This is the fortieth Guardian Quick Cryptic, a series of 11 x 11 crosswords designed to support beginners learning cryptic crosswords. The whole point of these crosswords is support and encouragement of new solvers, so special rules for these crosswords apply – see here – those rules include not posting solving times. This puzzle can be found here.
Private Eye (Cyclops/794) Xmas Monster
This was a Pseuds Corner special. An event that recurs every leap year.
I’m sure there is a very good reason.
Pseuds Corner is one of the several longstanding mini sections in the Eye (link) and it deserves it longevity.
Guardian Saturday Prize Crossword 29,577 by Kite (28 December 2024)
What could be more traditional than doing a jigsaw over the Xmas/New Year period?! Kite provides an alphabetical one for us here, and also provides me with the opportunity for my 500th blog on this site…
The Guardian year in crosswords 2024
Posted on behalf of Mitz
Listener No 4846, “Malined Work” by Hypnos
Today sees the migration of Listen With Others to fifteensquared under the category Listener. I have been setting blogs over at LWO for the best part of fifteen years although there has been … Read more >>
Listener 4846 Malined Work by Hypnos
A welcome return to the Listener by Hypnos, aka Slueth and Shamus and indeed Phlip Marlow in the Church Times under his own name (spot the references to his near-namesake investigator) … I … Read more >>
Guardian 29,582 – Yank
A few American terms and references in this one, as befits the setter’s pseudonym, but nothing too outrageous. I enjoyed this, though there’s one parsing I’m not sure of. Thanks to Yank. … Read more >>
Independent 11930 / Phi
Eccles may not have been in his regular Wednesday slot this week, but Phi starts his 2025 offerings in his usual Independent Friday slot. I don’t think there is a … Read more >>
Financial Times 17,939 by SOLOMON
A witty, fun challenge from SOLOMON who is fast becoming one of my favorite setters.
Guardian Prize Crossword 29572 / Maskarade
We have the Christmas Prize crossword this week and it’s no surprise to see Maskarade as the setter. The preamble told us that the Across solutions are all names of composers, … Read more >>
Only Connect New Year’s Eve crosswords
Anyone who watched the last Only Connect of 2024 may be wondering about the crossword which was displayed prominently in the foreground. Victoria referenced it during the show. Here are links to the … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic 29,581 by Ludwig
A wonderful themed crossword from Ludwig.
Independent 11,929 by Eccles
Eccles, but not in his usual Wednesday slot; everything tends to move around a bit at this time of year.
Financial Times 17,938 by NEO
A fun start to my 2025 blogging experience.
Enigmatic Variations No.1674 – Bang! by Chiffchaff
Rather a long preamble for this puzzle…