Episode 8571

Episode 8571 was broadcast on 30 July 2025, as part of Series 92.

Brett Davids played Paul Hegarty, with Brett Davids winning 119 – 80. The Dictionary Corner guest was Jon Culshaw, and the lexicographer was Susie Dent.

This game had two notable highlights:

Brett's performance was a max game — the fifteenth in the history of Countdown, and only the third in a heat game in the new 15-round format.
This was the fourth time a max has ever been achieved in a preliminary game in the 15-round format; the first being Kirk Bevins' one back on 4 March 2009, the second being Tom Stevenson's on 29 September 2022, and the third being Ronan Higginson's on 23 May 2023.

Rounds

Rnd	Selection	Brett Davids	Score	Paul Hegarty	Others	Max.
1	FRNCEIAOM	ROMANCE	7 – 7	FANCIER	CARMINE, CERIMAN, COMFIER, CONFIRM, CONIFER, ENCOMIA, FERMION, FIREMAN, FOAMIER, FORAMEN, FOREMAN, INCOMER, MOANIER, MORAINE, ROMAINE	7
2	TJSEIAPTM	PASTIME	14 – 14	PATTIES	MATIEST	14
3	75 25 100 50 5 4 → 932	931 ((((75 × 25) − 5) × 50) ÷ 100) − 4	21 – 14	925	RR: 931/933	21
TTT	SOURDOWN	When it comes to music, this describes Stevie to a T.			WONDROUS
4	GVLOUINSP	SOLVING	28 – 21	SOLVING	GULPINS, LOUPING, LOUSING, PULSING, SLOPING, SOUPING*, UPSILON	28
5	RTKLAEASE	STALKER	35 – 21	STREAK	AERATES, KARELAS, KESTREL, LEAKERS, REALEST, RELATES, RETAKES, SEAKALE, STEALER*, TALKERS	35
6	3 3 10 2 8 9 → 723	723 (9 × 8 × 10) + 3	45 – 31	723 (9 × 8 × 10) + 3		45
7	NWGTOIANR	IGNORANT	53 – 31	RANTING		53
8	HNSUEAQDM	QUASHED	60 – 31	MASHED	NUMDAHS*	60
9	50 5 7 1 2 5 → 689	689 (7 × 2 × 50) − 5 − 5 − 1	70 – 41	689 (7 × 2 × 50) − 5 − 5 − 1		70
TTT	TEMPURAS	To get this, you have to go against the flow.			UPSTREAM
10	RPTOIENBS	POINTERS	78 – 49	PROTEINS	PORNIEST*, REPOINTS	78
11	LRWROUADE	ROULADE	85 – 56	ROULADE	ARROWED, DRAWLER, RUDERAL, WARLORD*	85
12	LPHUEINGB	HELPING	92 – 63	HELPING	BLUEING	92
13	SFTDOAEIE	STIFADO	99 – 70	DEFEATS	DEAFEST, FEASTED, FOISTED, IDEATES, IODATES, TOADIES*	99
14	25 5 3 8 4 1 → 147	147 ((5 + 1) × 6) − 3	109 – 80	147 ((5 + 1) × 6) − 3		109
15	TUPELOKFC	POCKETFUL (7.75 seconds)	119 – 80			119