Putting the words to lights – crossword clues explained in plain English
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You have reached the world’s biggest and best crossword blog. If you are looking for help with the Daily and Sunday Telegraph cryptic crosswords or the Enigmatic Variations advanced cryptic, a total of 13 puzzles a week, then you have come to the right place.
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BD Rating – Toughie Difficulty ****** – Enjoyment *****
If only solving the clues had been as easy as spotting the theme which had obviously been chosen specially for today!
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BD Rating - Difficulty *** - Enjoyment ***
Hello, everyone, and welcome to Friday. Continue reading "DT 31396"
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This puzzle was published on 7th November 2026
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
Greetings from Kolkata. A lovely, straightforward Saturday puzzle from the setter that I enjoyed solving and thereafter writing a review of the same for your kind perusal and significant feedback. Continue reading “31391 (Full Review)”
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BD Rating – Toughie difficulty **/*** – Enjoyment ****
I once said that Bandit takes “big swings with brio and invention [that don’t] all quite land”. And I stand by that slightly backhanded compliment – give me flair that doesn’t always stick over flawless boilerplate, every day of the week and twice on Sundays. In particular, there are some laudably original definitions here. As for difficulty, I was minded to go for a ** as I don’t think the parsing’s that tricky and the vocab is pretty standard. However … I have relented and tacked on another half for 8d’s Kcit-esque GK. Despite the crossers – and definition – making it glaringly obvious, you either know this or you don’t. And if – like me – you’ve been forced to listen to the bloomin’ thing the whole way through, you’re going to hate Bandit until at least teatime! The floor, as ever, is yours.
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31395
Hints and Tips by Gazza
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** Enjoyment ****
We have an entertaining puzzle today with several named individuals in the clues (though none of them are very obscure). I enjoyed it a lot – many thanks to our setter.
Continue reading “DT 31395”
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BD Rating – Toughie Difficulty **/*** – Enjoyment ***
Kcit set us a crossword which I thought was about right for a Wednesday Toughie – the poor old repetition radar does, however, need a new battery after bleeping several times during the solving process Continue reading “Toughie 3790”
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BD Rating – Difficulty **/*** Enjoyment ****
Good morning everyone, and welcome to the midweek back-pager blog. I found today’s puzzle to be suitably tricky for a Wednesday: some artistic, geographical and literary general knowledge is required, and there are one or two rather 17d words. Amongst my favourite clues were 8d, 13d, 15d and 23d, but tying for top spot today are 6d and 10a. I also liked the Quickie pun. Many thanks to our setter.
Sunday Toughie No 249 by Zandio
Full Review by Gazza
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This puzzle was published on 01/11/26
We have a very enjoyable Zandio puzzle this week.
Continue reading “Sunday Toughie 249 (full review)”