Guardian

Solving time: 13:43 This puzzle was themed around bandleaders, of which an impressive 11 appear in the grid, plus BANDLEADER itself at 21/19dn. The wordplay to the thematic entries (asterisked below) must have … Read more >>

  An enjoyable puzzle from Orlando, who’s always good value, I think. There are some very cleverly constructed clues and several to raise a smile. Across 1   REGAL: REG and AL, two male … Read more >>

There’s a mini-theme of golf and golf clubs in this one; I found this quite tough, but on writing the post I’m not entirely sure why, apart from the usual Araucaria liberties… Across … Read more >>

* = anagram < = reversed “” = homophone d.d. = double definition c.d. = cryptic definition Across 8. AL JOLSON. JLOALSO* + N 9. TINGE. GET* around IN. 11. OXFORD CLAY. OX … Read more >>

dd = double definition cd = cryptic definition rev = reversed or reversal ins = insertion cha = charade ha = hidden answer *(fodder) = anagram Thank you, Eileen for so ably filling … Read more >>

Very straightforward fare from Rufus today, with the usual smattering of cryptic definitions, but also quite a few anagrams to get things going. My knowledge of classical mythology was stretched by 12ac. Key: … Read more >>

Solving time: 10:27 This grid is normally a stinker (it has twelve 9-letter words each with only four checked letters and its four quarters are connected by just a single square each at … Read more >>

Mostly very doable, but with a few tough ones and a couple I don’t quite understand. The excellent charade in 21a, 1d, 2d is particularly noteworthy 🙂 Across 1. SECATEURS SEC = “Little … Read more >>

A nice straightforward puzzle today, perhaps a bit more straightforward than most Thursdays.  Quite a lot of anagram and straightforward charades. * = anagram “” = homophone < = reversed d.d. = double … Read more >>

A great one from Paul with a theme of drinks, mostly but not all alcoholic. Nothing too difficult in retrospect, but some of the double definitions took a while to work out until … Read more >>

I’m really getting to like Gordius! In the past, I have found him rather lacking in [my sort of] humour but I thought there were some really witty clues here and I enjoyed … Read more >>

It’s Monday and Rufus starts the week off with a fairly straightforward puzzle, although there are one or two tricky lights. Across 9 CASSANDRA: SAND in anagram of CARS 10 ASCOT: (m)ASCOT going … Read more >>

Solving time: 11:50 A fairly gentle offering from Paul, I thought – only 2dn (FUTILITY) and 9ac (BORING) really held me up in this. My favourite clues were probably 2dn (OMIGOD) and 7/20dn … Read more >>

Not really an overall theme today, but a few movie references and some very enjoyable clues. (X) = inserted (x) = removed) * = anagram “” = homophone < = reversed d.d. = … Read more >>