Episode 7882
Episode 7882 was broadcast on 31 October 2022, as part of Series 86.
Lewis Castling-Morey played Richard Tull, with Lewis Castling-Morey winning 94 – 33. The Dictionary Corner guest was Robert Rinder, and the lexicographer was Susie Dent.
This was the first of five episodes presented by guest presenter, Floella Benjamin. It also marked the start of the show's 40th anniversary celebrations with a large 40 being placed on the Countdown clock and the number being featured in various other parts of the studio's décor, beginning with this episode.
There were no Teatime Teasers in this episode; clips of Richard Whiteley's introduction to Countdown and Channel 4 on 2 November 1982, and of Jon Culshaw's rap set to the clock music on 1 July 2016 were played before the breaks instead.
Rounds
| Rnd | Selection | Lewis Castling-Morey | Score | Richard Tull | Others | Max. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | TSCNSEUIR | INSECTS | 7 – 0 | INSURE | CISTERNS*, CITRUSES*, CRUSTIES, CURTNESS*, CURTSIES, CUSTRINS*, ENCRUSTS*, INCRUSTS*, NUTRICES*, RICTUSES* | 8 |
| 2 | NXNEIMEUI | NINE | 11 – 4 | MINE | MEINIE*, MENINX*, MINNIE, NEINEI*, NEXINE* | 14 |
| 3 | 100 75 25 3 8 2 → 776 | 776
8 × 100 − 25 + 3 − 2 |
21 – 4 | 775 |
|
24 |
| 4 | HSKRUISMA | SMIRKS | 27 – 4 | SMASH | HASSIUM*, KHIMARS*, MUKHIAS*, RAKISMS*, RAKSHIS*, RHUSMAS*, RUMAKIS*, SHAURIS*, SHIKARS*, SHIKRAS*, SURAHIS* | 31 |
| 5 | SWSLBIAOA | BLOWS | 32 – 9 | SWABS | WASSAIL | 38 |
| 6 | 25 75 100 2 2 4 → 730 | 729 ☓ | 32 – 9 | 730 ☓ |
RR: 730 = (75 − 2) × (100 ÷ 25 + 4 + 2) |
48 |
| 7 | RGDTVOEUE | DEVOUT | 38 – 15 | DEVOTE | GROUTED*, OUVERTE*, OVERDUE*, OVERGET | 55 |
| 8 | BGZSHOENA | SHONE | 43 – 20 | ZONES | GAZEBOS, HOSEBAG, NOSEBAG, SHEBANG* | 62 |
| 9 | 100 75 25 1 10 6 → 922 | 925
(10 − 1) × 100 + 25 |
50 – 20 | 940 |
RR: 921 Best: 921 = (100 + 75 ÷ 25) × (10 − 1) − 6 |
69 |
| 10 | GTLTEONTA | TALENT | 56 – 26 | TALENT | ANGELOT*, TANGELO | 76 |
| 11 | CRNRSOAED | SCARRED | 63 – 33 | CORNERS | ADORNERS, DRACONES*, READORNS* | 84 |
| 12 | GFTLEOPMA | GELATO | 69 – 33 | LAMP | MEGAFLOP* | 92 |
| 13 | RTNQPEOEJ | PRONE | 74 – 33 | enpose ☓ | PRETONE* | 99 |
| 14 | 25 100 8 2 8 3 → 252 | 252
(100 + 25 + 8 ÷ 8) × 2 |
84 – 33 | 253 |
|
109 |
| 15 | BIGTEDGUN | BUDGETING
(24.25 seconds) |
94 – 33 | 119 |
