Guardian

Solving time: Turned to references after 45 mins (in two sessions) with 6 answers missing (asterisked) and one wrong (2dn). The thematic element of this puzzle was the inclusion of the seven deadly … Read more >>

Solving time:  22 minutes A lovely cinematic experience from Brummie today.  Many of the clues shared the solution to 9 as a definition.  The usual smattering of clever and nudge nidge wink wink … Read more >>

I think the theme here is famous people that I’ve heard of — unless someone can find a better link between BLAIR, PRESCOTT, FATS WALLER, Stirling and Kate MOSS, Gordon Brown, PARIS HILTON, … Read more >>

This was tough, and certainly I wouldn’t have been able to solve it on the train! However, I’m between jobs at the moment so I was able to attack it with Chambers and … Read more >>

This was a fairly straightforward puzzle, which I initially made more difficult by insisting that 16d was TATTLER and 23d was ACRE. They aren’t. Music is “Dead Bodies” by Air – the best … Read more >>

Another gentle start to the week from Rufus, with a sprinkling of mild cryptic definitions, some good anagrams, one piece of libertarianism and a bit of Maghreb blues fusion that I’m not sure quite works.  Music (just … Read more >>

Solving time: 4:42 Araucaria has had a monopoly on the prize crosswords in recent weeks, so this was a nice change and probably my quickest time for a Paul puzzle. The theme was … Read more >>

Solving time: 19 minutes A thoroughly enjoyable puzzle from Shed, an under-used and underrated setter on the Guardian, in my opinion.  Always a nice mixture of excellent clues with one or two twists … Read more >>

Solving time 8:12 I haven’t done a Rover puzzle for a long time, so I looked on the Setters page here to see what I’d be in for, and he’s described as “Hard”. … Read more >>

Neither fish nor fowl — can’t tell if there’s really a theme here or not: do fish and chips and grouse and chickens and pecking qualify? A couple of wordplays that I’m still … Read more >>

Monday is usually the day the crossword editor sends down a “loosener”, such as the recent series of pleasing, humane Rufus puzzles. This isn’t a usual mundane Monday, so he’s let loose the mighty … Read more >>

Solving time: 35 mins, three missing (14ac, 44ac, 35dn) This Christmas special from Araucaria contained 6 works by Thomas Hardy. I started well enough, spotting the anagram at 18ac to crack the theme … Read more >>

linxit has reported in sick, so I’ve thrown the following last minute blog together. I’m something of a Beckett nut, so this puzzle was a joy. Quotation above from “Waiting from Godot”, but … Read more >>

This was an enjoyable thematic puzzle based on Samuel Beckett (1,4 ac). I’ll put some more up when I can, but I’ve been in bed with flu for the last 3 days, and … Read more >>

Christmas songs not being a strong suit, I would never have worked out the song so thanks to Shirley for putting me out of my misery. It’s “Green Grow the Rushes, O” – … Read more >>