Episode 8131

Episode 8131 was broadcast on 20 October 2023, as part of Series 88.

Barry Wood played Richard Hillier, with Barry Wood winning 92 – 82 after a tiebreak conundrum. The Dictionary Corner guest was John Virgo, and the lexicographer was Susie Dent.

Notably and after 21 November 2001, this was only the second known occurrence of COUNTDOWN being a conundrum.

Rounds

Rnd	Selection	Barry Wood	Score	Richard Hillier	Others	Max.
1	LSCEAOYTA	LOCATES	7 – 7	COASTAL	ACOLYTES, ACYLATES, CATALYSE*, SEALCOAT	8
2	GSOLTRIEM	GLORIES	14 – 14	LOITERS	ERGOTISM, RIGOLETS, TOMGIRLS	16
3	75 7 2 7 1 5 → 848	839	14 – 19	841 (75 − (7 − 2)) × (7 + 5) + 1	RR: 848 = (75 × 5 + 7 × 7) × 2	26
TTT	SAFETINT	Weak and dizzy, but hasn't an idea why.			FAINTEST
4	PTURJDOAU	ADOPT	19 – 24	PROUD	ADJUTOR	33
5	RGOTEISLA	GLOATERS	27 – 32	REGALIST	ALGORIST, ALIGOTES, GASOLIER, GIRASOLE, LEGATORS, RIGOLETS, SERAGLIO*	41
6	100 3 5 2 5 6 → 712	712 (5 + 2) × 100 + (5 − 3) × 6	37 – 32	712 ☓		51
7	RBSEOEWCR	BROWSER	44 – 32	cowerers ☓	BREWERS, REBORES, REBREWS, RECREWS, RESCORE, RESWORE, SCREWER, SOBERER	58
8	HOTDNMAIU	MONTH	44 – 39	HANDOUT	ANTHODIUM*	76
9	75 3 7 5 2 10 → 433	433 3 × 2 × 75 − (10 + 7)	54 – 49	433 3 × 2 × 75 − (10 + 7)		86
TTT	FROMENID	She gets all her gossip from Enid, I'm reliably told.			INFORMED
10	CIFLPEIDG	PILED	59 – 49	PILE	DEIFIC, GILPIE*	92
11	THDAIOZST	STAID	64 – 54	HOIST	TOADISH	99
12	VEFSNAOPL	PANELS	70 – 60	PLANES	FLAVONES*	107
13	MREBRAEND	REBRAND	77 – 67	MEANDER	AMBERED, AMENDER, BEARDER, BRANDER, BREAMED, BREDREN, DREAMER, MERENDA, REARMED, REEDMAN, RENAMED	114
14	3 10 5 4 6 8 → 970	964 6 × 8 × (5 − 3) × 10 + 4	82 – 72	976 (5 × 6 × 3 + 8) × 10 − 4	RR: 970 = (3 × 4 × 8 + 6 − 5) × 10	124
15	WONTONDUC		82 – 82	COUNTDOWN (1.5 seconds)		134
TB	WOLFLINGO	FOLLOWING (1.5 seconds)	92 – 82			134