Some of you may have heard that The Independent newspaper has decided to drop the daily cryptic crossword with effect from the end of October 2026. I believe that the last puzzle will appear on October 31st. Incidentally the day before Fifteensquared’s 20th birthday.
YORK SLOGGERS & BETTERS 2026
Important update
MyCrossword Featured crossword No 20 by Meles
The original puzzle may be found here.
Inquisitor 1977: Call the NHS by Dash
This week we have a puzzle entitled ‘Call the NHS ‘, set by Dash
Independent 12,467 by Crosophile
I don’t think we’ve seen Crosophile for a few months: welcome back! The original puzzle is at https://puzzles.independent.co.uk/games/cryptic-crossword-independent/?puzzleDate=20260922.
Guardian 30,118 / Boatman
It’s Boatman back, after quite a while, I think ….
Financial Times 18,486 by GOZO
A mostly straightforward puzzle from Gozo today.
Financial Times 18,485 by ARTEXLEN
ARTEXLEN kicks off the week…
Guardian Cryptic crossword No 30,117 by Vulcan
Thanks to Vulcan for the puzzle – I particularly liked 18ac and and 15dn. Apologies for a delayed and somewhat rushed blog today.
Independent 12,466 by Knut
The original puzzle may be found here.
Financial Times 18,484 by Julius
Puzzle from the Weekend FT of September 19, 2026
Guardian Quiptic 1,400 by Pasquale
The Sunday morning Guardian Quiptic, found here
Gemelo 47
A plain puzzle from Gemelo, with the usual collection of unfamiliar words to add to our vocabularies (and, at least in my case, to forget shortly afterwards). Thanks to Gemelo.
Everyman 4,169/13 September
All the usual features of an Everyman puzzle in this one.
Independent on Sunday 1908 Filbert
Thank you to Filbert. Definitions are underlined in the clues.