Thrilling climax to Countdown

Letters chosen during one round of the long-running show were capable of spelling the word “orgasmed”, with the eight-letter contribution then displayed by the programme’s Rachel Riley who posed next to it.

Contestants had to find the longest word possible from the selection of nine letters which had been chosen – E, A, S, R, P, G, O, M and D.

The best efforts by the players were the six-letter “grapes” and seven-letter “grasped” in the edition of the afternoon show screened yesterday.

But the team in dictionary corner – lexicographer Susie Dent and impressionist Alistair McGowan – were able to come up with something better.

McGowan suggested: “There’s a seven [letter word] in ‘dampers’, another one, and Susie ‘orgasmed’.”

Host Nick Hewer responded: “Oh, well done. Very good.”