Episode 8605

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Episode 8605 was broadcast on 16 September 2025, as part of Series 92.

Ciaran McCarthy played Kay Shrubb, with Ciaran McCarthy winning 112 – 63. The Dictionary Corner guest was Shirley Ballas, and the lexicographer was Susie Dent.

Notably, at the end of the episode, Colin Murray walked off set with the Countdown teapot (owing to Shrubb's interest in collecting teapots and had concerns she would "steal" it after losing the match) and was not seen in his chair during the credits.

Rounds

Rnd	Selection	Ciaran McCarthy	Score	Kay Shrubb	Others	Max.
1	SGUAWTOHA	SOUGHT	0 – 7	WASHOUT	AUTOGAS*, OUTWASH	7
2	PRMIOTDUI	TRIPOD	6 – 7	outdrip ☓	PROTIUM	14
3	75 100 25 2 5 8 → 535	535 5 × 100 + 25 + 8 + 2	16 – 17	535 5 × 100 + 25 + 8 + 2		24
TTT	SADHEELS	Nobody was running the school, never mind the chicken.			HEADLESS
4	NTFEONBEI	BENEFIT	23 – 17	INTO	EBONITE	31
5	LKAEBJAGP	BLEAK	28 – 22	BLEAK	AGAPE*, ALGAE*, BAGEL, GABLE*, GALEA*, JALAP*, KAJAL*, KALPA*, LEPAK*, PALAK*, PALEA*, PLAGE	36
6	50 3 7 10 2 5 → 792	793	28 – 32	792 (10 + 5) × 50 + 2 × 3 × 7		46
7	MSIARTUNE	ANTISERUM	46 – 32	STAINER	RUMINATES	64
8	LTAOCRNEO	CENTRAL	53 – 39	CORONET	ECOTONAL	72
9	100 25 50 2 9 1 → 746	748 (50 + 25) × (9 + 1) − 2	60 – 46	748 (50 + 25) × (9 + 1) − 2		79
TTT	EYEWALLS	It almost sounds effortless, but it's particularly cunning.			WEASELLY
10	ZRAOANSTI	RATIONS	67 – 53	RATIONS	TZARINAS	87
11	RTEOGSEAD	DEROGATES	85 – 53	DEAREST		105
12	LSLEUTSER	tussler ☓	85 – 53	stellers ☓	RULELESS, STREUSEL	113
13	PTOEWGARI	POTAGER	92 – 53	WIPER	GOATIER, PORTAGE*, WIRETAP	120
14	100 3 10 9 5 4 → 426	426 100 × 4 + 3 × 10 − (9 − 5)	102 – 63	426 (100 + 5) × 4 + 9 − 3		130
15	NOWHESOUT	TOWNHOUSE (2.5 seconds)	112 – 63			140