Financial Times 14,151 by Falcon
An enjoyable challenge Across 1 MAHLER (Gustav – composer) MAILER (Norman) H[ead] for I (Italian) 4 ADVANCED dd 10 JUMP LEADS (help to start car) JUMP (clear) LEADS (clues) 11 … Read more >>
Jed
Beelzebub 1182
Fiendishly challenging Across 1 Got on without last of stage make-up FARD (make-up) [stag]E from FARED (got on) 6 Thin bit of vaulting in moulded steel SVELTE (thin) V[aulting] in … Read more >>
Financial Times 14,145 by Gaff
Cracking topical theme using lots of clever devices Across 1 GEORGE LAZENBY (On HM Secret Service) (Z GENERAL BOGEY)* 8 REINVENTS (makes up again) REIN (controller) VENTS (lets off steam) … Read more >>
Financial Times 14,139 by Orense
Good start to the day Across 1 PLAINTIFF (litigant) sounds like (say) PLANE TIFF 6 STICK (criticism) S[kinhead] TICK (credit) 9 LOCUM (doctor) sounds like (rumours) LOW COME (depression, arrive) … Read more >>
Beelzebub 1180
Easier end of the Beelzebub spectrum but still a satisfying challenge Across 1 Not entirely direct about direct debit’s former function STEDDE (function obs) DD (direct debit) in STEE[r] (direct) … Read more >>
Financial Times 14,131 by Cinephile
Masterly polychromic strokes Across 9 ONE ACROSS (not in this puzzle) (OCEAN)* ROSS (sea) 10 AZURE (heraldic colour) sounds like HAS YOUR (common) 11 PURPURE (heraldic colour) PUR[e] PURE (clean) … Read more >>
Financial Times 14,127 by Hamilton
A mixed challenge Across 9 HEARTACHE (anguish) HE (man) ART (skill) ACHE (longing) 10 GRIPE (complain) G[eorge] RIPE (ready) 11 UNCANNY (mysterious) UNC[le] (relative cut short) ANN (girl) [holida]Y 12 … Read more >>
Beelzebub 1178
This was a very hard nut to crack Across 1 Fair girl is past her prime, acting ISOLDA (girl’s name meaning fair) IS OLD (past her prime) A (acting) 6 … Read more >>
Financial Times 14,121 by Alberich
Another smasher from Alberich Across 1 MONEY-SPINNER (spider) and plan to make rich (rolling) 10 RETIREE (no longer working) RE (on) TIREE (isle) 11 DIGITAL (clock) GIT (stupid sort) in … Read more >>
Financial Times 14,115 by Gaff
This was very 24 across All dwarves from The Hobbit marked with + Across 1 HAY BALING (making stacks) Y (unknown) BALI+ in HAG (witch) 6 SCOOP dd 9 … Read more >>
Beelzebub 1176
Cracking challenge Across 3 Promising mischief beside Luxembourg border IMPLEDGING (promising) IMP (mischief) L (Luxembourg) EDGING (border) 9 Head away from frightening light AIRY (light) [h]AIRY (frightening) 10 Subdued question … Read more >>
Financial Times 14,109 by Falcon
An enjoyable puzzle Across 1 POLTERGEIST (supernatural being) (ROGET SPELT I)* 7 HOP (short journey) H (husband) OP (work) 9 SOFIA (capital of Bulgaria) SO (very) F (fine) I (one) … Read more >>
Financial Times 14,107 by Aardvark
Fiendishly clever Across 1 BIOPIC (film) I (international) OP (work) in BIC (pen) 5 DIES AWAY (disappears) (A WISE)* in DAY (24hrs) 9 BUTTRESS (prop) TT (races) RES (reserve) in … Read more >>
Financial Times 14,103 by Bradman
Really enjoyable smooth solve Across 1 GASBAG (chatterbox) ASB[o] (brief restriction) in GAG (joke) 4 ACHILLES (hero) CHILL (cold) in SEA< (ocean returning) 9 ASTERN (behind) like AS TERN (bird … Read more >>
Beelzebub 1174
Worthy adversary provides a light touch of wit Across 1 Wood a problem for golfer, mostly limiting success SHITTIM (wood) HIT (success) in STIM[y] (golfing problem on putting green, almost) … Read more >>