Here's how to watch Sheffield festival appearance by TV Countdown star Susie Dent

Here, she answers our questions about her work and love of language. Susie’s new book, Word Perfect: Etymological Entertainment For Every Day of the Year, is published by John Murray Press, who have now ironed out the mistakes that caused the author so much embarrassment recently.

Susie is in conversation with Sam Cleasby at Off the Shelf on Sunday, October 18 at 3pm. To watch, click on the link on the event page at www.offtheshelf.org.uk

What sparked your fascination with language and etymology?

There was no single flash of inspiration really – the fascination always seemed to be there. One of my earliest memories is staring at shampoo or ketchup bottles, before I was able to read, and being entranced by the swirling, exotic characters on the labels. At school, my first loves were German and French; I would sit engrossed in vocabulary books trying to amass as much as I could – not so I could excel in exams, but because I just loved absorbing these magical lexicons.

Does it surprise you how many people share it?

Never. If you ever doubt whether you're passionate about language, just ask yourself what is your favourite – or least favourite word or phrase. We all have them: expressions that make us happy, and ones that really get on our nerves. Most of us are also passionate about the words of home, the regional vocabulary that we embrace like a warm, cosy jumper whenever we go home, and that seemed to become even more important during lockdown.

Online return to Off the Shelf for Lee Child

Do you get bombarded with questions and suggestions from fans about what to talk about on the show?

Bombarded is probably the wrong word as I love receiving the emails from Countdown viewers, my Twitter followers, or readers of the Radio Times. They are proof to me that English still evokes so much curiosity and enthusiasm. Plus they have me riffling through the dictionary, which is obviously my favourite thing in the world!

Where else do you get your ideas from?

Sometimes in the middle of doing something I'll ask myself 'Why is X the name for Y?' and have to stop and look it up. I have the Oxford English Dictionary online so can access it within seconds, even on my phone, and the same goes for several dialect dictionaries. Someone asked me on Twitter the other day why the opposite of a 'little' isn't a 'lottle'. It turns out that 'lottle' is a word – not for a lot of something but old Wiltshire dialect for the sound of water trickling in a small stream. Beautiful.

How has being on Countdown changed over the years?

In many ways it hasn't changed much because the format is still essentially the same – we have more maths rounds now but the challenge is still just as compelling, and I still feel the adrenaline pumping through my body the moment the clock starts ticking down.

And how has it changed your life?

It's hard for me to imagine a life without Countdown or its comedy sister, 8 out of 10 Cats does Countdown. Having started out with some reluctance and a lot of nerves they have enabled me to indulge something I genuinely care about and get joy from every day. I couldn't ask for a better gig.

Is the show still fun to do?

It's always fun and genuinely never boring, even though we record quite a few shows in one day. The pull of the game is as infectious now as it was in the beginning. There are also a lot of laughs – Rachel, Nick and I spend a lot of our time corpsing over some accidental innuendo or other.

Are you any good at the numbers game?

I'm getting better! I had a bit of a block with the 75 times table but I'm pleased to say I've now mastered it – and am definitely more competitive!

What's your current favourite word?

The answer has to be ‘mumpsimus’: a 16th-century word for someone who insists that they are right despite clear evidence that they’re wrong.

And least favourite?

I think I've got past ‘moist' now, thankfully. ‘Gusset’ still elicits a wince though!

Thank you to all who support local journalism with a digital or print subscription to The Star. The events of 2020 mean trusted, local journalism is more reliant than ever on your support. We couldn't do it without you. Subscribe here www.thestar.co.uk/subscriptions so we can keep campaigning on your behalf. Stay safe.