Big Dave's Crossword Blog – Putting the words to lights – crossword clues explained in plain English

 Big Dave

It is with deep sadness that we have to let you know that Big Dave died peacefully on Wednesday evening. He had been in ill health for some time and was still grieving the death of his wife Pam earlier this year.

Big Dave set up this blog in January 2009 blogging first the Toughie Crossword and soon after the other Telegraph Cryptic Crosswords. … Continue reading

 Welcome

Welcome to Big Dave’s Crossword Blog

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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.

If this is your first time, or for more information about this site, please click on Continue reading “Welcome”

DT 30319

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30,319
Hints and tips by Huntsman

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BD Rating – Difficulty */**  –  Enjoyment ***

A dull & slightly chilly start to the day here in Harpenden that looks like it threatens a drop of rain, much needed by the golf courses, but there is none in the forecast .… Continue reading

DT 30318

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30318

Hints and tips by Falcon

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BD Rating – Difficulty **Enjoyment ***

Greetings from Ottawa, where conditions have moderated considerably after a week of temperatures reaching the low 30s °C. Senf seems to be no longer sharing his hot weather with us and hording it all in Manitoba.… Continue reading

Sunday Toughie 71 (Hints)

Sunday Toughie No 71

by Zandio

Hints and Tips by Sloop John Bee

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 A not too toughie today, if you liked Zandio’s offering on Friday I commend this puzzle to the house.
I have hinted half of 14a and 14d clues but as ever some tricky ones remain unhinted and only partially parsed. To be a bit petty, I think I need a trichologist to attend to my frizzy locks caused by 8d today (Correction I have just seen the Cockney rhyming slang required) not obvious to this northerner.

A drink or two for the boozers and a snack for the 20d, I hope you find enough checkers to fill in the 11a’s lights

 

Here we go…

 

Continue reading “Sunday Toughie 71 (Hints)”

EV 1593 Hints

Enigmatic Variations 1593 (Hints)

Apparently by Skylark

Hints and tips by Phibs

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When I provided hints for her last EV, Skylark was kind enough to explain the origin of her pseudonym, chosen because as a youngster she was entranced by Errol Garner’s rendition of the Johnny Mercer / Hoagy Carmichael song of that name. Since we will be searching for names in the completed grid, Mercer’s closing couplet may well be relevant: “So if you see them anywhere / Won’t you lead me there?”

Continue reading “EV 1593 Hints”

ST 3215 (Hints)

Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3215 (Hints)

Hints and tips by Senf

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A very good Sunday morning from Winnipeg where it is exceedingly warm – highs of 32 degrees feels like 38 – accompanied by, sometimes heavy, afternoon/evening thunder showers!

For me, etc, Dada continues to be not so ‘friendly’ – with three anagrams (one partial), one lurker, and one homophone, all in a slightly asymmetric 27 clues; with 14 hints ‘sprinkled’ throughout the grid, you should be able to get the checkers to enable the solving of the unhinted clues.… Continue reading

DT 30317 (Hints)

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30317 (Hints)

The Saturday Crossword Club (hosted by crypticsue)

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I wonder how many people know why Big Dave called the Saturday Hints post “The Saturday Crossword Club”. He used to listen to Saturday Club, the music programme on the BBC Light Programme/Radio 2,  now known as Sounds of the Sixties, while he was solving the Saturday Prize Puzzle and then preparing the hints and at the same time enjoying some of his favourite music.Continue reading

Toughie 3072

Toughie No 3072 by Elgar

Hints and tips by Dutch

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BD Rating – Difficulty *****Enjoyment *****

Such very sad news. Condolences to Dave’s son Richard. I offered to blog for Dave in 2015 and he said he only had the Friday toughie slot. He has been massively supportive throughout.… Continue reading