Episode 8709

Episode 8709 was broadcast on 23 February 2026, as part of Series 93.

Luke Selway played Mark Harper, with Luke Selway winning 108 – 42. The Dictionary Corner guest was Kelvin Fletcher, and the lexicographer was Susie Dent.

NOTE 1: quinoas was noted as valid despite being listed as mass-noun in the OED.

Rounds

Rnd	Selection	Luke Selway	Score	Mark Harper	Others	Max.
1	TELWPIUSE	EPISTLE	7 – 0	uplites ☓	SWEETLIP*	8
2	NOEADRJIT	RATIONED	15 – 0	ADJOIN	DERATION*, ORDINATE	16
3	75 7 2 1 10 8 → 116	116 (8 − 2) x 7 + 75 − 1	25 – 0	☓		26
TTT	IPRIMEOX	I cook a prime disk of oxtail, flavoured with these chopped vegetables.			MIREPOIX
4	EACGTEIPT	PATTIE	31 – 6	PATTIE	APIECE, PATTEE, PETITE, TIPCAT*	32
5	SORNAGIOD	DRAGOONS	39 – 6		ORGANOIDS, RIGADOONS	50
6	75 2 3 9 4 6 → 173	173 (75 + 6 + 4) x 2 + 3	49 – 6	174		60
7	FSREITVEU	FESTIVE	56 – 13	FESTIVE	FURTIVE, FUSTIER, REFUTES, RESTIVE, SIEVERT, SURFEIT, VERIEST, VESTURE, VIRTUES*	67
8	OESKTAOCP	POCKETS	63 – 20	POCKETS	CAPOTES, PACKETS, TOECAPS*	74
9	25 1 8 3 8 2 → 152	152 (8 − 3 + 1) x 25 + 2	73 – 30	152 (8 − 3 + 1) x 25 + 2		84
TTT	ISTOTEST	This teaser is to test you about bread from the North-East of England.			STOTTIES
10	AODLNHEOY	HANDLE	79 – 36	NOODLE	ANYHOO, HALOED, HOOLEY, HOONED, HOYDEN, LOANED, LOONED, NOYADE, ONLOAD*	90
11	RALMENODM	ALMONER	86 – 36	MODERN	EARLDOM, LADRONE, MADRONE, MAMELON, MANDREL, ROADMEN	97
12	IAILNWLUE	UNWELL	92 – 36	WAIL	INWALE, LINEAL, WILLIE	103
13	SMINUQOAR	MOURNS	98 – 42	QUINOA	MANOIRS, MARQUIS, QUINOAS*, SURAMIN	110
14	75 25 100 6 1 8 → 669	669 (8 + 1) x 75 − 6	108 – 42	639		120
15	HESTEXTIN	☓ exhenist (28.5 seconds)	108 – 42		SIXTEENTH	130