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 discounted despite it being specified as a noun in the OED. But for this recap being no official usage in the plural, it is not treated as a valid maximum.

NOTE 2: In Round 13, Susie Dent disallowed ☓ wombled but the lower-case version as a verb is specified in the OED - so it is counted as valid for the purposes of this recap.

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