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 *****
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BD Rating - Difficulty *** - Enjoyment ***
Hello, everyone, and welcome to Friday. Continue reading "DT 31276"
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This puzzle was published on 20th June 2026
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
Greetings from Kolkata. A nice and 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 “DT 31271 (Full Review)”
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BD Rating – Toughie difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
Well, what an unexpected treat: an all-too-rare Toughie from Robyn. Then again, he does have other fish to fry these days. Not the friendliest of portcullis grids but, heck, it is a Thursday and the clueing is, of course, delightful – largely gentle-ish and supremely logical. A soupçon of French, football and (boo!) AI. Only the exotic 12a gave me any real pain, but its building blocks are clear. I could easily have added an extra half on for that alone but, on checking the clock, a muscular two it is. The floor is yours … howl at me if you must!
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31275
Hints and Tips by Gazza
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BD Rating – Difficulty ***  Enjoyment ****
Thanks to today’s setter for a very enjoyable puzzle. I wonder whether your guess as to their identity will correspond with mine.
Continue reading “DT 31275”
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BD Rating – Toughie Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
An enjoyable themed Donnybrook proper Wednesday Toughie where it probably helped if, like me, you knew the required ‘stuff’
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BD Rating – Difficulty ***/****  Enjoyment ****
Good morning everyone, and welcome to the midweek back-pager blog.  I found today’s crossword to be quite tricky – it took me longer than the previous two days’ puzzles put together. However, I expect many of you will say that you sailed through this one with no problems at all! Today we have a pangram for which a fair amount of general knowledge is needed, but everything is fairly clued. I especially liked 5d, 7d and 18d, but my favourite today is 14a.
Many thanks to our setter: I’m going to take a punt on Hudson, who I know is fond of ursine national treasures such as 1a, as well as the legendary singer whose first name appears in 2d.
Sunday Toughie No 229 by Zandio
Review by
Sloop John Bee
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This puzzle was published on the 14th of June 2026
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This puzzle was published on 14th June 2026
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
Greetings from Kolkata. A nice and gentle puzzle from Dada this Sunday that I enjoyed solving and thereafter writing a full review of his puzzle for your meticulous observation and valuable feedback. Continue reading “ST 3373 (Full Review)”
