Episode 8866

Episode 8866 was broadcast on 30 September 2026, as part of Series 94.

Theo played Mark, with Mark winning 73 – 60. The Dictionary Corner guest was Lee McKenzie, and the lexicographer was Susie Dent.

Rounds

Rnd	Selection	Theo	Score	Mark	Others	Max.
1	PMLOEFDUR	FLOURED	7 – 7	REMOULD	FLUMPED, MOULDER, PURFLED, RUMPLED*	7
2	SPREITWOS	POWERS	7 – 14	SPRITES	PROSIEST, RIPOSTES, TRIPOSES	15
3	8 3 7 4 6 1 → 181	181 (8 × 7 + 1) × 3 + 6 + 4	17 – 14	—		25
TTT	TROTRACE	It's not a comedy duo from the 1980s, but it does involve going back in time.			RETROACT
4	KCTEUONTA	outtake ☓	17 – 19	TOKEN	TOUCANET	33
5	QRSEEPSAR	PRESSER	24 – 26	PARSERS	ASPERSER	41
6	75 1 2 9 5 5 → 818	818 (5 + 5 + 1) × 75 − 9 + 2	34 – 26	819		51
7	LFNIEOLRT	FILTER	40 – 26	flinter ☓	LOFTIER, LORILET, RETINOL, TREFOIL	58
8	XNRIAITCO	ACTION	46 – 32	RATION	CORTINA, OCTRAIN*	65
9	50 75 25 100 5 2 → 688	695	46 – 39	686 (100 − 50 ÷ 25) × (5 + 2)	Best: 688 = (75 ÷ 5) × (50 − 100 ÷ 25) − 2	75
TTT	SPARETAP	Like a schoolteacher, they're scared to have a head above them.			PARAPETS
10	BNMAUIRET	MINARET	53 – 46	MINARET	RUMINATE, URBANITE*	83
11	GSRUOAEYN	youngers ☓	53 – 52	GROUSE	ERYNGOS, GROYNES, GURNEYS, NOSEGAY, ONAGERS, ORANGES, ORANGEY, SURGEON, YOUNGER	90
12	LHNIOEHNE	helion ☓	53 – 57	LINEN	LEONINE	97
13	DGVUAEMSE	GAMES	53 – 63	SMUDGE	MEDUSAE	104
14	25 50 9 1 2 5 → 781	780 (50 + 25 + 5 − 2) × 10	60 – 63	782 ☓	RR: 781 = (9 + 2) × (25 + 50 − 5 + 1)	114
15	GYMPILEON		60 – 73	EMPLOYING (2 seconds)		124