One of those puzzles where it was mostly easy but I was left with 2 or 3 where I had all the crossing letters but was still struggling to think of the answers.
Private Eye (Cyclops / 715) Majestic evacuation
This puzzle was a bit of a stinker, in both senses. There is a lot of untreated effluent floating around these days released by the piss-poor privatised water companies that have dished out … Read more >>
Financial Times 16,949 by SLORMGORM
A Monday morning SLORMGORM…
Guardian Cryptic 28,609 by Vulcan
The puzzle may be found at https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/cryptic/28609.
Everyman 3,918/14 November
I enjoyed this one from Everyman, with a couple of clues that I particularly liked. One or two queries that I’m sure contributors will help resolve. And for those collecting such things, the … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1656 Hoskins
Thank you to Hoskins. Definitions are underlined in the clues. Across 1. A character seen on autumn break (4,5) FALL APART : [ A + PART(a character/a role in, say, a play) ] … Read more >>
Azed 2579
A gentle walk in the park (relatively speaking) after the previous week’s tricky Letters Latent. Thanks to Azed. Across 1 SVARABHAKTI Kasbah TV air waves demonstrating vocalic development (11)(KASBAH TV AIR)* – … Read more >>
Independent 10,954 by Serpent
The penultimate Saturday in November and another tussle with Serpent. This one seemed to take me longer than it should have, which is never a bad thing. Some excellent mis-directions are my excuse … Read more >>
Guardian Prize 28,602 by Brendan
There’s a royal reference in every clue except two, where the answers are thematic.
Independent 10,953 / Phi
Phi is occupying his usual end-of-week slot today. I found this to be a medium-difficulty puzzle, one through which I made steady progress. In the end, I needed to cheat to get 7, … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic 28,607 by Philistine
The puzzle may be found at https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/cryptic/28607.
Financial Times 16,947 by NEO
A relatively easy end to the workweek with this offering from NEO.
Guardian 28,606 / Crucible
It’s always a pleasure to see Crucible’s name on a puzzle and this one didn’t disappoint. There seems to be a mini-theme of numbers running through the clues, with the central 16ac giving … Read more >>
Financial Times 16,946 by ARTEXLEN
Artexlen is today's challenger.
Independent 10952 / Klingsor
Klingsor tests us today. Klingsor usually includes at least one musical reference in the grid, with SONATA (6 down) being the example today. CHINE at 17 across looks like an … Read more >>