Sincere apologies for the late blog.
Guardian Quiptic 1,407/Pangakupu
I am still slightly glum about the loss of the Independent daily cryptic from the paper. Pangakupu’s alter ego Phi was a regular Friday contributor to that series of puzzles, so I cheered up when my first Quiptic blog after that loss turned out to be one from our New Zealand based setter.
Everyman 4,176
A good sound Everyman which I found a bit easier than usual. Often I get hung up on some answer, but not in this case. All the usual Everyman trademarks are there and are coloured in the diagram.
Definitions in crimson, underlined. Indicators (homophone, hidden, containment, anagram, juxtaposition, etc) in italics. Anagrams indicated *(like this) or (like this)*. Link-words in green. Homophones indicated “like this” and deletions [like this].
Guardian Quick Cryptic 136 by Dice
This week’s 11 x 11 crossword from the Guardian intended to teach cryptic crosswords, found here
Guardian Saturday Prize Crossword 30,152 by Brockwell (31 October 2026)
25A looks to be the key to this Brockwell Prize Puzzle, with several cross-references to it amongst the other clues…
Listener No 4942 Jet Wheels by Almasti
Almasti is a relatively new Listener setter. We saw his first in 2024 on the subject of Morris dancing.
Guardian Cryptic 30,157 by Paul
The puzzle is available to solve online or download here.
Financial Times 18,525 by MUDD
A fun puzzle from MUDD.
Financial Times 18,524 by SLEUTH
Sleuth is this morning’s setter.
Guardian Cryptic crossword No 30,156 by Omnibus
The puzzle may be found at https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/cryptic/30156.
Enigmatic Variations No.1770 – Discovery by Elgar
“Completing the four unclued perimetrical names (from US, J ROVED LONG for the unchecked letters) and the three barred-off cells will allow solvers to highlight two locations, one alphabetical and one “numerical” (27 cells in total), thereby illustrating a historical DISCOVERY. Chambers (2016) is recommended; Collins and other sources will confirm 34.”
Guardian 30,155 / Brendan
An ingenious mid-week teaser from Brendan
Financial Times 18,523 by IO
Quite a fiendish challenge from IO this morning.
Guardian Cryptic crossword No 30,154 by Philistine
An enjoyable solve with some fun clueing – I especially liked 1ac/5ac, 13ac, 21ac, and 23ac. Thanks to Philistine for the puzzle