Independent

Several quite brilliant long anagrams in Dac’s typically excellent crossword today Across 1 POP SHOP — 2 defs 5 B(IOM)ASS 9 NO RM A 10/11 INSPECTOR CLOUSEAU — (counters a US police)* 12 … Read more >>

A nice, relatively gentle puzzle from Virgilius. There’s a mini-theme of people who share their name with US states, one of whom – 8/12A – got the better of me, largely due to … Read more >>

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone A fairly straightforward puzzle with just one I didn’t entirely follow (17 down) and one I thought seemed a bit weak (19 across). Across 1 Caterpillar: Cater + pillar … Read more >>

This was a nice treat as I’m a big fan of Punk and was expecting to see Phi. I only managed a handful of clues in the first run through and worried that … Read more >>

I thought this was a fantastic puzzle: fair and clever (though sometimes complex) wordplay, amusing definitions and some very nice surfaces. Can’t ask for more than that really. Across 1 ECOL(O,G)I,CAL 7 S,KIT … Read more >>

Solving time, 18 mins * = anagram < = reversed ACROSS 1 M UMBO J UMBO 8 B (R) ITTEN 9 EX PERT 11 TOOTHACHE Cryptic definition 12 RI OJ A (A Jo … Read more >>

Nimrod. Brilliant. With an interesting grid that I don’t remember seeing much before which helps the solver by providing a goodly number of first letters. This solve went very well kicking off with … Read more >>

I’m supposed to be blogging tomorrow but I’m not going to be able to find the time as I have to look after my little boy for the day (he’s the happy chap … Read more >>

I found this quite a bit easier than usual, but I may have been lucky in knowing many of the references, solving time just under 15 mins. * = anagram ACROSS 1 FIR … Read more >>

This little pig went to market, This little pig stayed at home, This little pig had roast beef, This little pig had none, And this little pig cried, Wee-wee-wee-wee-wee, I can’t find my … Read more >>

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone After last week’s debacle, the crossword returned to the printed version in its usual spot inside the back cover. An added benefit to any sports-hating solvers is that it … Read more >>

I found this quite tough, esp SW corner. Solving time, 26 mins. * = anagram < = reversed ACROSS 1 (t)RAP 3 ZIP (nothing) FAST ENER Rene< Archetypal Crossword Frenchman 9 B (OLd) … Read more >>

This was my first attempt at completing an Independent prize crossword (I’m substituting for Neil, who’s on holiday). With one or two exceptions I didn’t find it too difficult, finishing all but one … Read more >>

A puzzle that will certainly be quicker to blog than it was to solve. I can never easily get my head around Nimrod (or Enigmatist) puzzles, and this one was no exception. I … Read more >>

Solving time, 16 mins * = anagram < = reversed ACROSS 1 ASBO Hidden reversal 3 WHITE HORSE This refers to the first FA Cup Final at the Old Wembley in 1923 (Bolton … Read more >>