Toughie No 3259 by Django Hints and tips by Gazza + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment **** Thanks to Django for a very enjoyable puzzle. T...
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30,597 Hints and tips by Shabbo + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment *** Good morning from a cold and grey...
EV1638 CHILLY BY THE ACE OF HEARTS SOLUTION Omitted letters give A WAITRESS, ESPECIALLY ONE IN A LYONS TEASHOP, defining NIPPIE. ++++++++ A full revi...
TOUGHIE NO 3258 BY SERPENT HINTS AND TIPS BY CRYPTICSUE + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + BD Rating – Toughie Difficulty * – Enjoyment **** Serpent (and his alter egos in ot...
DAILY TELEGRAPH CRYPTIC NO 30596 HINTS AND TIPS BY 2KIWIS BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment **** Kia ora from Aotearoa. Thanks Gazza for filling in for us last week while we were awa...
SUNDAY TOUGHIE NO 116 BY ZANDIO REVIEW BY SLOOP JOHN BEE + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + THIS PUZZLE WAS PUBLISHED ON THE 14TH OF APRIL 2024 ACROSS 1A ...
SUNDAY TELEGRAPH CRYPTIC NO 3260 A FULL REVIEW BY RAHMAT ALI + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + THIS PUZZLE WAS PUBLISHED ON 14TH APR 2024 BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment...
Toughie No 3257 by Chalicea Hints and tips by ALP + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment **** A hearty welcome back for Chalicea. She’s alw...
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30595 Hints and tips by Huntsman + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + BD Rating – Difficulty **/*** Enjoyment *** Back from the glorious Florida ...
DAILY TELEGRAPH CRYPTIC NO 30594 HINTS AND TIPS BY FALCON + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment **** Greetings from Ottawa, where we are exp...
25TH JANUARY 2025 The Blog will be celebrating its sixteenth birthday next January 28th 2025. With help from the Guardians of the Blog (Cryptic Sue, MrK, Gazza and Prolixic)as well as John and ...
A PUZZLE BY MYSTERION + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + The puzzle is available by clicking on the above grid. As usual, the setter will be delighted to receive feedbac...
SUNDAY TOUGHIE NO 117 BY ROBYN HINTS AND TIPS BY SLOOP JOHN BEE + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + Robyn is at the slightly easier end of his spectrum today, an...
ENIGMATIC VARIATIONS 1639 (HINTS) SWITCH BY PICCADILLY HINTS AND TIPS BY PHIBS + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + In his novel Changing Places, David Lodge describes a parlour game ...
SUNDAY TELEGRAPH CRYPTIC NO 3261 (HINTS) HINTS AND TIPS BY SENF A very good Sunday morning from Winnipeg where I had to extract my Winter coat from the back of the wardrobe for Thursday and Fri...
A PUZZLE BY MELES + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + The puzzle is available by clicking on the above grid. Meles provide's this week's alternative exercise in lateral thinking with a cle...
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30593 (Hints) The Saturday Crossword Club (hosted by crypticsue) + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + A very cold Saturday morning brings one of those Prize P...
https://bigdave44.com/2024/04/20/dt-30545-hints-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2/
TOUGHIE NO 3256 BY ELGAR HINTS AND TIPS BY DUTCH + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + BD Rating – Difficulty ***** – Enjoyment ***** I did reasonably ok until I got to SW. Then f...
DAILY TELEGRAPH CRYPTIC NO 30592 HINTS AND TIPS BY MR K + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + BD Rating - Difficulty ***** - Enjoyment **** Hello, everyone, and welcome to Friday. I can’...
DAILY TELEGRAPH CRYPTIC NO 30587 A FULL REVIEW BY RAHMAT ALI + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + This puzzle was published on 13th Apr 2024 BD Rating – Difficulty ***** – Enjoym...
Toughie No 3255 by Silvanus Hints and tips by Gazza + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment *** Silvanus has given us a fairly gentle Toughie ...
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30,591 Hints and tips by Shabbo + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment *** Good morning dear puzzlers and a g...
EV1637 QUESTION BY STICK INSECT SETTER’S BLOG Correct letters in clues give DEAR OLD LENNY, THE GREAT ELMYRA AND SANCHO PANZA from the song No More Heroes by The Stranglers; MORE HE...
TOUGHIE NO 3254 BY ROBYN HINTS AND TIPS BY CRYPTICSUE + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + BD Rating – Toughie Difficulty * – Enjoyment ***** Another most enjoyable ‘start of...
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30590 Hints and tips by Gazza + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment **** Carol and Colin are on a jaunt today so...
SUNDAY TOUGHIE NO 115 BY PROXIMAL REVIEW BY SLOOP JOHN BEE + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + THIS PUZZLE WAS PUBLISHED ON THE 7TH OF APRIL 2024 ACROSS 1A ...
SUNDAY TELEGRAPH CRYPTIC NO 3259 A FULL REVIEW BY CRYPTICSUE + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + THIS PUZZLE WAS PUBLISHED ON 7TH APRIL 2024 BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyme...
Toughie No 3253 by Zenas Hints and tips by ALP + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + BD Rating – Difficulty * – Enjoyment **** I’m sure many of us have been wondering who Zenas...
DAILY TELEGRAPH CRYPTIC NO 30589 HINTS AND TIPS BY SENF + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + BD Rating – Difficulty **/*** – Enjoyment **** As Huntsman told us last Tuesday, onc...
DAILY TELEGRAPH CRYPTIC NO 30588 HINTS AND TIPS BY POMMERS + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment **** Hola from Almoradí on a bright and sun...
A PUZZLE BY RAHMAT ALI + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + The puzzle is available by clicking on the above grid. As usual, the setter will be delighted to receive feedba...
SUNDAY TOUGHIE NO 116 BY ZANDIO HINTS AND TIPS BY SLOOP JOHN BEE + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + A delightful Sunday Toughie from Zandio, which I really enjoyed. 16d ...
ENIGMATIC VARIATIONS 1638 (HINTS) CHILLY BY THE ACE OF HEARTS HINTS AND TIPS BY THE NUMPTIES + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + The Ace of Hearts has been producing crosswords for t...
SUNDAY TELEGRAPH CRYPTIC NO 3260 (HINTS) HINTS AND TIPS BY SENF A very good Sunday morning from Winnipeg where we are experiencing a good example of Manitoba Spring weather, or anywhere else in...
A PUZZLE BY STARHORSE + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + The puzzle is available by clicking on the above grid. Starhorse provides this week's NTSPP. A lovely puzzle. ACROSS 1A Fallac...
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30587 (Hints) The Saturday Crossword Club (hosted by crypticsue) + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + Another lovely warm sunny morning – the skylarks are s...
https://bigdave44.com/2024/04/13/dt-30545-hints-2-2-2-2-2-2-2/
TOUGHIE NO 3252 BY SPARKS HINTS AND TIPS BY DUTCH + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + BD Rating – Difficulty ***** – Enjoyment ***** I found this tricky with some new words. Som...
DAILY TELEGRAPH CRYPTIC NO 30586 HINTS AND TIPS BY MR K + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + BD Rating - Difficulty ** - Enjoyment **** Hello, everyone, and welcome to Friday. I found thi...
DAILY TELEGRAPH CRYPTIC NO 30581 A FULL REVIEW BY CRYPTICSUE + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + THIS PUZZLE WAS PUBLISHED ON 6TH APRIL 2024 BD Rating – Difficulty * – Enjoyment...
Toughie No 3251 by Django Hints and tips by Gazza + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment **** Django has given us a very entertaining puzzle ...
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30585 Hints and tips by Huntsman + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + BD Rating – Difficulty **/*** Enjoyment *** A busy day ahead preparing to f...
EV1636 MISLAID BY LUXOR SETTER’S BLOG EGG fills gaps in seven entries. SETTER’S BLOG: I’m quite new to this. It’s only a year since I sent my first tentative effort t...
TOUGHIE NO 3250 BY HUDSON HINTS AND TIPS BY CRYPTICSUE + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + BD Rating – Toughie Difficulty */** – Enjoyment **** Another most enjoyable Wednesda...
DAILY TELEGRAPH CRYPTIC NO 30584 HINTS AND TIPS BY 2KIWIS BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment *** Kia ora from Aotearoa. Another beautiful sunny autumn day here. Feel we have to make t...
SUNDAY TOUGHIE NO 114 BY ROBYN REVIEW BY SLOOP JOHN BEE + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + THIS PUZZLE WAS PUBLISHED ON THE 31ST OF MARCH 2024 Across 1A Old coat of ...
SUNDAY TELEGRAPH CRYPTIC NO 3258 A FULL REVIEW BY RAHMAT ALI + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + THIS PUZZLE WAS PUBLISHED ON 31ST MAR 2024 BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment...
Toughie No 3249 by Donnybrook Hints and tips by ALP + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + BD Rating – Difficulty * – Enjoyment ***/**** I love MasterChef – happily back for its...
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30,583 Hints and tips by Shabbo + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment *** Many thanks to Huntsman for agreeing to s...
DAILY TELEGRAPH CRYPTIC NO 30582 HINTS AND TIPS BY FALCON + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment *** Greetings from Ottawa, where (when this r...
A PUZZLE BY BUDDY + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + The puzzle is available by clicking on the above grid. As usual, the setter will be delighted to receive feedback fr...
SUNDAY TOUGHIE NO 115 by proXimal HINTS AND TIPS BY SLOOP JOHN BEE + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + I tried to do this last night on the “new” site but it f...
ENIGMATIC VARIATIONS 1637 (HINTS) QUESTION BY STICK INSECT HINTS AND TIPS BY PHIBS + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + It seemed unfair to get Gemini to guess at the theme given the ...
SUNDAY TELEGRAPH CRYPTIC NO 3259 (HINTS) HINTS AND TIPS BY SENF A very good Sunday morning from Winnipeg where, with rising temperatures and some trepidation, I have put my heavy winter coat in...
DOUBLE-CROSSWORD BY MADCAP + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + The puzzle is available by clicking on the above grid. Madcap provides this weekend's alternative exercise in lateral thinkin...
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30581 (Hints) The Saturday Crossword Club (hosted by crypticsue) + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + A day of possibly record-breaking temperatures – it wa...
https://bigdave44.com/2024/04/06/dt-30545-hints-2-2-2-2-2-2/
TOUGHIE NO 3248 BY ELGAR HINTS AND TIPS BY DUTCH + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + BD Rating – Difficulty ***** – Enjoyment ***** A few musical clues that took me a while to s...
DAILY TELEGRAPH CRYPTIC NO 30580 HINTS AND TIPS BY MR K + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + BD Rating - Difficulty *** - Enjoyment **** Hello, everyone, and welcome to Friday. I felt tha...
DAILY TELEGRAPH CRYPTIC NO 30575 A FULL REVIEW BY RAHMAT ALI + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + THIS PUZZLE WAS PUBLISHED ON 30TH MAR 2024 BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment...
Toughie No 3247 by Beam Hints and tips by Gazza + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + BD Rating – Difficulty */** – Enjoyment *** We have a pretty gentle puzzle from Beam today w...
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30,579 Hints and tips by Shabbo + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment *** Wet again in Welwyn Garden City this morn...
EV1635 TOM’S PROBLEM BY KCIT SOLUTION According to T S (TOM) ELIOT: (The) NAMING OF CATS (is) A DIFFICULT MATTER. MACAVITY, ASPARAGUS and CAT MORGAN appear in Ol...
TOUGHIE NO 3246 BY DHARMA HINTS AND TIPS BY CRYPTICSUE + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + BD Rating – Toughie Difficulty **** – Enjoyment **/*** I found this a particularly d...
DAILY TELEGRAPH CRYPTIC NO 30578 HINTS AND TIPS BY 2KIWIS BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment **** Kia ora from Aotearoa. Our time is all over the place this week. As UK clocks have n...
SUNDAY TOUGHIE NO 113 BY ZANDIO REVIEW BY SLOOP JOHN BEE + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + THIS PUZZLE WAS PUBLISHED ON THE 24TH OF MARCH 2024 Oops a bit rushed...
SUNDAY TELEGRAPH CRYPTIC NO 3257 A FULL REVIEW BY CRYPTICSUE + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + THIS PUZZLE WAS PUBLISHED ON 24TH MARCH 2024 BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyme...
Toughie No 3245 by Kcit Hints and tips by ALP + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + BD Rating – Difficulty * – Enjoyment **/*** As a hack, I’ve loved interviewing authors. They...
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30577 Hints and tips by Huntsman + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + BD Rating – Difficulty **/*** Enjoyment *** A gloriously bright & sunny sta...
DAILY TELEGRAPH CRYPTIC NO 30576 HINTS AND TIPS BY POMMERS + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment *** Hola from Almoradí where we’ve had pr...
A PUZZLE BY DABRITE + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + The puzzle is available by clicking on the above grid. As usual, the setter will be delighted to receive feedback ...
SUNDAY TOUGHIE NO 114 BY ROBYN HINTS AND TIPS BY SLOOP JOHN BEE + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + I was hoping that Robyn would give us a slightly easier ride ...
ENIGMATIC VARIATIONS 1636 (HINTS) MISLAID BY LUXOR HINTS AND TIPS BY THE NUMPTIES + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + It is a always a pleasure to welcome a new setter to the ranks. ...
SUNDAY TELEGRAPH CRYPTIC NO 3258 (HINTS) HINTS AND TIPS BY SENF A very good Easter Sunday morning from Winnipeg where I am wondering if you all remembered to advance your watches and clocks, in...
A PUZZLE BY CHALICEA + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + The puzzle is available by clicking on the above grid. A nice lunchtime diversion from Chalicea – although it wasn't immediately ...
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30575 (Hints) The Saturday Crossword Club (hosted by crypticsue) + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + A warm, misty Easter Saturday with, for me anyway, a fri...
TOUGHIE NO 3244 BY OSMOSIS HINTS AND TIPS BY DUTCH + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + BD Rating – Difficulty **** – Enjoyment **** Some easy clues, some not so easy. We’re ba...
DAILY TELEGRAPH CRYPTIC NO 30574 HINTS AND TIPS BY MR K + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + BD Rating - Difficulty **** - Enjoyment *** Hello, everyone, and welcome to Friday. Today’s ...
DAILY TELEGRAPH CRYPTIC NO 20569 A FULL REVIEW BY CRYPTICSUE + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + THIS PUZZLE WAS PUBLISHED ON 23RD MARCH 2024 BD Rating – Difficulty * – Enjoymen...
Toughie No 3243 by Firefly Hints and tips by Gazza + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + BD Rating – Difficulty **** – Enjoyment *** Firefly has given us a theme today based on 1...
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30,573 Hints and tips by Shabbo + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment *** No doubt as to the setter of this enjoyab...
EV1634 THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN BY GASTON SOLUTION JOHN WILLIAMS Discarded clashing letters give SCHINDLER’S LIST, winner of seven Academy Awards, 30 years ago this week, includ...
Toughie No 3242 by Serpent Hints and Tips by crypticsue + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + BD Rating – Toughie Difficulty ***** – Enjoyment **** I noticed the Nina fairly earl...
DAILY TELEGRAPH CRYPTIC NO 30572 HINTS AND TIPS BY 2KIWIS BD Rating – Difficulty **** – Enjoyment *** Kia ora from Aotearoa. Everything is very dry here and has been so for the last coup...
SUNDAY TOUGHIE NO 112 BY PROXIMAL REVIEW BY SLOOP JOHN BEE + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + THIS PUZZLE WAS PUBLISHED ON THE 17TH OF MARCH 2024 ACROSS 1A �...
SUNDAY TELEGRAPH CRYPTIC NO 3256 A FULL REVIEW BY RAHMAT ALI + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + THIS PUZZLE WAS PUBLISHED ON 17TH MAR 2024 BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment...
Toughie No 3241 by Dada Hints and tips by ALP + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment **** I’ve just been tutted in the street. Tutted! For ...
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30571 Hints and tips by Huntsman + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + BD Rating – Difficulty *** Enjoyment ***/**** Nice & sunny here in Harpende...
DAILY TELEGRAPH CRYPTIC NO 30570 HINTS AND TIPS BY FALCON + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + BD Rating – Difficulty * – Enjoyment *** Greetings from Ottawa, where Mother Nature...
A PUZZLE BY IGUESS + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + The puzzle is available by clicking on the above grid. As usual, the setter will be delighted to receive feedback f...
SUNDAY TOUGHIE NO 113 BY ZANDIO HINTS AND TIPS BY SLOOP JOHN BEE + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + Zandio has brought us a Toughie that, although it took me a while bef...
ENIGMATIC VARIATIONS 1635 (HINTS) TOM’S PROBLEM BY KCIT HINTS AND TIPS BY PHIBS + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + Since 8th February this year, Opal Fruits, Ceylon, Reginald Dwig...
SUNDAY TELEGRAPH CRYPTIC NO 3257 (HINTS) HINTS AND TIPS BY SENF A very good Sunday morning from Winnipeg where Spring may have sprung but the grass has not riz but we do have birdies especially...
A PUZZLE BY COOT + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + The puzzle is available by clicking on the above grid. A Saturday Lunchtime pangram from Coot which I thought was ‘tough in places’...
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30569 (Hints) The Saturday Crossword Club (hosted by crypticsue) + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + A Saturday Prize Puzzle with somewhat of an American the...
TOUGHIE NO 3240 BY ELGAR HINTS AND TIPS BY DUTCH + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + BD Rating – Difficulty ***** – Enjoyment ***** A fun puzzle – enjoy. Problems with uploa...
DAILY TELEGRAPH CRYPTIC NO 30568 HINTS AND TIPS BY MR K + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + BD Rating - Difficulty *** - Enjoyment **** Hello, everyone, and welcome to Friday. Great puzz...
DAILY TELEGRAPH CRYPTIC NO 30563 A FULL REVIEW BY RAHMAT ALI + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + THIS PUZZLE WAS PUBLISHED ON 16TH MAR 2024 BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment...
Toughie No 3239 by Silvanus Hints and tips by Gazza + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + BD Rating – Difficulty **/*** – Enjoyment **** A very enjoyable puzzle from Silvanus –...
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30,567 Hints and tips by Shabbo + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment **** Greetings from Wells-next-the-Sea where ...
EV1633 18DN BY BOTOX SOLUTION Joint clues give TAUPIN and YELLOW; REGINALD KENNETH DWIGH(T) becomes SIR ELTON HERCULES JOHN; 17 becomes ROCKETMAN highlighted in ye...
TOUGHIE NO 3238 BY ROBYN HINTS AND TIPS BY CRYPTICSUE + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + BD Rating – Toughie Difficulty */** – Enjoyment **** Another fairly friendly and most...