Episode 8700

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Episode 8700 was broadcast on 10 February 2026, as part of Series 93.

Henry Craven played Ruairi Hickson, with Henry Craven winning 93 – 50. The Dictionary Corner guest was Mel Schilling, and the lexicographer was Susie Dent.

NOTE 1: In Round 12, PILOTAGES was ruled invalid as it was not inside the list of allowed words within the ODP at the time of recording. However, it has since been readded as of the time of airing and for the purposes of this recap, this word will not be treated as the maximum.

NOTE 2: In Round 13, WOMBLED as an offering was disallowed, but the lower-case version of the word as a verb is in fact, specified in the ODP.

Rounds

Rnd	Selection	Henry Craven	Score	Ruairi Hickson	Others	Max.
1	NEMOSITUA	MOANIEST	8 – 0	AUTISM	AMNIOTES*, AUTOMISE*, MANITOUS*, SEAMOUNT, TINAMOUS	8
2	KEIARDEPY	rained ☓	8 – 6	PAIRED	PEAKIER*	15
3	100 1 3 10 3 2 → 473	473 (2 + 3) x 100 − (10 − 1) x 3	18 – 6	471		25
TTT	SOLIDTAG	A shaggy kind of story about grass.			DOGSTAIL
4	RSUACONHI	ACORNS	24 – 12	CHAIRS	ANCHORS*, ARCHONS*, AUROCHS*, CARIOUS*, CHINARS*, CURIOSA*, CUSHION*, NOURISH*, RACINOS*, URCHINS*	32
5	TEPTOJIDM	TIPTOED	31 – 12	PITTED	OMITTED*	39
6	75 100 25 3 6 1 → 505	505 (6 − (75 ÷ 25) ÷ 3) x (100 + 1)	41 – 12	504		49
7	LARNOWURI	URINAL	47 – 18	URINAL	NARROW	55
8	EAGNTMPOQ	MONTAGE	54 – 18	MAGNET	MAGNETO, MEGATON	62
9	25 10 1 4 5 9 → 255	255 25 x 10 + 5	64 – 28	255 25 x 10 + 5		72
TTT	LEAPTONE	50 bucks? "Deer roe deer".			ANTELOPE
10	AELISCFOE	COILS	64 – 34	FISCAL	FOCALISE	80
11	NILANSUZD	INLAND	70 – 34	unslain ☓	DISANNUL*	88
12	IOLGAPSTE	GOALIES	77 – 34	STAPLE	PILOTAGE**, SPOILAGE*, SPOLIATE*	96
13	WULEDBONM	BUNDLE	83 – 40	BOWLED	NELUMBO*, UNBOWED*, WOMBLED**	103
14	25 100 9 7 4 3 → 926	926 9 x 100 + 25 + 4 − 3	93 – 50	926 9 x 100 + 25 + 4 − 3		113
15	HITBASSLE	balshiest ☓ (4.75 seconds)	93 – 50		ESTABLISH	123