As Christmas Day draws near, the village elders would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year in 2026.
A special thank you to all the Telegraph setters, especially to those who have taken the time to leave comments on the blog, and to Chris Lancaster, James Brydon, Michael Baker and the editorial team at Telegraph Puzzles for their work over the year.
The blog relies on the dedication of our team of bloggers who provide hints for the cryptic and Toughie crosswords each week and our thanks go to them as well. We hope to provide blogs for the crosswords that are published on-line only on Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Fear not, the bloggers should receive advance copies of the crosswords so that they are not blogging under the influence of too much sherry or a surfeit of turkey!
We would also like to thank the regular team of contributors of crosswords to the Not The Saturday Prize Puzzle and Rookie Corner puzzles throughout the year and congratulate those who have been accepted as setters of crosswords in the national papers this year.
Finally, thank you to all the readers of the blog, those who leave comments and those who silently support us by viewing the blogs. If you are one of the silent majority, why not break cover and say hello.
Season’s greetings from Gazza, Crypticsue, Prolixic and Mr K.
Nadolig Llawen and thank you for all of the entertainment education and elucidation you provide throughout the year!
And a big thank you to the ‘Village Elders’ and everyone in the blogging team for all your hard work through the year. I suspect it takes more time and commitment than many of us realise.
Merry Christmas and all good wishes for 2026.
Thank you, Gazza, Crypticsue, Prolixic and Mr. K. for all your hard work on our behalf and a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and everyone on this wonderful blog.
I can’t put it any better than Steve Cowling @3. Many thanks and Merry Christmas to everyone.
Thank you all for yet another year of an outstanding blog.
Thank you all for all the pleasure this blog has given.
Long may it continue!
Merry Christmas and A Guid New Year to everyone.
A merry Christmas to all bloggers. Thanks for a great job.
Thank you all so very much to the “Village Elders”, setters and bloggers who continuously give us great joy throughout the whole year. I wish you all A very Happy Christmas and a Healthy and Prosperous New Year.
You missed the “I” in your e-mail address so went into approval mode.
A very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all who contribute to this blog.
A particular thanks to all the setters and hinters
My sincere thanks to all who contribute to this magnificent site. For so many of us, visiting and commenting on the blogs has become an important part of our days, so long may it continue.
A very Happy Christmas and a healthy and prosperous New Year to everyone.
Many thanks for all your hard work to keep BD’s vision alive – he would be rightly proud of you, and we are all so grateful for your help and guidance.
Wishing you a very merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
I don’t get round to commenting very often, but i’ll try harder next year.
Seasons Greetings to everyone who contributes especially the hinters. Your time and effort is very much appreciated. 🎄
Thanks to all involved with publishing the blog. It has improved my solving no end. Wishing you all a happy and peaceful Christmas and New Year.
I thank you and all the best for the upcoming season, Happy solving to everyone
Thank you to all who contribute to the blog in whatever guise and to the setters for the wonderful crosswords. This is a great community and long may it continue.
Happy Christmas to all and I wish you all a healthy and a successful crossword solving/setting New Year.
Season’s greetings and a huge thank you to everyone involved – a true life enhancer.
Thank you to all setters for the entertainment and to all bloggers for the help over this past year. I’d be lost without this blog! Season’s greetings to you all.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all Setters, Hinters and Bloggers. It’s been a pleasure. Gary and Val
Many thanks to the village elders and to everybody involved in providing this superb site. We are sure it involves a lot of hard work. We love reading the comments and we would really miss our weekly crosswords. We have learnt such a lot. A very Happy Christmas to all and a Happy, Healthy 2026.
Many thanks to the village elders, the setters, bloggers and all those who contribute to the blog, your time, diligence and wisdom are hugely appreciated, this is a wonderful community.
I wish all of you a Happy Christmas and all the best for 2026.
Felicitations to all setters and bloggers
May I add my thanks and seasonal greetings to the ‘ Village Elders’, all the setters, contributors and bloggers. I don’t get a chance to comment very often but my very best wishes to all.
Thank you all, I fortunately don’t visit everyday as I often manage the crossword by myself, nonetheless you are always there as a back up when I get stuck.
Thank you again
Many thanks for the pleasure and education your blog brings. Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas to you all and best wishes in the continuing New Year. I was wondering how I would go about possibly setting a crossword myself in that coming year, sometime?
I tried around with crosswordlabs a little but wondered if there was a way to find a fixed grid to work with or whatever is more suitable for the task and how to actually go about handing over clues and answers for everyones perusal/fair game – that sort of stuff.
Anyway, I am curious to read and comment on these blogs and try to keep learning what is and is not valid.
I’m interested in this too, ChannelZ. I’ve played around with puzzleme.amuselabs.com which is good for filling words into a grid ready for creating the clues. However, I think I need to spend some time constructing the grid itself (I’m assuming it’s not on to just use one of DT’s existing grids). I’d be interested to hear what others recommend.
Re-using grids is fine. Most newspapers have a finite list. The best thing to do is make sure you don’t have too many unchecked letters.
Crossword compiler software is a good place to start.
(crossword-compiler.com)
HelloBigDave44World!
I gave everyone two hints for The Christmas Spirit of Giving in another comment thread on Rookie Corner 608.
2a is, “Composure”, and 4d is, “Present”. 4d is mega dodgy but I’m just trying to see where the line between overly cryptic and just right lies. I’m proud of both but 2a, to be fair, is slightly questionable too, perhaps? Once again I’m trying to find that line.
__>> I will post all the answers with my semi-logical thoughts behind it in this very thread, .. and in Rookie Corner 608, for follow up purposes if anyone is interested in following it: I would dearly love any comment as I have asked others how I might be allowed to make a crossword for this blog if I’m up to scratch.
Obviously I would never wish to impose, I would just like to have a go at setting a higher quality crossword that others can see and take me to task on for better or for worse.
Answering to my crossword title: “Comping!”
Comping!
2a Composure, Seeing core I tried to find a container and contents clue, that being Sump with an o.
8a Enteric, A grid that gave this clue extra letters let me use the famous crete for the guts of it.
9a Cruel, This is where I get stuck. Sound-a-like clue for c in the context of the word and so for ruel.
10a Persist, I changed some of it but tried to keep ti for pitch. Does commentary work for press?
11a Enact, I love the word. Net and ac seemed to be perfect wordplay and proved too much fun!
** Not knowing all of Ximenes laws I am somewhat familiar with the idea of fairness as it’s M.O. **
1d Scar, We all like maths and we all need a few clues to get us into our scones and cream.
3d Surface, 6 anagrams meant fur case simply had to be worked on. Maybe over cereal? Why not!
4d Present, I tried to make pre synonymous with affore. Too complicated. I offer this for critique.
5d Mouth, I changed this several times. Insect made you smile!, is perhaps best but that is hindsight.
6d Except, I so wanted this to work, just because. Given intervening letters I hoped it would be let fly.
7d Primal, I worked hard on several versions of this. Rim and alp simply had to go together, and fairly.
8d Elixir, Enamoured to clue this. Spanish is common so if the clue read easily I thought it fair as is.
** My first crossword. Crossword labs changes the grids every time you add words so I worked with it so to speak and basically tried to think of cool words and see if I could clue them and maybe work it so they had intervening letters. Difficult with a changing grid, of which variations are presented to choose from but a choice had to be made. So some clues were too difficult but others I think maybe I got away with because intervening latters hopefully aided the solver so much if found first. How did I do?
Answering to my crossword title: “Comping!”
Comping!
2a Composure, Seeing core I tried to find a container and contents clue, that being Sump with an o.
8a Enteric, A grid that gave this clue extra letters let me use the famous crete for the guts of it.
9a Cruel, This is where I get stuck. Sound-a-like clue for c in the context of the word and so for ruel.
10a Persist, I changed some of it but tried to keep ti for pitch. Does commentary work for press?
11a Enact, I love the word. Net and ac seemed to be perfect wordplay and proved too much fun!
** Not knowing all of Ximenes laws I am somewhat familiar with the idea of fairness as it’s M.O. **
1d Scar, We all like maths and we all need a few clues to get us into our scones and cream.
3d Surface, 6 anagrams meant fur case simply had to be worked on. Maybe over cereal? Why not!
4d Present, I tried to make pre synonymous with affore. Too complicated. I offer this for critique.
5d Mouth, I changed this several times. Insect made you smile!, is perhaps best but that is hindsight.
6d Except, I so wanted this to work, just because. Given intervening letters I hoped it would be let fly.
7d Primal, I worked hard on several versions of this. Rim and alp simply had to go together, and fairly.
8d Elixir, Enamoured to clue this. Spanish is common so if the clue read easily I thought it fair as is.
** My first crossword. Crossword labs changes the grids every time you add words so I worked with it so to speak and basically tried to think of cool words and see if I could clue them and maybe work it so they had intervening letters. Difficult with a changing grid, of which variations are presented to choose from but a choice had to be made. So some clues were too difficult but others I think maybe I got away with because intervening latters hopefully aided the solver so much if found first. How did I do?
–> Dear Jon, How was the silly season for you? Mine was 42C in the Australian summer in little old Perth.. beautiful,.. we even had Turkey!
Can you see some of my thinking even if you couldn’t first see the words for yourself?
Got myself a Portugal shirt which was supposed to be for my Nephew but it wouldn’t have fit him and Santa just happened to need a red shirt. Seems to have super-man like qualities to it because I’m still wearing it now ( ..since the day I bought it) as I write. (I got him a white one instead, more appropriate size, aswell. Lol.. Christmas goes until the 6th January in some countries I believe so I’ve upheld that idea for a few years now.)
Many thanks to you all. This is a wonderful site and your time and efforts are truly appreciated!!!
Happy Winter Solstice! Thank you for all your work…often times much needed!
Yours sincerely,
One of the silent but appreciative majority.
🎅🎄
Happy Christmas to one and all, with lots of thanks for all your hard work all year, including all the bloggers without whom the crosswords would not be nearly as much fun. The time you take out of your busy days to provide the hints, pictures etc. is much appreciated.
My seasonal greetings and thanks go to all the setters and bloggers for their hard work in giving us all the daily incentive to exercise the grey cells.
I’m ever most grateful to all whose kindness, generosity, hard work and dedication make Big Dave’s Blog the wonderful site that it is. It is greatly appreciated. My warmest greetings to you all for the festive season.
Warnest seasons greetings too, to my fellow commenters and lurkers. This is site is very special.
Seasons’ greetings to all and a big thank you to the folk who work so hard to make this blog an interesting addition to our daily completion of the legendary DT back pager. Thank you all.
Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and a big thank you to all bloggers and contributers.
I will have to lie low while I do the Christmas day crossword.
Thanks and season’s greetings to all the setters, hinters and contributors. I tend to do the crossword in the evening ( habit from when I was working during lockdown as a way to unwind) so don’t often comment but really appreciate this friendly and helpful blog
Thank you all you bloggers, such a relief to have mysteries solved and enjoyment assured!
Thank you everyone. Happy Christmas from one who lies low. My lunchtime amusement wouldn’t be the same without the blog.
As a longtime lurker lulled out of, er, lurkdom I send deepest thanks and festive happiness to everyone on this blog, I doff my cap to each and all
Welcome to the blog, René.
Now that you’ve been lured out of lurkdom I hope that you’ll become a regular commenter.
.
Welcome, René and can I echo Gazza’s comments? Please comment again. 👍
Season’s greetings one and all 🎄
I am another long term lurker. Really appreciate all the hints. I have improved so much that I even tackle the Toughie now (albeit with limited success). Season’s greetings to all and many thanks to the bloggers.
Welcome to the blog, Fiona.
Keep tackling the Toughies and let us know about your progress on a regular basis.
Welcome, Fiona. Merry Christmas and do keep us updated on your progress. 👍
Have a ‘cracking’ Christmas, you crazy cruciverbalists.
Thank you and Merry Christmas to all the bloggers, setter and regular commenters. I read you every day, but this may be my first comment since last Christmas (Christmas being the only day of the year where I make a special effort to do that day’s crossword, rather than a random one from the last two years).
Belated seasons greetings to all bloggers, setters, commentators, and moderators.
Having been attempting to complete the Telegraph cryptic for the last 50 years, it is only since coming across Big Dave’s brilliant blog some years ago that I have learned enough of the techniques to manage to complete the puzzles on a regular basis. I read the blog with much enjoyment after completion of the crossword, but as I don’t usually sit down to start until after 10 p.m., everything that I may have commented on has already been said.
Best wishes to you all for the New Year.
There is always something else to say, Kentishman so please do comment. I, too, have been doing the puzzle for fifty years but only began to improve when I found this wonderful and friendly blog. I now even manage the occasional Toughie.
Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and best wishes for the new year. Another long-time lurker here, adding my gratitude and admiration to all who make this site such a welcoming and fun place to visit ♥️
Welcome to the blog. Now you’ve delurked, we hope you’ll start commenting on the daily crosswords
I echo Sue’s words, Robbie and would love to see you commenting regularly. 👍😊
This time of year is all about celebrating families, getting together and sharing time and thoughts. I am proud to feel part of this amazing family, and convey gratitude to the “village elders” who keep it alive and well.
I really enjoy this blog … all part of the pleasure of doing the Cryptic every day. It’s really great when the Setters drop in as well.
Many thanks to the Village Elders, all the rest of the blogging team, and fellow contributors.
My resolution for 2026 – I must try a few more Toughies.