Episode 8670

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Episode 8670 was broadcast on 16 December 2025, as the fourth quarter-final of Series 92.

Ciaran McCarthy played John Payne, with John Payne winning 82 – 79. The Dictionary Corner guest was Christopher Biggins, and the lexicographer was Susie Dent.

Both contestants were returning contestants, with McCarthy having first appeared in Series 70 and Payne in Series 71.

Rounds

Rnd	Selection	Ciaran McCarthy	Score	John Payne	Others	Max.
1	LTEASWIBO	BLOWIEST	8 – 8	BLOWIEST	BESTOWAL*	8
2	NRSIEOYGS	GORINESS	16 – 8	seignors ☓	SYRINGES	16
3	25 50 100 3 7 10 → 609	610	16 – 18	609 (100 − 10 − 3) × 7		26
TTT	ELVESOPEN	With all the letters to Santa, the elves open millions of these.			ENVELOPES
4	RNDEAEVAT	TAVERNA	23 – 25	TAVERNA	AERATED*, AVERTED*, RAVENED*, VERANDA, VERDANT*, VETERAN*	33
5	LHCUIOJPA	POUCH	28 – 30	POACH	CALIPH*, COPULA, COUPLA*, CUPOLA*, LOCHIA*	39
6	75 100 50 25 1 3 → 291	291 (100 − 3) × 75 ÷ 25	38 – 40	291 (100 − 3) × 75 ÷ 25		49
7	DTOURTAEM	TAUTOMER	46 – 40	MUTATED		57
8	NTZIEONRS	INTONES	53 – 47	TENSION	INTONERS, NOINTERS*	65
9	100 4 10 4 3 9 → 198	197	53 – 57	198 10 × 9 + 4 + 4 + 100		75
TTT	TINSELGAD	Forget the tinsel — the long string makes my baubles this.			DANGLIEST
10	PLDIAEGCD	PLACED	53 – 64	PLAIDED	ADELGID*, GLADDIE, PELAGIC*	82
11	SGOUMBEER	MORGUES	53 – 72	GRUESOME	SUBMERGE	90
12	FHNOIATPM	FATHOM	59 – 72	MONTH	MAINTOP*, PHANTOM, TAMPION*	97
13	CLEONTUES	toluenes ☓	59 – 72	elocutes ☓	CONSULTEE	115
14	25 50 75 100 4 6 → 608	608 6 × 100 + 50 ÷ 25 × 4	69 – 82	608 6 × 100 + 50 ÷ 25 × 4		125
15	LOWLYFINE	YELLOWFIN (14 seconds)	79 – 82			135