Susie Dent

Susan Dent is an English lexicographer, etymologist, and media personality. She has appeared in “Dictionary Corner” on the Channel 4 game show Countdown
since 1992. She also appears on 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown, a post-watershed comedy version of the show.

Susan Dentis well known as the resident lexicographer and adjudicator for the letters rounds on Channel 4’s longest-running game show Countdown. She began working on Countdown
in 1992 at the insistence of her boss at Oxford University Press (OUP). She had recently switched roles to work on compiling English dictionaries, having previously worked
on bilingual dictionaries. At first she declined the Countdown offer, but her boss explained that her appearance on the show formed part of her OUP employment contract
and she agreed to take the role. On each episode, she provides a brief commentary on the origin of a particular word or phrase. Dent is the longest-serving member of the
show’s current on-screen team, first appearing in 1992; she has since made more than 5,000 appearances. Dent also works on the spin-off show 8 Out of 10 Cats Does
Countdown.

Susan Dentappeared as herself in an episode of the BBC sitcom Not Going Out.

She presented Channel 4 web series Susie Dent’s Guide to Swearing, which explored the etymology and history of select English swear words. She has also made an
appearance on BBC entertainment show Would I Lie to You?. In 2018, she also appeared on five episodes of the panel show Richard Osman’s House of Games.

In 2019, Susan Dentlaunched the podcast Something Rhymes With Purple, co-hosted with her friend Gyles Brandreth; they followed this up with live theatre stage residencies
using the same formula as their podcast.

In 2023, Susan Dentembarked on a solo tour, The Secret Lives of Words.

She co-wrote a romantic radio drama with Peter Souter, Only One Word for Love, that was broadcast on BBC Radio 4 ahead of Valentine’s Day in 2025.

Susan Dentwas a contestant on Taskmaster’s New Year Treat in January 2026.