Private Eye/Cyclops

As usual when I blog a Cyclops, I was held up by the wordplay of just one clue — in this case, 2/11d. Otherwise, all pretty straightforward. And I am on time this … Read more >>

Who would have thought in 1986 that the pudgy little chap with the fearsome wit could take on the responsibilities of the sarcastic classes and make it his own.  In a way it … Read more >>

Oh dear, two whole weeks late! Circumstances (like having to go abroad for an emergency business meeting, being ill when I got back, etc.) conspired, but that’s not a good enough excuse. Just … Read more >>

Nothing here to stop an Eye solver polishing this off with several chuckles and no doubtful edges, i.e. no need to reach for Chambers this time. Which is just as well, because I … Read more >>

Back from watching England decisively beaten by Sri Lanka in the ODI at Lord’s, to finish and complete this blog. What held me up as a blogger was working out the wordplay of … Read more >>

I found I had only 8 to go after the first pass so I suppose this was easier than usual.  That’s enough blather – let’s have a look at the detail: How do … Read more >>

Many apologies for the late posting — I wrote this last week, when away from home, but didn’t quite have it ready to post. And the last few days have been absolutely chaotic, … Read more >>

Some excellent surface readings in this issue’s crossword.  I marked no fewer than 8 as worthy of consideration for top clue, but that honour has to go to Home Sweet Home for the … Read more >>

A topical offering from Cyclops, and a nice antidote to the otherwise sycophantic press coverage which has been so difficult to avoid. 7/26, a tour de force, has to get the vote for … Read more >>

There’s always a bit of fun to be found in the Eye, and the crossword is the icing on the cake in the back pages. This puzzle was in the usual style and … Read more >>

I thought this was a pretty straightforward Cyclops — solved in one easy session (not meaning to sound smug, of course). Clues that made me smile included 13a and 23a. Across 1 CYCLOPS … Read more >>

I found this Eye much harder than usual.  It took till 20A Niggle to find a clue I could cold solve, and only had a handful in place after the first pass. The … Read more >>

… well, most of them. I think my vote for top clue goes jointly to 23a and 4d this week. Across 7 DORDOGNE Party leader, finally dead and gone, jostled for a place … Read more >>

I  had trouble getting going with this puzzle. I read loads of clues before finally cold solving one with a definite answer at 6D, and then only had about a dozen answers in … Read more >>

… and all the better for it! The usual fun from Cyclops — a relatively quick solve, with nothing too tricky. Across 1 EMBRACES Hugs as Ed Miliband starts getting supporters EM = … Read more >>