Puzzle from the Weekend FT of May 2, 2026
No grid this week and a differently formatted blog simply because the crossword happened to not be downloadable. There was a download link on the FT site but clicking it produced only some unhelpful junk. I tried several times over the weekend. However it could be solved online.
I made very quick work of this puzzle. It strikes me as very Muddy and maybe one of Mudd’s best. My favourites are many: 3 (FIRST PERSON), 7 (GEL), 11 (STET), 12 (NATTERJACK), 14 (FAREWELL), 19 (HASTINGS) and 25 (HEN). Thank you Mudd.
ACROSS
1 Bulb switched off, heading for darkness in Irish house (8)
DAFFODIL – OFF (off) backwards (switched) + D[arkness] together in DAIL (Irish house, of parliament that is)
6 Glossy dish for bird (6)
MAGPIE – MAG (glossy) + PIE (dish)
9 Turning circle for religious minister (6)
CLERIC – anagram (turning) of circle
10 Writer has dropped bap into drink (8)
TROLLOPE – ROLL (bap) in (has dropped into) TOPE (drink). ‘Tope’ means to drink regularly.
11 Leave that text penned by best etymologist (4)
STET – hidden word (penned by)
12 Toad observing rabbit on rabbit, say (10)
NATTERJACK – NATTER (rabbit) + JACK (rabbit say)
14 I’m off food, effectively (8)
FAREWELL – FARE (food) + WELL (effectively)
16 Fielding error? (4)
SLIP – double definition
18 Name of authors wrong, though not entirely (4)
AMIS – AMIS[s] (wrong though not entirely). Referring to Kingsley and Martin.
19 Seaside town contains property, but no hospital (8)
HASTINGS – HAS THI[n]GS (contains property but no hospital)
21 Ancient ring may have gone with these rocks, unknown number visiting (10)
STONEHENGE – N (unkown number) in anagram (rocks) of GONE THESE
22 Measure certain charity boxes (4)
INCH – hidden word (boxes)
24 A good time cut short by reluctant Prince Charming (8)
LOTHARIO – LOTH (reluctant, a variant of LOATH) + A RIO[t] (a good time cut short). My thanks to BC for helping me parse this one.
26 Spool bouncin’ up and down (6)
BOBBIN – BOBBIN[g] (bouncin’ up and down)
28 By three, thoroughbred finally prepared – for this race? (3,5)
THE DERBY – anagram (prepared) of BY THREE [thoroughbre]D
DOWN
2 Set aside loads, saving fifty (5)
ALLOT – L (50) in (saving) A LOT (loads)
3 I worked for spinster (5,6)
FIRST PERSON – anagram (worked) of FOR SPINSTER
4 Drunk reacted, grabbing new bottle (8)
DECANTER – N (new) in (grabbing) anagram (drunk) of REACTED
5 Load washing line and don’t hold back (3,2,3,4,3)
LET IT ALL HANG OUT – double definition
6 Figure inspired by scooter rider was daydreaming (6)
MOONED – ONE (figure) in (inspired by) MOD (scooter rider)
7 Come together when member stands up (3)
GEL – LEG (member) reversed (stands up)
8 Puck on stage making a hit (9)
IMPACTING – IMP (puck) + ACTING (on stage)
13 Otherwise futile, jab is warranted (11)
JUSTIFIABLE – anagram (otherwise) of FUTILE JAB
15 Strapping on end of sleeve for astronaut (9)
ARMSTRONG – ARM (sleeve) + STRONG (strapping)
17 Disorder seen in Mediterranean island after uprising, come together (8)
ASSEMBLE – MESS (disorder) in (seen in) ELBA (Mediterranean island) backwards (after uprising)
20 Gleeful as a grasshopper? (6)
CHIRPY – double definition
23 Scale that’s cold on fin, perhaps (5)
CLIMB – C (cold) + LIMB (fin perhaps)
25 Chicken afterwards, no starter (3)
HEN – [t]HEN (afterwards no starter)
First‑time commenters will receive a verification email. Once verified, your comments will be auto‑approved.