Episode 8853

Episode 8853 was broadcast on 11 September 2026, as part of Series 94.

Austen played Neil, with Austen winning 101 – 33. The Dictionary Corner guest was Katharine Merry, and the lexicographer was Susie Dent.

Rounds

Rnd	Selection	Austen	Score	Neil	Others	Max.
1	TGNCUAEHO	hangout ☓	0 – 7	TOUGHEN	CHANGEOUT	18
2	PRDSAIKOM	RADIOS	6 – 7	skrimp ☓	IMPARKS, MIKADOS*	25
3	100 25 50 75 10 5 → 218	220 (100 + 10) × (50 ÷ 25)	13 – 7	225	RR: 218 = (100 × 50 + 75) ÷ 25 + 10 + 5	35
TTT	MOONFULS	I think somebody's trying to pull the wool over our eyes here.			MOUFLONS
4	TRPTUOEDS	SPROUTED	21 – 7	PUTTERS	POSTURED, PROUDEST*	43
5	WCGIAERBX	WAXIER	27 – 13	WAXIER	RIBCAGE	50
6	25 50 6 3 10 8 → 947	947 (25 − 6) × 50 − 3	37 – 13	—		60
7	NSRNIUETA	URINATES	45 – 21	RUNNIEST	SATURNINE	78
8	LSMPEATOY	EMPLOYS	52 – 21	SAMPLE	MAYPOLES	86
9	25 75 100 50 4 3 → 429	429 (100 + 50) × 3 − 25 + 4	62 – 21	428		96
TTT	EMUSNEAR	Gone but not forgotten? It's the other way around; it's forgotten but not gone.			USERNAME
10	CLGDAOTIG	dogtail ☓	62 – 26	GLOAT	AGOGIC, COITAL, DACOIT, GALIOT, LOGGIA	102
11	NLTSEAOEN	NEONATES	70 – 26	STOLEN		110
12	RHNVAOINA	NIRVANA	77 – 33	NIRVANA	NAVARIN*, OVARIAN	117
13	FLNLEAEMI	INFLAME	84 – 33	finale ☓⁷	FILENAME*	125
14	25 2 3 9 2 8 → 720	721 (25 × (8 ÷ 4) + 3) × (9 − 2)	91 – 33	—	RR: 720 = (2 + 3) × 2 × 9 × 8	135
15	RIOCROONS	CORROSION (16.5 seconds)	101 – 33			145