Guardian

Very enjoyable indeed.  Thank you Picaroon.   ACROSS 1 LUSTRE Outspoken person desiring brilliance (6) sounds like (out-spoken) “luster” (person desiring) 5 PASTICHE Plane’s nose sparkling white and red in take-off (8) Plane … Read more >>

A slow and tricky solve, with lots of fun clues – I particularly liked 1ac, 9/23, 13ac, 17ac, 21ac, 26ac, 3dn, and 14dn. Many thanks to Paul.   ACROSS 1 SESAME Pith extracted … Read more >>

Another top-quality puzzle from Nutmeg: a good range of difficulty in the clues, with some of the six double definitions (perhaps verging on the excessive side?) causing me the most trouble. There are … Read more >>

A toughie from Puck provides some midweek entertainment, but not one for those who don’t like toilet humour. Puck is at his naughty best here with a few clues that rely on a … Read more >>

The puzzle may be found at https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/cryptic/28167. It’s Qaos, so there must surely be a theme; I could not spot it without a hint from his website – and it turns out that … Read more >>

It’s me again: it’s been one of those weekends when the daily-advancing weekday schedule coincides with my monthly Saturday blog slot. Pan sets a bit more of a challenge to start the week, … Read more >>

We don’t see Enigmatist very often and, as it happens, I blogged his previous puzzle last November. As most of you agree, I think, embarking on an Enigmatist puzzle is a rather hairy … Read more >>

Pasquale rounds off the weekday crosswords in characteristic style, with a meticulously clued puzzle, with one or two less familiar words or expressions for good measure. I did ‘know’ all the answers today … Read more >>

A very enjoyable solve… …with many clues and surfaces revolving around 8,9,10ac MULTIPLE CHOICE TEST. Favourites were 11ac, 17ac, 4dn, 16dn, and 18dn. Not sure how to parse 7dn. Thanks to Brendan. ACROSS … Read more >>

I think this is Matilda’s second appearance in the Cryptic slot, after a distinguished career as a Quiptic setter. I was the blogger of her first Cryptic, and remarked then that I found … Read more >>

A classic Brummie puzzle? Certainly, the theme was classic(al). At least eight of the answers were the names of symphonies, although technically I think the Alpine is a symphony in name only. I … Read more >>

The puzzle may be found at https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/cryptic/28160. Vulcan’s usual plethora of CDs and DDs, one of each that I thought particularly successful (the long ones, 2D LABOUR CANDIDATE and 7D LOCH NESS MONSTER). … Read more >>

I think this puzzle is a masterpiece. The surface reading of every excellent clue in Paul’s D-Day themed puzzle is evocative of the D-Day landings or the allied troops advancing across Europe. Brilliant … Read more >>