For every positive integer d, we define a meromorphic function F d (n; z), where n, z ∈ C d , which is a natural extension of the multivariable Askey-Wilson polynomials of Gasper and Rahman (Theory and Applications of Special Functions, Dev. Math., vol. 13, pp. 209-219, Springer, New York, 2005). It is defined as a product of very-well-poised 8 φ 7 series and we show that it is a common eigenfunction of two commutative algebras A z and A n of difference operators acting on z and n, with eigenvalues depending on n and z, respectively. In particular, this leads to certain identities connecting products of very-well-poised 8 φ 7 series.