Independent

Across 1 PAT,C,ASH(e) – excellent topical clue. 9 P in SOHO,MORE – one of the last 2 or 3 answers to go. “Part of London again” had me puzzled for a while. 10 … Read more >>

Fantastic puzzle from “one of us” with a very clever and very topical theme. You probably know the game where you have to change one word into another in a certain number of … Read more >>

A fairly easy Virgilius today with no obvious theme other than the inter-linking of a couple of the long entries. Though someone will now tell me that a knight’s move sequence reveals something … Read more >>

Some pleasing material here from this inventive setter. Solving time:  25 mins * = anagram ACROSS 1 COAT OF ARMS    (A from Ascot)*    Did not see this till late on. “becomes” indicates … Read more >>

When I swapped to Friday this week I expected a nice Phi puzzle, instead I got Nimrod! A little more difficult than Phi for me with some clues still a mystery. However, much … Read more >>

Solving time 11:40 Here’s the explanation for the gentle ribbing about “strange characters turning up on Saturday” in the comments on last week’s Virgilius puzzle. For those who don’t know, Eimi is Indie … Read more >>

Solving time: 26 mins * = anagram ACROSS 1 CU POL(e) A 4 S CRAM S The athlete Steve Cram 11 PA THAN(e) 12 ERLANGEN (Greenlan)* D = Germany German university city. 16 … Read more >>

Monk is among the toughest setters, with some very original treatments, and very rigorous logic in the clues. Usually his puzzles in the Indy are themed, but I cannot see one here. (Later … Read more >>

A fair and satisfying crossword but I’m still missing an explanation (25) which always niggles! No theme as far as I can see. Across 1 RANSOM – RANSOM(E) refers to Arthur Ransome, famous … Read more >>

An entertaining puzzle with a not-too-difficult-to-spot theme. Across the middle of the grid is the phrase POLES APART, which separates 6 across answers, all of which are poles of some description: NORTH/SOUTH, POSITIVE/NEGATIVE … Read more >>

Fairly easy start to the week although I’d never heard of 18A before. Across 9 (WE TRAIN)* 11 BOO,T(otall)Y – nice surface reading here. 12 SPEED<,PACE 13 (TESS IN PR)* – I’ve always … Read more >>

One of the last names you expect to see above a puzzle on a Saturday is Mr Tuesday himself, Virgilius. Not that I’m complaining. This was definitely easier than usual for a Saturday … Read more >>

Good fare from Phi with some excellent clues but with a couple of gaps in the word play and one clue not solved until I check in TEA just before submitting this! Across … Read more >>

I mentioned last week that, in the paper’s relaunch, they’d moved the puzzle away from the penultimate page. Well, there must have been a problem or two, because, this week, if you go … Read more >>

There are few perks associated with this role, but it’s a real pleasure to comment on a brilliant puzzle every now and then and today is one of those days. Nestor is one … Read more >>