July 6, 2026

 Hello and welcome to another edition of my blog.

Colin starts off the show by talking about media franchises.  He mentions that Pokemon Go was launched 10 years ago today.  New to Dictionary Corner this week is Alex Gletcher, from Brookside and Hollyoaks.  She says that her youngest son likes Pokemon and has Pokemon cards.

Sarah Sharkey is back today after securing her first win in the bag.  Her new challenger today is a man.  Andrew Hicks, living in Swansea but originally from Ponty Poole, says that House of Games is his favorite show (uh-oh,) and his favorite actor is Michael Sheen.  Colin mentions that Michael Sheen's House of Games records next door to the studio.  He jokingly says goodbye to Andrew.

Sarah's first letters selection is DWCOIAUSE

Andrew has IDEAS, while Sarah has CAUSED.

DC has EDACIOUS, which means relating to eating.

Andrew's first letters selection is NGOERSUAT

Andrew misdeclares STRONG as a 5, while Sarah has TONGUES

DC has OUTRANGES

Sarah's first numbers selection is 75, 50, 2, 9, 6 and 7, and the target is 907.  I think I can come up with a solution to this one.

Sarah has 907, but Andrew is nowhere near,

Sarah's method is 75 x 2 x 6 + 7, the same as mine.

The first Teatime Teaser is TONELAND, and the clue is, "It sounds like you helped someone slow down the music."

The solution is LENTANDO, which means a gradual decrease in speed.

Andrew's next letters selection is GCTEIOFDE

Sarah declares DEFECT, while Andrew declares FIDGET.  Andrew is finally on the board!

DC had GEODETIC, which means relating to the shape and area of the earth.

Sarah's next letters selection is TRLOEIUNE

Sarah comes up with TONER, and Andrew comes up with OUTLINE

DC had OUTLINER.  Tough break for Andrew!

Andrew's first numbers selection is 25, 4, 2, 9, 8 and 9 and the target is 858.  I think I can get close, but not quite there.

Andrew has 859, while Sarah has 858.

Sarah's method is 4 x 9 - 2 x 25 + 8

Alex reminds us that she starred in Brookside for 14 years, while she starred in Hollyoaks for 16 years, which she admits have flown by.  She says that her characters on these shows are not her, but she has grown up with the crew since they were on both shows.  She talks about a storyline that involves ovarian cancer.  She says that the charity involved in the storyline was amazing, but her character was killed off, and that was the end of her time on Hollyoaks.  Colin says that they spend a lot of time with the charities that are involved in these storylines, and they work on getting them right so as not to offend anyone.  Alex mentions that she is from Liverpool, which is the same city that Brookside and Hollyoaks are taped.  She said that she liked not having to travel to tape these shows, and then Colin says that going to the Countdown studio is like traveling abroad for her.  She used to watch Countdown with her grandma, and she loved the conundrums.  She then says that it's great being in the Countdown studio, and thanks Colin for having her.

Sarah's next letters selection is MPBAOESIT

Sarah declares BOATIES, while Andrew declares MOPIEST.

DC had PASTIME and IMPASTO, which refers to an artist laying pavement thickly on a canvas.

Andrew's next letters selection is HLAENQOES

Andrew declares HEALS, while Sarah declares HEALEN, which was in the dictionary before, but not now.

DC had LOANEES, which I had also

Sarah's next numbers selection is 100, 25, 10, 6, 5 and 8.  This one may be easier than it looks, but we'll see.

Sarah's method is 100 x 8 = 10 - 6 - 5.  It sure was! Andrew's method is the same.

The next Teatime Teaser is ROSEWASH, and the clue is "Observe the animal using the woodwork gadget."

The answer is SAWHORSE, which is the rack that supports the wood while you are sawing it

Andrew's next letters selection is LCRAIATIN

Andrew has TRAIN, while Sarah has TIRANICAL, which is spelled incorrectly because the first I is a Y.

DC had CRANIAL

Sarah's next letters selection is GVRAUAIDL

Sarah has RADIAL, while Andrew has GRADUAL

DC had VULGAR, which Countdown is not, and GRAVID, which is the medical term for pregnant

For Origins of Words today, Susan Coot from France, wants to know the origin of the phrase, "Pull the other one, it's got bells on."  Susie says it's an expression of extravagant disbelief, as though raising an eyebrow.  It is similar to the expression, "pulling one's leg," as for criminal slang meaning to trip up another person and steal their money.  The logic is that if you can pull one leg, you can pull the other leg as well.  The earliest record is in a novel by Dick Francis in 1966, called "Flying Finish" It suggests the phrase has been around for a while, as there is no explanation given.  The bells probably refer to court jesters who muck about wearing caps with bells on them, which jingle as they move.  The phrase is hyperbole for pulling someone's leg.

Andrew's next letters selection is GRAEKSONT

Andrew had STAKER, which is a person who gambles money on the outcome of a race, while Sarah has STORAGE

DC had RAGSTONE, which is a large, coarse roofing slate.

Sarah's last letters selection is WPMEAEOTS

Andrew came up with POETS, while Sarah came up with AWESOME

Andrew's last numbers selection is 25, 9, 5, 8, 3 and 4, and the target is 911

Andrew's method is 4 x 9 x 25 + 8 + 3.  Sarah's method is the same.

The conundrum is ICYJETFOB.  Sarah buzzes in to say OBJECTIFY, which is correct.

If Andrew did not have the start he had in this game, perhaps he would have had a better score.  But he still got over a half century.  Sarah did it again.  She was a bit less nervous today.  Her score was 90.  She'll be back tomorrow to face another challenger.  Colin ends the show by saying he wouldn't trade Rachel for anything.  Ain't that the truth! Will Sarah be less nervous tomorrow? We'll find out then.  But for now, take care and ta-ta.