Wednesday’s puzzle has been provided by Lark, a compiler whose work I am not that familiar with. I certainly enjoyed becoming a bit more familiar with it today.
Guardian Cryptic crossword No 29,862 by Paul
Thanks to Paul for the puzzle…
Financial Times 18,223 by IO
Thanks to IO for this morning’s challenge.
Inquisitor 1934: No Matter How by Kruger
Kruger provides this week’s IQ challenge.
Guardian 29,861 – Brendan
Brendan invariably provides a theme, and here it’s in clues, with every single one referring to university activities in one way or another. There’s a little bit of repetition of some elements, but otherwise a typically entertaining puzzle. Thanks to Brendan.
Independent 12209 / Hoskins
Hoskins provides the Tuesday Independent crossword challenge this week.
Financial Times 18,222 by SLORMGORM
A rollicking entry from Slormgorm today . . .
Spectator 2,728 – Friends and Relations by Fire
Fire is the setter of this themed Spectator puzzle.
Financial Times 18,221 by BOBCAT
BOBCAT kicks off the week…
Independent 12,208/Major
A solid and pleasing cryptic from Major to start the puzzling week in the Independent.
Guardian Cryptic crossword No 29,860 by Pasquale
A Monday puzzle from the Don himself.
Financial Times 18,220 by Guy
Puzzle from the Weekend FT of November 22, 2025
Guardian Quiptic 1.357/Hectence
Our longest-standing provider of Guardian Quiptics, Hectence, is on the oche today.
Independent on Sunday 1,865/Filbert
I often struggle with a Filbert Sunday puzzle, and this one certainly had some intricate wordplay; but it fell out nicely in the end.
Gemelo No. 15 – it could be verse
A nice crossword from Gemelo but probably not one of his most difficult. The construction is often quite simple and one just has to see it.
He has made a rod for his back by having the clues written in iambic pentameter with an ABAB rhyme scheme. This is very clever and must have made it quite difficult for him, but I can’t see the point. The solver is in just the same position as normal; all the extra difficulty is with the setter: one can admire his ingenuity but doesn’t have to do anything special.
Definitions underlined, in crimson. Anagram indicators indicated (like this)*.