Episode 8709

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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 being valid by Dent, despite being listed as a mass noun in the OED. Dent applied the 'restaurant rule' in this instance, but it should further be noted that there are no plural examples of it in the OED, and Lexplorer lists a plural version as invalid.

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	SOARING	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