Financial Times 14,739 – Mudd

Monday Prize Crossword/Sep 29 After a string of Dantes, Cruxes and Falcons it was nice to have this setter for a change. No Mudd without bums or buttocks (and so it was) but the … Read more >>

Guardian 26,385 / Tramp

Seeing Tramp’s name under the puzzle is guaranteed to brighten up a dull morning! I think the gloomy weather had dulled my brain somewhat: I was aware from the beginning that there were … Read more >>

Independent 8731 / Dac

A fairly standard puzzle from Dac today with his usual elegant clue writing.       There were a significant number of entries with consecutive double letters.  I counted ten in all, six … Read more >>

York S&B October 24-25

A message from John H.

I’m sure to have missed people out or to have left out special dietary needs. Please would you check the relevant list(s) below, and advise me of any such omissions or inaccuracies. I can easily swap you from list to list.

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Quiptic 777 by Beale

The mysterious Beale returns to the Quiptic slot this week with an enjoyable puzzle that may cause a little head-scratching in places.

I say ‘mysterious’ because the profile on the Guardian site informs us only that ‘Beale is a crossword setter’.  The Crossword Who’s Who on the Best for Puzzles site is similarly coy, telling us only that ‘Beale is a setter of Quiptic crosswords’.  I never came top of my class at school but I think I knew that already.  Perhaps Quiptic regulars know more.

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Independent 8729 by Eimi

This was generally at the easier end of the spectrum, but contained a few obscure uses of words that meant some of the parsings took a bit of research. It feels as if … Read more >>

Guardian 26,383 – Rufus

Only two cryptic definitions today, but seven doubles (though in several of those the two definitions are very closely related), together with mostly very straightforward clues of other types, suitable for those who … Read more >>

Beelzebub 1,282

A bit of a rollercoaster for me this week. When 1 across dropped in straight away, I thought this was going to be an easy ride. An hour later the second answer fell … Read more >>

Everyman 3547/28 September

Another pleasing Sunday morning crossword from Everyman.  One or two old chesnutty friends making an appearance, but it’s a puzzle for improving solvers, so we won’t quibble. Appearances from PORTIA and LADY MACBETH, … Read more >>