Cyclops seems to be putting a prediction out there this fortnight…
Private Eye/Cyclops
Private Eye (Cyclops / 777) Subversive Brainwave
They’re fighting on the streets … … and there are enough subversive extremist factions in this puzzle stirring up trouble. Any despotic ruler in the territory is probably loving it, always best for … Read more >>
Cyclops 776 – Right-wing Jester
Cyclops is on tip-top form this fortnight, with some great surface reads and relatively topical material (given the constraints of setting lead times and a fortnightly publication, and a little Truss-ian serendipity)…
Cyclops 774 – Tacky Clickbait
A tale of two halves for your blogger, this fortnight…the bottom half seemed to fill up rather quickly, but the top half was a bit chewier…
Private Eye (Cyclops / 773) Eager Charlatan
You don’t have to leap on the mag and do the puzzle as soon as it pops through the letterbox. You have about a week to solve the puzzle so you can wait … Read more >>
Cyclops 772 – Easy-peasy Flip-flopping
There are two clue references to ‘ex-PM’s, but thankfully neither of them is a BoJo, and Cyclops bids ‘no Trumps’ as well…his New Year’s resolution seems to be holding!
Private Eye (Cyclops / 771) Poor Taste Alert
Not any more poor taste than usual, an Eye puzzle always deserves a trigger warning, but as that phrase appears in an answer column using it as the blog title was irresistible. And … Read more >>
Cyclops 770 – Indignant Nigel
I found this quite a gentle puzzle – maybe Cyclops is being kind to us at the start of the new year…
Private Eye (Cyclops / 769) Unnatural Euphoria
An enjoyable one from the Eye this issue. A big relief from the Xmas monster Quite a few anagrams in this puzzle but my word, there are a few absolute gems among them: … Read more >>
Cyclops 768 – 2023 Xmas Special
My turn to blog the cruciverbal marathon that is the Private Eye/Cyclops Christmas Special…about 2 and a 1/2 times as many clues/entries as usual, and exactly 2.5 times the Prize on offer!
Private Eye (Cyclops / 767) Overhasty Egomaniac
The overhasty egomaniac has been giving evidence at the Covid Inquiry this week. Amazing how he had a phone it was impossible to retrieve old messages from. But I’ll say not more about … Read more >>
Cyclops 766 – Populist Octopus
It is nearly 2024 and still Ronald T Dump pervades the headlines and the political landscape in America…and still provides Cyclops with wordplay for the letter T…
Private Eye (Cyclops / 765) Legal disgrace
A crossword built around the grotty state of the current political establishment, including a number of Tory names. There may be enough politics – for titillation there are just a few salacious points … Read more >>
Cyclops 764 – Orgasmic Cynicism
Apologies for the lateness and the brevity of this blog…I had it all set up and nearly ready on the train up to York…and I was about to finish it off at the hotel when I got the call of ‘Pub!…’ from kenmac…and who am I to disobey our great leader…