I agree with this idea. Additionally, this can be solved using "Regular Expression" (regex) technology, which is free.
I explain more in my suggestion on this site at https://help-and-advice.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/forums/243749-website-improvements/suggestions/38737225-allow-searches-to-be-specified-using-regular-expr

I've just shifted my votes from the request about plurals, as it's the same problem.

Absolutely maddening getting thousands of results for a name like "Luca", because search converts it to "Lucas".

What on earth is the point of having a box stating "exact search", when it isn't?

Another example: MRS. is not the same as MR.

Checking exact match "exclude variants" with +"Mrs." returns lots and lots of "Mr." currently. Which is incredibly frustrating.

I agree. Searching for the surname Cashion, I get multiple articles with the words fashion or cushion. Far too many to sort through.

Unrelated articles being brought up by the Search facility. Exact should mean just that. Sometime soon would be great. Thank you

I very much agree. An abuse of the meaning of the word 'exact', incredibly time-consuming, and absolutely infuriating.