Private Eye/Cyclops

Number 400 Eh! We only get 26 issues of this esteemed organ each year – if we’re lucky – so I reckon that’s 16 years that Cyclops has been working at the sharp … Read more >>

Am I alone in finding this not too hard this time? I was getting a bit worried as my subscription copy did not arrive till Friday – which is at least a day … Read more >>

Trouble with overconfidently putting in a couple of answers this time caused hold-ups but nothing that couldn’t be sorted out in the same solving session. Across 8 PRITHEE (HI PETER)* AInd: outed 9 … Read more >>

Lots of anagrams this time with one interesting reverse anagram.  That probably contributed to the feeling that nothing that was particularly difficult. I suspect I would have recorded a fast solve time if … Read more >>

A couple of topical answers to show the setting is reasonably up-to-date. From the moment it was announced I thought Antony Gormley’s 4th plinth effort was a nice idea, and he is one … Read more >>

Good stuff from Mr C in this issue.  Some tricky clues which I don’t think I could get without the crossing letters, but plenty pencilled in after a first pass to get going. … Read more >>

Solving this went in waves.  A smattering of easy clues were entered quickly (e.g. Louvre, Political Asylum) and I thought it would be an easy solve.  Then I came to a halt and … Read more >>

Across 7 ENVELOP ENV[y] (POLE)* AInd: dancing 8 SLIGHT DD 9/16 PUBLIC DEMONSTRATION (DOMINANT POLICE BRUTES – [justic]E)* AInd: As broken up. What an apt long anagram and &Lit clue this was.  Top … Read more >>

Judging by the scrawl on the crossy I’m blogging from I must’ve had a few when solving this.  So as I finished it, it was probably on the easy side for an Eye. … Read more >>

A particularly enjoyable offering in this issue. Not terribly hard, but with some cracking clues with the kind of surface readings we hope to see, for a laugh. Across 9 OFF-DAYS (DAFFY O … Read more >>

Nothing too onerous here – I fair whipped through this one on half a journey home – but a few clues had some fairly convoluted wordplay. Across 1 SHRUB (BUSH)* AInd: pissed, around … Read more >>

One of those where I couldn’t get the last couple for days.   22D was the bugbear.  The eureka moment when I finally thought of RAG for “mock” was nice, but I’m glad … Read more >>

A solid outing in this issue. Nothing to moan about. Nothing to praise to the rafters perhaps but tight clueing leading to certain answers. I solved this quite swiftly (approx. 1 pint) but … Read more >>

I enjoyed this and didn’t find it as hard as last time. How hard anyone finds a puzzle must vary not just from puzzle to puzzle and person to person but also depends … Read more >>

This was again harder than most Eye crosswords with a few very tough clues. I had trouble in the bottom half – and particular trouble with number 2. Across 1 LAMB CHOP LAMB … Read more >>