July 3, 2026

 Hello there everybody, and welcome to my last blog of the week -- Countdown for July 3, 2026

Colin starts things off by letting us know that today is the 10th anniversary of Stranger Things.  Colin sent Rachel and Susie a WhatsApp message about it, and reminds us that it is a phenomenally successful show.  Susie reminds us that it is a good show to watch with teenagers as it spans both Generations Y and Alpha.  She says that it brings back so much music, such as Running Up That Hill by Kate Bush. 

Yesterday, we said goodbye to Karen Pearson, the Nutcracker, for now.  So, there are 2 new challengers in the studio today. Randomly selected to be in the champion's chair is Dave Smithson, a motorsports fan living in Cheshire but originally from Lancaster.  He has even marshaled motorsports.  Challenging him today is Sarah Sharkey, a software engineer from Dublin.  She has worked with a company since sometime around its birth, and the company now has about30 people.

Dave's first letters selection is PLSMAEOCN

Dave finds SAMPLE, and Sarah finds SOLACE.

DC had NEOPLASM, which is abnormal growth of tissue in the body.

Sarah's first letters selection is GRDEOESAH

Dave comes up with SHADES, which is not in the selection because it needs another S, while Sarah comes up with GREASED.

DC had SOREHEAD, which is a grump.

Dave's first numbers selection is 50, 25, 2, 3, 4 and 4, and the target is 734.

Davee and Sarah are both way far away

The first Teatime Teaser is HODRULES, and the clue is "You can take the blame for the whole joint.  I think I know this one.

The solution is SHOULDER.  I got it!

Sarah's next letters selection is GTWUEOSET

Sarah has OUTSET, while Dave has STEWOUT, which is not in.

DC had GUSTO

Dave's next letters selection is KQTAOISNE

Dave declares Stink, while Sarah declares ATONES

DC came up with INTAKES and OAKIEST

Sarah's next numbers selection is 25, 2, 4, 10, 9 and 4, and the target is 282

Sarah and Dave both declare 282.

Sarah's method is 25 + 4 x 10 - 8

Dave's method is the same

Jon knows that it's a busy season for sports, with the World Cup and Wimbledon happening.  He says that when Andy Murray is not interviewed, he has a dry, mischievous and wry sense of humor.  He says that Andy Murray is monotone.  He remembers Andy's 2013 victory against Djokovic.  He says that Jamie and Judy Murray are good tennis players too.  Jan Raven has also impersonated Judy Murray.

Dave's next letters selection is RMPOIUNHE

Dave declares PHONE, while Sarah declares UNPRIME, which is not in.

DC found MORPHINE

Sarah's next letters selection is PJTDOIEAB

Sarah declared BOATED, while Dave declared JOTTED, which is not in the selection because it needs another T.

DC has OPIATED

Dave's next numbers selection is 75, 50, 25, 6, 8 and 3 and the target is 272

Sarah declares 272

Sarah does 50 x 6 - 25 - 3

The next Teatime Teaser is CHEWSODS, and the clue is "After chewing their sods they return to these

The answer is COWSHEDS

Sarah's next letters selection is VSLIOEDIN

Sarah has DIVINES, while Dave has VIOLINS

DC finds VISIONED

Dave's next letters selection is RCSAIERPR

Dave declares PRAISE, while Sarah declares CARRIES

DC came up with REPAIRS and CARRIERS, which I goy also! Tough break for Sarah

Neil from Oldham wants to know the origin of the word earwig for Origins of Words today, and it comes from an old German word, wickle, which led to the English word wiggle.  Earwigging someone is whispering (secrets, for example,) into one's ear.

Sarah's next letters selection is DMSAIEDAR.

Sarah gets MADDER, while Dave declares DREAMS

DC get SIDEARM and DISARMED

Dave's last letters selection is GFTIIULFO

Sara declares GIFT, while Dave gets FLOUT

DC came up with GUILT.  Nasty letters round!

Sarah's last numbers selection is 25, 50, 100, 75, 3 and 8, and the target is 272.  What are the odds?

Sarah declares 273, while Dave declares 271.

Sarah's method is 100 - 8 x 3 but then realizes she was about to get 271.

Dave's method is 3 x 100 - 25 - 100/50 - 8/2.

The conundrum is PAGSAURAS

Dave buzzes in to say ASPARAGUS, which is the correct answer.

Dave tried to make a comeback in this game, but it wasn't quite enough.  He admits that his nerves did him in at the beginning of the game.  Countdown is challenging.  You win some, you lose some.

We say goodbye to Jon Culshaw today, but if Sarah's challenger on Monday is female, Colin will be the only man in the studio because in Dictionary Corner will be a newbie.  She is none other than the Brookside baby and Hollyoaks adult herself, Alex Fletcher.  We'll see if that is the case on Monday, but until then, it's goodbye from me.

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