Friday 23rd-Sunday 25th October 2026
Guardian 30,114: Pasquale
A satisfying puzzle, with some easier clues to get things moving, but some stings in the tail with the less-familiar words that are a trademark of this setter. Thanks to Pasquale.
Independent 12463 / Mog
We have Mog’s monthly Independent appearance today.
Financial Times 18,482 by STEERPIKE
Steerpike is this morning’s setter.
Enigmatic Variations No. 1763: Magic Square by Kcit
A ‘MAGIC SQUARE’ from Kcit this week – maybe blurring the boundaries between word puzzles and number puzzles, and a bit of a jigsaw puzzle as well!
Financial Times 18,481 by BOBCAT
After a glitch this morning, we have a BOBCAT puzzle, which is a nice surprise for a Wednesday!
Independent 12,462 by Eccles
Our regular (every other week, usually) Wednesday setter. The original puzzle is at https://puzzles.independent.co.uk/games/cryptic-crossword-independent/?puzzleDate=20260916.
Guardian Cryptic crossword No 30,113 by Dice
This morning’s Guardian Cryptic comes from Dice and can be found here
Financial Times 18,481 by GOLIATH
UPDATE: A puzzle by Bobcat has now been published to replace the earlier duplication of Goliath’s recent puzzle. A confirmed error, and I will publish the blog as soon as I can.
Financial Times 18480 Mudd
Thank you to Mudd. Definitions are underlined in the clues.
Inquisitor 1976: Consider This by Sauce
Third time out for Sauce.
Independent 12,461 by Atrica
Firstly, we would like to thank the team at the Indy. A prompt reply from Customer Services yesterday confirming that they were aware that the crossword puzzles were not on the app. We started off using the on-line version which we don’t like. We gave up in the end and waited until the problem was solved. The promised email arrived saying that things were fixed and apologising again for any inconvenience.
Problems occur but we always judge things by how well they are sorted. 10/10 for the Independent.
Anyway – it’s now Tuesday and we have an Atrica puzzle to solve and blog.
Guardian Cryptic crossword No 30,112 by Brockwell
The puzzle may be found at https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/cryptic/30112.
Spectator 2,767 – Smoky
Lang may yer lums reek…
Financial Times 18,479 by ORENSE
ORENSE (RIP) kicks off the week with a puzzle from 2018…
Guardian 30,111 / Brummie
Brummie starts the week in fine style