Episode 8497

Episode 8497 was broadcast on 17 April 2025, as part of Series 91.

Rhys Jones played Phil Hall, with Rhys Jones winning 102 – 65. The Dictionary Corner guest was Debbie McGee, and the lexicographer was Susie Dent.

NOTE: In Round 12, Dent questioned the validity of AMBITS as it is marked [IN SINGULAR], but all nouns marked with this are allowed in the plural.

Rounds

Rnd	Selection	Rhys Jones	Score	Phil Hall	Others	Max.
1	AUACSLRTK	CASUAL	6 – 6	CASUAL	CLAUSTRA*	8
2	PEBINELTS	BLEEPS	12 – 12	SILENT	STILBENE*	16
3	7 6 2 5 8 10 → 817	816 (10 + 7) × 6 × 8	19 – 12	813	RR: 816/818 Best: 817 = (8 × 6 + 10) × 7 × 2 + 5	26
TTT	TIMESTEP	The chairs at these tables are completely unoccupied.			EMPTIEST
4	MUPOTUVDE	POUTED	25 – 18	POUTED	UPVOTED	33
5	UEONLCDNS	UNCLOSED	33 – 18	CLONES	NUCLEONS*	41
6	25 4 9 2 9 6 → 467	467 (25 × 9 + 4) × 2 + 9	43 – 18	469		51
7	EOARSGFNI	ORGANISE	51 – 18	FEARING	ROGAINES*	59
8	ZECUMATNI	acetum ☓	51 – 23	CUMIN	NEMATIC, TUNICAE*	66
9	7 2 10 10 4 9 → 530	530 (9 × 7 − 10) × 10	61 – 33	530 (2 + 4) × 9 × 10 − 10		76
TTT	HEBLONDE	Impersonate Amanda – you owe her a lot.			BEHOLDEN
10	DOREOPWEI	POWERED	68 – 40	POWERED	DEPOWER, WOODIER	83
11	AEINGPTNA	PANTING	68 – 48	PAGINATE		91
12	TIBUMARSW	ATRIUMS	75 – 48	AMBITS**	MATSURI, WARMIST	98
13	OEOTLSTUA	OUTLAST	82 – 55	OUTLETS	OUTSOLE, SALOTTO, TOOLSET, TOOTLES	105
14	100 2 4 7 9 1 → 538	538 (100 + 9) × (4 + 1) − 7	92 – 65	538 (2 + 4) × 100 − 9 × 7 + 1		115
15	IVIESNEST	SENSITIVE (21.25 seconds)	102 – 65	intensive ☓ (4.75 seconds)		125