45Right, let's see if we can hook a big one, Gerry, in the first round.
03:48Good afternoon, Rachel. Afternoon, Gerry.
03:50Have a vowel, please. Thank you. Start with E.
03:53Consonant.
03:55R. And a vowel.
03:57A. Consonant.
03:59M. Vowel.
04:01E. Consonant.
04:03R. Another consonant.
04:06L. Another consonant.
04:09C.
04:11And a final vowel, please.
04:13A final A.
04:15At home and in the studio, let's play Penguin.
04:18Sorry, Countdown.
04:44That's time. Gerry?
04:46Seven.
04:47And Ian?
04:48Seven.
04:49Very good start. Gerry?
04:50Creamer.
04:51And Ian?
04:52Caramel.
04:53Lovely start.
04:55Caramel and creamer.
04:57Yeah, that's very good.
04:59Sevens?
05:00Yeah.
05:01Sevens, caramel.
05:02Yeah.
05:03Camera, otherwise for six.
05:04Lovely. Ian, let's pick some letters.
05:06Consonant, please, Rachel.
05:07Thank you, Ian.
05:08R.
05:09R.
05:10R.
05:11R.
05:12Thank you, Rachel.
05:13Thank you, Ian.
05:14S.
05:15And another one.
05:17T.
05:18A third one.
05:20L.
05:21Vowel.
05:23I.
05:24Another vowel.
05:26A.
05:27And another one.
05:29O.
05:30Consonant, please.
05:32T.
05:34A vowel.
05:36I.
05:38And a consonant.
05:39And the last one.
05:40M.
05:4130 seconds.
06:12Pens down, Ian.
06:14Just a six.
06:15And Gerry?
06:16Just a five.
06:17A five is?
06:18Mitts.
06:19And the six for Ian to take an early lead?
06:21Totals.
06:22Totals.
06:23Already having a much better time than he had 19 years ago.
06:27Right, why me, please, Gabby?
06:29Yeah, totals, I'm afraid.
06:30That's the most exciting thing we could come up with for the six.
06:33Don't why me, then, Gabby.
06:35Numbers round.
06:37Gerry?
06:38I'll have...
06:40Six more, please.
06:41Six more.
06:42Thank you, Gerry.
06:43Something interesting.
06:44Let's see what we have for the first numbers of the day.
06:47Your little ones.
06:48Seven, nine.
06:49Ten.
06:50Seven.
06:51Nine.
06:52And three.
06:54And the target.
06:56Oh, very small.
06:57104.
06:58104.
06:59Numbers up.
07:10MUSIC PLAYS
07:29104, the target.
07:31Gerry?
07:32104.
07:33Yeah, and Ian?
07:34104.
07:35Probably a lot of ways to do this.
07:36How did you go, Gerry?
07:37I went nine times ten.
07:39Ninety...
07:40Plus seven, plus seven.
07:41Lovely, that'll do it. 104.
07:43Gerry, you went route one.
07:44Ian?
07:45I made a bit of a meal of it.
07:47Nine times ten.
07:48Nine times ten, yep.
07:50The other nine minus seven.
07:52Nine minus seven is two.
07:54Times the other seven is 14.
07:55That'll do.
07:56Same result.
07:57Well done.
07:58Very good.
08:01OK, tea time teaser is Pop Radar.
08:04Pop Radar.
08:05Nobody knocks at the door for this type of delivery.
08:08Nobody knocks at the door for this type of delivery.
08:26All right, welcome back.
08:27Nobody knocks at the door for this type of delivery.
08:30Pop Radar becomes para-drop.
08:32We can have a guess at this.
08:33Para-shoot.
08:35So is it something to do with that?
08:37Is it a military thing?
08:38It's a delivery by parachute.
08:40Not the type of deliveries we get.
08:41That would be very expensive.
08:43That's not an option to tick, is it?
08:45Right, 17 plus 23, and the 23 belongs to our challenger.
08:49What a great start.
08:50Let's get more letters.
08:51Constant, please, Rachel.
08:52Thank you, Ian.
08:53L.
08:54And another one.
08:56N.
08:57And a third.
08:59V.
09:00And a fourth.
09:02G.
09:04A vowel.
09:06A.
09:07Another one.
09:09E.
09:10Another.
09:12I.
09:14A consonant.
09:16R.
09:17And a vowel, please.
09:19And lastly, O.
09:22Thanks, Rachel.
09:36MUSIC PLAYS
09:53That's time, Ian.
09:54I'll stick with a seven.
09:55Yeah.
09:56Gerry?
09:57Seven.
09:58Ian, what's the word?
09:59Leaving.
10:00Yes, and Gerry?
10:01Leaving.
10:02Leaving as well.
10:03Fantastic.
10:04Yeah, when there's points at stake,
10:06you're not going to gamble, right?
10:08There's probably a few in there, you're thinking,
10:10is that in the dictionary?
10:11Let's find out.
10:12Dictionary corner.
10:13Yeah, we have...
10:14As an eight?
10:15Yes.
10:16Regional.
10:17Regional?
10:18Yes.
10:19Regional.
10:20APPLAUSE
10:21What if you watch Countdown in the afternoon,
10:23then you watch the repeat the next morning,
10:25can you be re-loving it?
10:26You can, yes, to love something again.
10:28Very good.
10:29I also spotted vinegar, which has made me feel quite hungry.
10:32I now fancy some chips.
10:34Oh, yes.
10:35Right, 24, 30, chips are down for Gerry,
10:38so let's get some letters.
10:40Consonant, please, Rachel.
10:41Thank you, Gerry.
10:42N.
10:43And a vowel.
10:44I.
10:45And a consonant.
10:47S.
10:48And a vowel.
10:49A.
10:51Consonant.
10:52N.
10:53And a vowel.
10:56V.
10:57Consonant.
10:58R.
10:59Vowel.
11:02U.
11:03And a final consonant, please.
11:05A final K.
11:07Half a minute.
11:32How many, Gerry?
11:34Five.
11:35A five.
11:36He's under it, Ian.
11:37How many?
11:38Seven.
11:39A seven.
11:40Oh, what's a five, Gerry?
11:41Sneak.
11:42And Ian?
11:43Sonnier.
11:44Sonnier.
11:45Very nice.
11:46Fantastic stuff.
11:47Anything else in Dictionary Corner?
11:49A couple of sevens.
11:50Sneakier.
11:51Oh, hello.
11:52Thanks.
11:53LAUGHTER
11:54And Skinner.
11:55Skinner.
11:56And Skinner.
11:57And Skinner.
11:58And Skinner.
12:00And Skinner.
12:01Skinner.
12:02And Skinner.
12:03Ian, you're in control, both of the games so far,
12:05and now these numbers.
12:06I'll have two from the top, please, Rachel, and any other four.
12:09You can indeed.
12:10Two large this time, four little.
12:12And probably more of a challenge than the last one.
12:14This time the numbers...
12:24Oh, 800.
12:26MUSIC PLAYS
12:5730 seconds of your life you will never get back.
13:00Ian?
13:01800.
13:02Gerry?
13:03800.
13:04There'll be no ink wasted, off you go.
13:056 minus 5 is 1.
13:06Yeah.
13:079 minus 1 is 8.
13:08Times 100.
13:09I jinxed it, that was not a tricky one.
13:11Gerry?
13:12Very similar.
13:13Yeah, there you go.
13:14Even Susie got that one.
13:15APPLAUSE
13:18Well, listen, gives us more time to head over to Dictionary Corner.
13:21Now, Gabby...
13:24When a presenter hosts an event that could live forever,
13:28there's such pressure on it, you know?
13:30Because you get the last word.
13:32And not to make you blush,
13:34but I think one of the all-time great closing lines was from you
13:39when the Lionesses won the Euros.
13:41That's very kind of you.
13:42And you said, well, it was a wonderful monologue
13:45which had just that pithy punch at the end,
13:47and it said, they think it's all over, we've only just begun.
13:50And I remember at the time just going, wow,
13:52talk about living up to the moment.
13:54You sent me a message, you were very kind, actually.
13:56You sent me a message.
13:57I think I said, for how long did you have that written down in advance?
14:01Well, that morning, on the way to Wembley,
14:03having done the whole month of this incredible tournament,
14:06which really captured a bit like London 2012,
14:09it really did capture the nation's imagination,
14:11and we'd had that...
14:12I remember the lovely little girl, Tess,
14:14who became a kind of household name for 24 hours,
14:16who was dancing at the semi-final, and there were such joyous moments.
14:19I'm on my way there and I'm doing my kind of last-minute prep
14:22in the back of a car, looking at things, reading notes.
14:25A text popped into my phone from a really lovely editor
14:28I've worked with a lot on BBC Sport, who wasn't working on the tour,
14:31and he said, I bet you've got a killer closer ready.
14:33And I thought, I haven't. I haven't written anything.
14:36And normally you write that as the match evolves
14:38because you're thinking of things to say.
14:40And I thought, actually, this feels like it could be a seminal moment.
14:43I should write something and have something down
14:45just in case the Lionesses do it,
14:47just in case they beat Germany at Wembley in front of a packed house.
14:50And I got my iPad out, started writing the closer,
14:53closed it and thought, well, if I can use that,
14:55it would have been a great day.
14:57And I only showed one person, that was the editor,
14:59just to make sure he was kind of happy with the whole thing.
15:01And then that was it.
15:02And then England were looking like...
15:04The Lionesses were looking like they wasn't going to be at one point.
15:07You know, Germany got back into the game.
15:09Selfishly, I thought, I won't be able to use my closer!
15:13But luckily, Chloe Kelly turned it all round
15:16and, yeah, it did feel like a game-changing moment, I think,
15:19for women's sport that had been building,
15:22and not just the Lionesses.
15:23I think it was that kind of moment
15:25where women's sport was really taken seriously
15:27and 17 million people thought so because they tuned in on the BBC.
15:31You're so right. Before it got that support,
15:34and I say support, before it got what it deserved
15:37and getting proper coverage, there was a groundswell.
15:40A friend of mine used to represent a couple of Chelsea players,
15:43so obviously as a Liverpool fan, I can't be seen going to see Chelsea,
15:46but I just loved some of their players
15:49and would go down and watch them quite regularly.
15:51And you would see the crowds just growing and growing and growing.
15:55And becoming more diverse as well.
15:57When I first started following women's football and covering it,
16:00it definitely was a predominantly female audience and crowd.
16:04And then you started noticing dads and daughters, families,
16:08you know, young boys, you know, you'd see just groups of teenage boys
16:12and suddenly you were like, this is a thing.
16:14This is not just, you know, the preserve of a mum and a couple of daughters.
16:18What was your favourite thing about the entire women's Euros?
16:21Apart from the glory of your last leg.
16:24Yeah, I can't get beyond that.
16:26At least Russo's backheel, I think, against Sweden
16:29was one of those moments where...
16:31You know when in sport so much is kind of preordained,
16:34especially now there's so much science and technology
16:36and people talk about stats and you can't judge moments on stats.
16:39There were still managers that really do talk in those terms
16:42across lots of sports.
16:44And what the Lionesses did and what people like Russo did
16:47were actually just play on instinct, you know,
16:49and those beautiful moments where they just did something
16:51because they weren't bothered if it didn't come off.
16:53And I think that's the difference, I think, with the women's game.
16:55They're still trying things out
16:56and still being a little bit more experimental.
16:58So it was just that kind of passion, I think,
17:01that prevailed throughout as well.
17:03And coming out of grounds at night and just walking through the streets,
17:06chatting to people in a way that I wouldn't do
17:08at the men's Euros the year before, you know,
17:10which had a... The final of that was not the nicest atmosphere.
17:13Awful. That's the understatement, Dan.
17:15You're absolutely right. That's what comes with it.
17:18Football is not an excuse.
17:20Passion is not an excuse for trouble and violence.
17:23It just isn't.
17:24There's sports all over the world that are passionate.
17:27The women's Euro has proved you can have passion
17:29and you can have competitiveness,
17:31but you can have joy once it's finished.
17:33And the way the Germany fans stayed and applauded the Lionesses,
17:35I think, proved that.
17:36Thank you, Gabby.
17:41Ian's on 47, Gerry's on 34.
17:44This is a long way from being over.
17:46Let's get back to it.
17:47Gerry, you're picking letters.
17:49Consonant, please.
17:50Thank you, Gerry.
17:51R.
17:52And a vowel.
17:53A.
17:54And a consonant.
17:55P.
17:56And a vowel.
17:57I.
17:58A consonant.
17:59J.
18:01Another consonant.
18:02T.
18:03A vowel.
18:05E.
18:06Consonant.
18:08S.
18:09And a consonant, please.
18:12And a final T.
18:14Start the clock.
18:35CLOCK TICKS
18:46Gerry, how many?
18:47Seven.
18:48And Ian?
18:49Seven.
18:50Yeah.
18:51What have we got?
18:52Pirates.
18:53Pirates.
18:54And Ian?
18:55Yeah, same.
18:56Yeah.
18:57Well, they are in the dictionary.
18:58Sorry, had to be done.
18:59Come on, we were all thinking it.
19:01We were all thinking it.
19:02Anything else for me?
19:03Just sevens.
19:04Yes.
19:05Artiste.
19:06Yes.
19:07And patties.
19:08More letters, please, Ian Laird.
19:10Consonant, please, Rachel.
19:11Thank you, Ian.
19:12G.
19:13And another one.
19:15M.
19:16And another.
19:18H.
19:19A vowel.
19:20U.
19:21A vowel.
19:22E.
19:23Another one.
19:25A.
19:26A consonant.
19:28N.
19:29Another.
19:31B.
19:32And a vowel, please.
19:34A final I.
19:36Half a minute.
20:02MUSIC
20:08What's the time, Ian?
20:09Seven.
20:10Gerry?
20:11Seven.
20:12Going punch for punch here.
20:13What have you got, Ian?
20:14Beaming.
20:15Yes.
20:16And Gerry?
20:17Beaming.
20:18Yeah, matching again.
20:19Let's have a look, Ger.
20:20Is that it?
20:21Yeah, that's it.
20:22That's it.
20:23Humane for six, if you wanted six.
20:24Good stuff.
20:25But beaming will get you the seven points.
20:27The gap remains 13.
20:29So, an all-important ten up for grabs with the numbers.
20:31Gerry, I know you like to mix it up,
20:33so let's find out what you're going to do.
20:35Four large.
20:36Four large.
20:37Yeah, have you got some ground to make up?
20:39I like your moves.
20:40Right, we can find a challenge in there somewhere today.
20:43These two little ones, seven and four.
20:45And the big four,
20:46125, 50, 75,
20:49means nothing without the target.
20:51229.
20:53Another low one.
20:54229, numbers up.
20:55MUSIC
21:00MUSIC
21:26229, Gerry.
21:28Yep, 229.
21:29Yeah, Ian.
21:30229.
21:31Off you go, Gerry.
21:32Very similar to the last one, really, isn't it?
21:34100 plus 50 plus 75 plus four.
21:36That's it.
21:37Not wasting any ink on that one, either.
21:39And Ian.
21:40Yep, same.
21:41Lovely.
21:42APPLAUSE
21:46Another easy one.
21:47Let's have a teatime teaser.
21:48Inept net.
21:49Inept net.
21:51Full of regret about the cheap camping equipment.
21:54Full of regret about the cheap camping equipment.
21:58MUSIC
22:05APPLAUSE
22:13Welcome back.
22:14Inept net becomes penitent, penitent,
22:17full of regret about the cheap camping equipment.
22:20Right, six rounds left.
22:22And, Ian, with the lead, it's your letters.
22:25Consonant, please, Rachel.
22:27Thank you, Ian.
22:28N.
22:29Another.
22:31S.
22:32And another.
22:34T.
22:35Vowel.
22:36U.
22:37Another vowel.
22:38E.
22:39And another.
22:41O.
22:43Consonant.
22:44W.
22:45Another consonant.
22:47R.
22:48And a final consonant, please.
22:50A final N.
22:51Start the clock.
22:52MUSIC
22:58BELL
23:22That's time, Ian.
23:23Seven.
23:24And, Gerry?
23:25Nine.
23:26Worst.
23:27What's the five, Gerry?
23:28Worst.
23:29And what's better than worst?
23:30Stunner.
23:31Oh, my goodness.
23:32If ever two words told a story at this critical moment in a game,
23:35worst and stunner.
23:36Very, very good, Ian.
23:38What else was there?
23:39There's an eight.
23:40Oh.
23:41Neutrons.
23:42Neutrons. Very good.
23:43Yeah.
23:44Fabritonic particles.
23:45Bombshell.
23:46Right, let's get back to the letters.
23:48Gerry, you know 20 points is not a big enough gap.
23:50You've been in the other end of this. Let's go.
23:52A vowel, please, Rachel.
23:53Thank you, Gerry.
23:54A.
23:55Consonant.
23:56L.
23:57Vowel.
23:58O.
23:59Consonant.
24:00R.
24:01Vowel.
24:02I.
24:03Consonant.
24:04T.
24:06Consonant.
24:08P.
24:09Vowel.
24:11E.
24:12And a consonant, please.
24:14That's a promising selection.
24:15A final G.
24:17Here we go.
24:18MUSIC
24:25MUSIC
24:48How do you get on, Gerry?
24:50A seven.
24:51And Ian?
24:52I'll try a seven.
24:53He's only trying it, Gerry.
24:54Portage.
24:55Portage.
24:56And Ian?
24:57Portage.
24:58Oh, there you go.
25:00Definitely right. Portage will do the job.
25:02So that is seven points each.
25:04Gabby and Susie, talk to me.
25:06Two eights.
25:07You're on fire today. What have you got?
25:09My favourite, I'll do mine first if you like, is epilator.
25:12Epilator.
25:13Hair remover.
25:14As in, sort of...?
25:16Yeah, legs, arms, wherever.
25:18OK, wherever, indeed.
25:20And what's the other word?
25:22Pilotage. The act of piloting.
25:24There you go.
25:28The gap remains the same.
25:30Many points left up for grabs today.
25:32Could still be a twist in the tale
25:34as we head to Dictionary Corner for Origins of Words.
25:37Yesterday, Susie, all about pubs.
25:39So where are you taking us today?
25:41Well, I was frantically looking for a pub called The Drunken Penguin
25:44cos there is a drunken duck, in fact, a few of those.
25:46But sadly, is there anyone in Atlanta if you want to go there?
25:49Yeah, I'm booking a flight tomorrow.
25:51But, yeah, staying with really popular pub names.
25:54I would just say, to Countdown viewers,
25:56if you have quite an unusual one near you, please, please do let me know
26:00cos I love delving into these.
26:02So, loyalty to political causes, particularly over the centuries,
26:05feature really large in pub names.
26:07So, the Royal Oak, for example.
26:09You can probably guess this one,
26:11the tree that gave refuge to Charles Stuart King
26:14during the English Civil War.
26:16And he's said to have spent his last night as a free man
26:20at the King's Head in Nottinghamshire.
26:23The Red Lion, we all know Red Lion near us.
26:26So this goes back really to the 15th century.
26:29So there were two dynasties, really.
26:31House of York, people will certainly know all of this kind of,
26:34you know, potted history cos it was such a fascinating time.
26:37But the House of York had a white rose
26:39and the House of Lancaster had a red one.
26:41And when Henry IV seized the throne from Richard II in 1399,
26:46House of Lancaster took over the throne.
26:49But you will find white roses and red roses in pubs,
26:52but also, as I say, the Red Lion,
26:54because those who were swearing allegiance to the King
26:57would name their taverns the Red Lion, red for his rose,
27:00but also because of his Leonine strength, really.
27:03And that displaced many a pub
27:05that had previously been dedicated to Richard II,
27:08and his emblem was the white heart.
27:10Lots of those around as well.
27:12So, quite often, pub names would be swiftly changed
27:15according to who was in favour and the political wind.
27:18Then you've got the bull.
27:20Possibly this originated at the time of the Reformation.
27:23I'm not completely sure on this one,
27:25but Henry VIII, following the annulment of his marriage
27:28to Catherine of Aragon, he defied Rome famously.
27:31And the bull may be a reference to a papal bull.
27:34That was a declaration from the Pope
27:36that was an official document sealed with a bulla,
27:39literally a seal, from Latin.
27:41But it's said that to demonstrate his defiance of the Pope,
27:44Henry then included a bull's head on his coat of arms,
27:48maybe possibly reflecting his propensity
27:51to behead those who fell in his way.
27:55But, anyway, so much packed history there, and I love it.
27:58It's a bit like nursery rhymes, they kind of take you by surprise
28:01because they go back such a long way.
28:03I'll come back to the slightly unusual ones tomorrow.
28:05I love that we're on a word crawl. Yes.
28:09APPLAUSE
28:11OK, Ian's on 85, Geri's on 65.
28:14Remember, Gerber's already got two wins.
28:17The hat trick can still happen, but he'll have to get a shift on.
28:20Ian, choosing these letters.
28:22Consonant, please, Rachel. Thank you, Ian.
28:24D Another one.
28:27N And a third.
28:29S A fourth.
28:31H Vowel.
28:34O Another vowel.
28:36A Another vowel.
28:38U Consonant.
28:41G And a final consonant, please.
28:44A final F. All right, let's do it.
29:07MUSIC
29:18Ian. Six.
29:20Geri. Six.
29:22Ian, what's the word? Hounds.
29:24Hounds, and Geri, here we go again. Hounds.
29:27No worries at all.
29:29Six points each over to Dictionary Corner.
29:31Yeah, just sixes. Yes.
29:33Does. Yeah.
29:35Shogun, as well, from feudal Japan.
29:38Couldn't get beyond a six, though. No, not at all.
29:40OK, it's as we were, Geri.
29:42Last letters round. Vowel, please.
29:44Thank you, Geri.
29:46E Consonant.
29:48S Vowel.
29:50O A vowel.
29:53E Consonant.
29:55C Consonant.
29:57D Consonant.
30:00R Vowel.
30:03A.
30:05And a final consonant, please, Rachel.
30:07A final N.
30:09Countdown.
30:11MUSIC
30:33MUSIC
30:40Intriguing letters. Geri. Seven.
30:42And Ian. Seven.
30:44Look at this. Geri. Dancers.
30:46And Ian. Creased.
30:48Creased and dancers. Very good indeed.
30:50Seven points each. Dictionary Corner.
30:53Three eights, I think, are we right? Yes.
30:55Three eights, yeah. Reasoned.
30:57Of course.
30:59Seconder.
31:01The seconder. Seconder.
31:03The second one is seconder.
31:05I'm saying it in the right order.
31:07And the final one.
31:09Yeah, dracones is an unusual one.
31:11A large, flexible, sausage-shaped container
31:13and it's used for transporting liquids.
31:15Oh, I thought it was going to connect to draconian.
31:18Oh, yes, you would have thought so. Not at all.
31:20That was an eponym from a horrible Greek punisher.
31:24But, yes, no, dracones.
31:26It does go back to the idea of the serpent, though,
31:28because of its shape. Oh, there you go. Wonderful.
31:30APPLAUSE
31:33Right, if we were to have a crucial countdown conundrum today,
31:36we may have to have two.
31:38That's the only way Gerry's going to win.
31:4020 points up for grabs. 20 points in it.
31:43Last numbers round.
31:45Ian Laird on the cusp of redemption.
31:47Your choice.
31:49Four large and two small, please.
31:51Wow! I thought you'd have gone for something easy.
31:54OK, you're doing the other tactics.
31:56It's the hardest possible for neither of you.
31:58You're giving a lifeline to Gerry.
32:00The final numbers.
32:07And the target...
32:09Oh, 179.
32:11It's lifelines like that.
32:28MUSIC PLAYS
32:43Yeah, 179, Ian.
32:45179. Gerry! 179.
32:47Off you go, Ian.
32:497 minus 3 is 4.
32:51That's the hard bit.
32:53Plus the 100. Yeah. Plus the 75.
32:55I've been too easy today.
32:57Strange selections.
32:59Gerry, unless you took leave of your senses,
33:01yeah, there you go, well done.
33:03APPLAUSE
33:05There you go. Well, listen, what a score by our challenger, Ian.
33:08We'll get into that in a second, but let's just dot the i's
33:11and cross the t's as we do today's countdown conundrum.
33:15Fingers on buzzers, let's reveal it.
33:27BUZZER
33:32Ian. Deviation.
33:34Let's have a look.
33:36Well done.
33:38APPLAUSE
33:40Ian, fantastic.
33:42Returning 19 years later, 118.
33:44Formidable. Can't wait until tomorrow.
33:46But, Gerard Bear, we will miss you.
33:48It's been such a joy having you.
33:50Yes, thank you very much. I've enjoyed being part of the family
33:53for the brief time I've been here. You were all a good bunch.
33:56Decent, decent at least.
33:58Well, it is all over. Gabby, Susie, we'll see you tomorrow.
34:01Happy days. And Rachel.
34:03See you tomorrow, penguin boy.
34:05See you tomorrow. I'm in thin ice when it comes to penguins,
34:08so let's just say Rachel, Susie and I will be here again tomorrow,
34:11waddling into the studio. You can count on us.
34:14APPLAUSE
34:16You can contact the programme by email at countdown at channel4.com.
34:20You can also find our web page at channel4.com forward slash countdown.
34:26APPLAUSE