Wirral Welcomes Dictionary Corner’s Queen

Susie Dent, the beloved wordsmith and co-presenter of Countdown, is embarking on a tour that will bring her to Wirral. Known to many as the ‘Queen of Dictionary Corner’ for over three decades, Dent possesses a remarkable talent for encapsulating moments and moods with the perfect word.

Her new show, “Word Perfect,” is scheduled to grace the Floral Pavilion in New Brighton. It promises to be an engaging exploration of the English language, delving into the stories behind specific words and celebrating the eccentricities that make our native tongue both unpredictable and enchanting.

“The English language will never cease to amaze and delight me,” Dent explains. “It’s both wayward and majestic, and the dictionary is a treasure trove of magic, drama, and adventure. I’m eager to explore its hidden corners with the audience and answer their questions about our fascinating language. We’re going to have a lot of fun.”

During the show, Dent plans to reveal the surprising secret lives of many common words and phrases, examining the imperfections of language and how they are perceived. She will also introduce forgotten linguistic gems from the past and tackle some of the more perplexing questions surrounding language. For instance, which came first, the fruit or the colour orange? How should the word “scone” actually be pronounced? And do our names truly influence our career paths?

Dent is passionate about reviving lost words, and she looks forward to sharing some of her personal favourites. She cites the Victorian era, when sausages were humorously referred to as “bags of mystery” due to their questionable contents, eggs were known as “cacklefarts,” and umbrellas were called “bumbershoots.” She also intends to delve into the world of collective nouns, exploring the origins of terms like “a murder of crows” and “a parliament of owls.”

Despite her profound knowledge of the English language, Dent admits that she has occasionally been stumped on Countdown. She recalls an embarrassing moment involving Richard Whiteley, the show’s former host. “A contestant offered a five-letter word, but I didn’t quite catch it. They spelled it out: D. O. I. N. G. In my head, I pronounced it ‘doi-ng’ to rhyme with ‘boing,’ and I proceeded to look it up. Thankfully, Richard intervened and corrected me.”

Dent initially declined the opportunity to join the rotating team of Oxford University Press lexicographers on Countdown, but her persistent boss convinced her to audition. “Being on TV wasn’t on my bucket list; I prefer to stay out of the spotlight,” she says. “But I’m now incredibly grateful that my audition was successful. I said as little as possible during my first appearance! There’s a clip online of that show, where I’m sitting next to Rula Lenska, looking utterly frozen. I’m amazed and grateful that they kept me on.” After about ten years, she became a permanent member of the team.

Dent also expresses her fondness for 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown, the comedy version of the show. “It has reminded many people of the joy of the game and has brought in the laughs to go with it,” she says. “The beauty of Countdown lies in its simple format. Anyone can understand the rules within minutes and join in, regardless of age or ability. Even with the comedy version, people still enjoy playing the game.”

She adds that many contestants grew up watching the show with their families, creating a strong connection across generations. “After many years, I still feel the adrenaline as the clock starts to tick down. It truly is one of the biggest joys of my life. I’ll stay in Dictionary Corner for as long as viewers will have me!”

Dent’s love of words began in childhood, initially focusing on foreign languages. She studied German and French and worked on bilingual dictionaries for the Oxford University Press. “My passion for English etymology developed in my twenties, and I haven’t looked back since,” she recalls. “As a child, I would read vocabulary books on long car journeys, absorbing the shape, sound, and rhythm of words. I also enjoyed storybooks, mainly because I could look up the words within them! I would lie in a sunny spot at home, happiest when reading a book with a dictionary nearby.”

Her tour coincides with the launch of her latest books, Words For Life and the children’s book Roots We Share: 100 Words That Bring Us Together.

“Roots We Share is a sequel to my first children’s book, Roots Of Happiness. It’s a collection of words that describe what unites us, helping children focus on the positives in life,” Dent explains. “Words For Life is a collection of words to inspire readers of all ages every day of the year, aiming to bring a smile or a sense of wonder.”

Dent considers herself fortunate to combine Countdown with writing and talking about language. While she didn’t necessarily envision herself becoming a best-selling author, her love for individual words and their unique histories naturally led her in that direction. Her move into fiction, with her debut novel Guilty By Definition, was inspired by her father, who encouraged her to return to writing after she wrote a short story as a child.

When writing, Dent always has the Oxford English Dictionary on her screen. However, when writing fiction, she prefers to write long-hand to avoid over-editing. “Writing in long-hand allows for a more free-flowing process, which I can then polish and refine when I type it up,” she explains.

While she uses the dictionary online, Dent emphasizes the physical joy of holding a book. “There will always be a place for ebooks, but nothing beats the real deal. The first thing I do when I get copies of my books is smell them! Children, in particular, still love the physicality of books, perhaps because of the link to their parents reading to them, and adults benefit from that process too. Reading is such an important part of childhood, even as we see it being eroded by phones. People are still reading when they are scrolling online, but in a very different way. I will always believe that if there’s one gift to give to our children, it’s a love of reading. And that, of course, includes the dictionary!”