Episode 8771

Episode 8771 was broadcast on 20 May 2026, as part of Series 93.

Gordon Innes played Mary Holgate, with Gordon Innes winning 67* – 57 after a tie-break conundrum. The Dictionary Corner guest was Lucy Porter, and the lexicographer was Susie Dent.

Both contestants were returning contestants, with Innes having first appeared in Series 47 and Holgate in Series 50.

Rounds

Rnd	Selection	Gordon Innes	Score	Mary Holgate	Others	Max.
1	NFBUELICE	unfile ☓	0 – 0	felice ☓	FENCIBLE*, UNBELIEF	8
2	GLROAESRP	GROPERS	7 – 7	PAROLES	PERGOLAS	16
3	75 6 4 7 5 5 → 184	184 ☓	7 – 7	184 ☓	RR: 184 = (75 + 5) × (7 − 5) + 6 × 4	26
TTT	LOVECASE	It sounds like a throat sweet, but it's a style of singing.			VOCALESE
4	TCDIUOQNE	CONDUIT	14 – 14	COUNTED	EDUCTION	34
5	ROFASREPO	proofers ☓	14 – 21	ROOFERS	REPROOFS	42
6	50 5 3 1 10 4 → 998	999	14 – 31	998 5 × 4 × 50 − (3 − 1)		52
7	SVETURAKE	STREAK	14 – 38	VESTURE	AUSTERE, EUREKAS, RETAKES	59
8	MTROEASGT	STORAGE	21 – 45	STORAGE	GAROTTES*	67
9	8 7 2 6 7 1 → 451	☓	21 – 45	☓	RR: 451 = (7 × 6 − 1) × (8 ÷ 2 + 7)	77
TTT	HEWISEST	Not quite Saccharin, and almost Scandinavian.			SWEETISH
10	NGPINAUHR	HARPING	28 – 45	PARING	NURAGHI, PRUNING	84
11	TMDEILORI	LIMITED	35 – 45	TOILED	DELIMIT, DIORITE, LIMITER, MOTLIER, TIMIDER*	91
12	WNLAEOTSD	DONATES	42 – 45	WANTED	WETLANDS*	99
13	TWJSAUOIT	JOUST	47 – 50	JOUST	OUTWAITS	107
14	100 50 4 10 5 5 → 997	☓	47 – 57	995 4 × 5 × 50 − 5	RR: 997 = 100 × 10 − 4 + (5 ÷ 5)	117
15	HESTUCKIN	CHUNKIEST (18 seconds)	57 – 57			127
TB	FIZZTIRES	FRIZZIEST (4.75 seconds)	67 – 57			127