“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.”
Financial Times 18,279 by IO
Thanks to IO for the challenge!
Independent 12,264 by Eccles
Eccles is back in his Wednesday slot this week.
Guardian Cryptic crossword No 29,915 by Qaos
I am filling in for Eileen today. I cut my teeth on the Guardian crossword, but unfortunately, I seldom have time to solve the weekday puzzles anymore.
Independent 12,263 / Filbert
Filbert has produced this week’s Tuesday puzzle. It is the second time in a row that it has fallen to me to blog a crossword by this setter.
Inquisitor 1943: Split Personality by Phi
Phi adds to his long list of Inquisitor puzzles with one entitled Split Personailty.
Guardian Cryptic crossword No 29,914 by Fed
A fun solve with a nice mix of clues and some trickier parsings. My favourites were 28ac, 29ac, 6dn, and 9dn. Thanks to Fed for the puzzle
Financial Times 18,278 by SLORMGORM
My blogging slot seems to coincide often with Slormgorm’s FT appearances, and once again, I have enjoyed doing the write-up on one of these gems.
Spectator 2734: Back-up by Doc
This crossword can be found at https://spectator.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/crossword-10012026.pdf
MyCrossword Featured crossword No 3 by Longyfan
The first two MyCrossword featured puzzles seem to have gone down pretty well here, so I’m happy to continue the sequence. The puzzle is at https://mycrossword.co.uk/featured/3.
Financial Times 18,277 by MOO
MOO kicks off the week…
Guardian 29,913 – Philistine
A fun puzzle for a chilly Monday from Philistine, with a couple of his trademark lift-and-separate clues, two nice &lits (aka clue-as-definition or all-in one), and one whose definition may prove controversial. (Or maybe not – it’s been changed.) Thanks to Philistine.
Independent 12,262/Magus
This is the first time Magus and I have met on Fifteensquared.
Financial Times 18,276 by Guy
Puzzle from the Weekend FT of January 24, 2026
Financial Times Sunday 129 – News by Jason
The regular cruciverbal round-up of the month’s events. Find it to solve online or download and print at ft.com/crossword