Claw last appeared in the Genius series in August of last year, with a very amusing puzzle based on a Castlemaine XXXX TV advertisement. Other than that, there are no other appearances by Claw that I can find in 2025, but such an accomplished setter must surely have other puzzles published, perhaps using different aliases.
Gemelo 22
Gemelo is settling down into an Observer routine and I am getting onto his wavelength a bit more.
Independent 12,267 by Dalibor
A grid by Dalibor for this Saturday.
Guardian Quick Cryptic 96 by Chandler
This week’s 11 x 11 crossword from the Guardian intended to teach cryptic crosswords, found here
Guardian Saturday Prize Crossword 29,912 by Brockwell (24 January 2026)
Trawling back through my (and others’) previous Brockwell blogs, they often seem to contain a theme…
Private Eye (Cyclops / 822) Ocelot Orgasms
As mc_rapper67 noted in his Xmas Special post, I have agreed to take over his slot blogging alternate Private Eye Cyclops puzzles. I’m a relative novice at solving crosswords and even more so blogging them, so please have empathy and use polite forms of address.
Listener No. 4902: Threes by Miles
… and Miles’ third Listener crossword. Welcome back! The last two involved us in mathematics. Are we going there again?
Azed Filming
We are making a special video about the Azed crossword to be screened at the puzzle centenary event on 19th March, and we would love for you to be part of it.
Guardian Cryptic crossword No 29917 by Serenos
Thank you to Serenos. Definitions are underlined in the clues.
Independent 12266 / Phi
A puzzle from Phi today in his usual Friday slot.
Financial Times 18,281 by XELA
A fun challenge from XELA!
Independent 12,265 by Mog
Mog is here to challenge and entertain us today.
Financial Times 18,280 by STEERPIKE
A fine puzzle by Steerpike this morning.
Guardian Cryptic crossword No 29,916 by Imogen
The puzzle may be found at https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/cryptic/29916.
Enigmatic Variations No.1730 – Popular by Skylark
“In each of 17 clues, there is a misprint in the wordplay part; correct letters, in clue order, spell out the first four words of the most POPULAR part of the theme. An extra letter must be removed from every other clue before solving, spelling out an instruction involving 21 cells in two straight lines. Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended.”