Episode 8023

Episode 8023 was broadcast on 23 May 2023, as part of Series 87.

Ronan Higginson played Martin Peirce, with Ronan Higginson winning 135 – 27. The Dictionary Corner guest was Vick Hope, and the lexicographer was Susie Dent.

This game had a few notable highlights:

Higginson's performance was a max game — the thirteenth in the history of Countdown, the second in a heat game in the new 15-round format, and the second time a max game had occurred within a year.
This was the third 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, and the second being Tom Stevenson's on 29 September 2022.

NOTE: Peirce was not asked to spell his word in Round 2; therefore, he may have intended MOTES rather than MOATS.

Rounds

Rnd	Selection	Ronan Higginson	Score	Martin Peirce	Others	Max.
1	GNRAOEATI	ARAGONITE	18 – 0	TEARING		18
2	MOASJEWTI	ATOMISE	25 – 0	MOATS	AMOSITE, ATOMIES, OSMIATE*	25
3	75 2 4 8 1 10 → 292	292 75 × 4 − 8	35 – 10	292 75 × 4 − 8		35
TTT	CATINMICE	Tom and Jerry both had a long career in this industry.			CINEMATIC
4	CUARSITOE	OUTRAISE	43 – 10	RACIEST	ACOURIES, CITREOUS, OUTCRIES, OUTRACES, SURICATE	43
5	LTXUIEIRN	INUTILE	50 – 10	UNTIL	NITRILE	50
6	100 25 75 50 7 5 → 385	385 (50 + 5) × 7	60 – 10	385 ☓		60
7	STMEAIESH	STEAMIES	68 – 10	mashiest ☓	ESTHESIA, MAESHIES, MATHESES, MATHESIS, SEAMIEST*	68
8	POANLEHOG	HALOGEN	75 – 10	ANGLE	POLONGA*	75
9	75 5 10 4 8 10 → 855	855 (75 + 10) × 10 + 5	85 – 10	—		85
TTT	GREETSHIS	He greets his tour guide and gets ready for a day out.			SIGHTSEER
10	RIEPYSATG	GRAPIEST	93 – 10	PASTIER	ASPERITY*	93
11	STVEAUADE	SAUTEED	100 – 10	DUVETS		100
12	NIOGNREMF	FORMING	107 – 17	FORMING	FERMION, FOREIGN, FROGMEN, INFERNO, MORNING, NEGRONI, NERFING, NORMING	107
13	RSNIEUERB	REINSURE	115 – 17	BURNERS	BRUERIES, REBURIES, RUBRENES*	115
14	50 100 75 25 9 6 → 450	450 50 × 9	125 – 27	450 6 × 100 − 75 − 25 − 50		125
15	OILISCAMS	SOCIALISM (1.5 seconds)	135 – 27			135