Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31127 (Hints)
The Saturday Crossword Club (hosted by crypticsue)
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A deceptively beautiful sunny morning where the wind chill has lowered the temperature to such an extent that this is definitely a day for staying warm indoors solving crosswords
I am not sure who set the first Saturday Prize Puzzle of 2026 but would suggest, if you are struggling to get started, that you ‘start with the Downs’
Please ask for help if you are stuck on clues I haven’t hinted, but before doing so, please read the comments that appear before yours, so that you are not duplicating questions, and make sure you obey both THE INSTRUCTIONS IN RED at the end of the Hints and the blog’s Comment Etiquette – Big Dave’s Crossword Blog)
Most of the terms used in these hints are explained in the Glossary and examples are available by clicking on the entry under “See also”. Where the hint describes a construct as “usual” this means that more help can be found in The Usual Suspects, which gives a number of the elements commonly used in the wordplay. Another useful page is Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing, which features words with meanings that are not always immediately obvious.
A full review of this puzzle will be published after the closing date for submissions.
Across
6a Show book in Marseilles that’s revitalised art there? (3,10)
Insert the abbreviation for Book into an anagram (that’s revitalised) of MARSEILLES and follow with the French word for are (art)
8a Reform character following a mania (6)
I am really only including this in the hints because I like the surface reading of the clue! The abbreviation for Following, A (from the clue) and a mania
11a Tell where hare might be? (6)
Split 2,4 this might be where a hare might have its bed. My friend and I were once out gleaning onions and had she not bent down to pick one up, we would never have seen the well-hidden hare hiding next to it. Her cairn terrier missed it altogether. One of our best walking experiences ever
25a Escape Baker suggests? (8)
A cryptic crossword solver might look at this escape, split it 5,3 and see what type of clue our setter is suggesting
26a Restricted vermouth filling well (6)
The informal abbreviation for Italian Vermouth ‘filling’ an adverb meaning well
27a Shocking killer one featured in thrilling daily? (8,5)
A figurative synonym for thrilling and I (one) inserted into a daily cleaner
Down
1d Meat slice left over during flight (8)
The abbreviation for Left and the cricket abbreviation for Over inserted into (during) a flight
6d Picking up speed, run in at an angle on camber (8,5)
The cricket abbreviation for Run inserted into a way of saying at an angle, followed by a camber
7d Citizen, with hesitation, accepts dull discussion topic (7,6)
A citizen of a country and an interjection of hesitation ‘accepts’ a synonym for dull, usually related to the surface of something
17d Object broken after performance (8)
An anagram (broken) of AFTER followed by a performance
19d Apply drug – right time to stop discomfort (7)
The single letter by which a certain drug is known and the abbreviations for Right and Time ‘stop’ or fill some discomfort
22d Sulphur chemist stocks and promotes (6)
A high street chemist ‘stocks’ the chemical symbol for sulphur
As this is a Prize crossword, please don’t put any ANSWERS, whether WHOLE, PARTIAL or INCORRECT, or any ALTERNATIVE CLUES in your comment. If in doubt, leave it out
Please read these instructions carefully – they are not subject to debate or discussion. Offending comments may be redacted or, in extreme cases, deleted. In all cases the administrator’s decision is final.
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The Quick Crossword pun: BEEF + RENDING = BEFRIENDING
It took me a while to get into today’s offering but the four long ones fired the starting pistol. I learnt a new word at 11a and am surprised I hadn’t come across it before. I put the wrong last letter in at 12a until I read the clue again. Plenty to like such as the deduced number at 14a and the citizen at 7d but my COTD goes to the staggered hedges at 21d.
Thank you, setter for the fun. I’m not sure if it’s NYDK or not. Thank you, CS for the hints.
Sunny and frosty in The Marches. It looks pretty but the roads are treacherous.
Almost a DNF – struggled with 8a and 25a but got there in the end.
Thanks to Steve above – had to change the last letter in 12a – just didn’t follow the instructions properly!
2*/4*
Thanks to CS and Setter – I don’t think its a NYDK production this week but I always get this wrong.
8a favourite.
What a great puzzle, I thoroughly enjoyed it with plenty of pennies dropping all around.
Top picks for me were 6d, 19d, 25a, 27a and 10a.
Thanks to CrypticSue, hope you are now on the mend, and to the setter.
An enjoyable crossword to keep me occupied when confined to the house. Today’s favourite 8a.
Cleared four inches of snow from the drive and that’s me inside for the rest of the day. We are just north of Aberdeen and it is chaotic further inland. Buses in ditches and minor roads blocked. My sympathies to those struggling to get to work.
Thanks to the setter and CS.
Like Steve C said, the four long clues falling fairly easily cracked the puzzle wide open.
Amongst some amusing wordplay, I’ve ticked the Reform character in 8a, the fabulous quartet in 3d and the sulphur chemists stocks in 22d.
My thanks to our setter and CS.
This was a really good and testing crossword as befits a SPP. Tough in places but all fairly and expertly clued, with 8 and 25a my particular favourites.
Many thanks to our setter and of course to Sue.
All completed and I was feeling rather pleased with myself until I realised I also have put the wrong end letter on 12a, I must do better! I too had not heard of the term at 11a.
Many thanks to the setter and to CS for the hints.
I also put the wrong letter in at the end of 12 across 🥺
2*/3*. A good fun start to the SPP series in 2026 and great to have CS back in the blogging chair.
2d is sadly an obsolete term but one that I personally much prefer to the current version.
6a was my favourite.
Many thanks to NYDK (?) and to CS.
I took liked 6a and solved it just because it couldn’t be anything else. However, even with hints I can’t see how the last two letters are arrived at. As you might guess I’m very much still wearing L plates!
Welcome to the blog.
I’ll find my copy of the solved crossword and see if I can help
Look up camber either in the dictionary or on line
I think the query relates to 6a, not 6d.
So it does. It is so cold my brain appears to have frozen up
My advice for the last two letters of 6a would be to look up the last two letters and add the word French
A fine crossword on a friendly grid that didn’t have many pauses.
I got the longies early doors which helped. ‘Art’ in 1a is such a random one which would have rookies throwing in the pen thinking what’s the point. I’m not a fan as I think it’s desperate.
I didn’t know the term for vermouth which is completely bonkers. But, it has duly been noted.
My podium is 25a (I love these sort of clues), 27a and 3d.
MT to the setter (it feels like NYPD Blue even though there are no sprawlers) and she of the crypt.
3*/4*
Seemed to tune in to our setter’s wavelength quite easily this morning and found solving this a straightforward exercise – wish the same could be said of every day! Can’t see beyond 8a for my favourite, made me laugh out loud.
Thanks to whoever set this one and to CS for the hints – hope you’re not overdoing things.
I really enjoyed this puzzle. Gentler than some but a very satisfying solve for me. First one in was 1a but this was the last to parse – ‘art’ as a verb stumped me. I’d never heard the hare-related word before either. I was heading for a personal best time then several clues in the south west took almost as long as the rest. If I’ve understood the parsing of 25a correctly I thought it it was very cleaver indeed. The only thing that would have improved this puzzle for me would be a Spoonerism which we haven’t had for a while I don’t think. Thank you very much setter and CS.
An enjoyable start to the new year of SPPs with a number of pauses for thought. Possibly the work of NYDK trying to confuse us or possibly not – 2.5*/3.5*
Candidates for favourite – 14a, 25a, and 22d – and the winner is 22d.
Thanks to whomsoever and CS – it’s good to ‘see’ you back in the SPP chair.
I can only reiterate what all our bloggers have said; a very pleasing SPP with the new word at 11a duly noted.
For 26a, gin and ** are the ingredients for a classic sweet martini.
My COTD has to be 6d.
Thanks to the setter and CS.
Exactly. It was very much ‘the’ thing to ask for in my youth. One felt very sophisticated!
26a reminded me of the parents drinking “gin and French” in preference to “gin and mixed” or gin and the 26a component!
A very enjoyable 1st SPP of the new year. Largely straightforward other than twigging the archaic art & needing Mr G to tell me post solve what the last 4 letters of had to do with a hare. Lots to like but if pushed for a podium 8&25a +3d would be my picks.
Thanks to the setter & good to have Sue back in the Sat chair.
Not too bad and some fun clues
I thought this was very good!
Ticks awarded to 6a, 1d and 3d.
Many thanks to the setter and to CS.
Very enjoyable. My loi was 4d which, somewhat embarrassingly, took me and age. Once the four long clues fell, it opened out the remainder (apart from 4d) quite quickly. Cotd for me is the Dantean hell. Thanks to NYDK, if he, or whomever and welcome back to CS.
Well that’s it. The pen is all but guaranteed. I have placed a chair by the front door, and I shall sit there, every morning, ready to welcome Robert The Postman as he delivers my prize.
Thnaks to the setter and great to see Super Sue back in her rightful place.
Found this a bit tricky but have to endure a technical ‘did not finish’ due to what American Football would call ‘pass interference’. Just had two left, 25a and 21d but after returning from the daunting excitement of a trip to Aldi, Mrs. AP had filled them in!!! 21d with its staggered hedges then became her (my) her / our clue of the day!!
Many thanks to the setter (not sure about NYDK for this one) and Cryptic Sue!
Hi AP and HNY to you.
I love the Mrs AP story.
Pray, tell me, what are the cruciverbal house rules?
I don’t know about Mr. & Mrs. AP but my rule is “Don’t you dare touch the crossword!”
I don’t know about Mr. & Mrs. AP but my rule is “Don’t you dare touch the crossword!”
I posted the comment above once and was told I was posting too quickly and to slow down.
No house rules as Mrs AP ‘does not do cryptics’! So I tried to explain a reverse anagram and she replied ‘I don’t know about that but the answer was obvious’ ☺. I left it there with congratulations as I’d stared at those couple for quite a few mins before I went out.
And HNY to you too!!
Brilliant!
My mother was the same with my father. She had immense knowledge so often came out with an answer from the definition.
She was a great foil for him.
Love your comment too, SC!
Slightly different house rules here….don’t touch my crossword until invited…..
What does happen though, is, Mr Meringue sits down beside me then suddenly I can solve the missing clues…..a mystery to me….
He takes the credit of course.
You’re a winning team, OM.
HNY to you and safe travels.
When I first met my wife I passed a half completed crossword across for her to look at. I was then amazed as she, with barely no hesitation, starting filling in clue after clue. I was highly impressed until I looked at her answers. As an English graduate, with an extensive vocabulary, she had just filled in any words that happened to fit……sacrilege! But “ reader I did marry her” 😂
And, no doubt, kept the crossword well hidden from then on. 😊
She is allowed controlled access…..😂
That’s hilarious!
These ‘other half’ stories are great.
Any more pearlers out there?
There was a very famous actor who used to quickly fill in the answers while relaxing at his club – I forget who. One day another member picked up the newspaper after he left and was surprised to find all the squares filled in, but none of them matched the clues 😊.
Splendid.
I’d love to know who….Peter Sellers maybe? He was Inspector Clueseau, after all.
Ouch.
Sharing crosswords is fraught with danger. Time to revisit this, me thinks?
Superb!
The best.
Thanks to the Setter and CS for the hints. We got stuck on a couple of clues but got them eventually. We don’t usually do so well with Prize Puzzles.
This doesn’t appear to be a NYDK puzzle this week, but then again, what do I know. Puzzle went in east to west for me.
Lots of parsing again in today’s puzzle that I had trouble with.
2.5*/3.5*
Favourite contenders were 6a, 9d, 14d, 25a, 27a & 22d — with top two 9a & 22d
Smiles for 9a, 25a & 21d
Thanks to setter & CS
Pleased to finish this without recourse to the Hints Lady, although delighted to see she is back holding the reins. I’m afraid I have been off kilter for the last couple of weeks which is annoying as I had almost finished a ditty ( I dare not say ‘poem’) as an end of year salutation. The moment has now passed, but I will just say how much the Setters, Hinters and BD community mean to me. This was a cracker of a guzzle. 1a came immediately, I did wonder if we were on the verge of a pangram and I did notice an inordinate number of bees buzzing around. 26a was almost too clever! Many thanks to Setter and CeeSue, glad to see you back in harness.
Great to hear from you, DG, and I’m sorry to read that things were a bit gloomy.
I’m sure you and your nearest and dearest enjoyed it as there ain’t much that gets you down. You bring so much joy to people.
I’m sorry but we just HAVE to see your ditty. The moment is never gone with you.
Erm … it is me. Thought I’d fool everyone by not using any linked clues. Anyhow, it doesn’t appear I fooled anyone.
Welcome back Sue. Hope that leggy heals up nicely. I had a knee op last year, which I enjoyed immensely, as you can imagine. Too much time running around on the playing fields of … a comprehensive school. It eventually comes back to bite you, as my old dad used to remind me constantly.
HNY to everyone from NYDK.
Well blow me down, NYDK! I would not have put this down as one of yours. Thank you for a great prize puzzle giving me another shot a The Mythical. Happy New Year to you and thanks you for all your work.
HNY NYDK (all that and I’m not shouting no)!!
Thanks for popping in. Thought it may have been yours but wouldn’t have bet hard cash on it.
I typed a reply which seems to have vanished
It is lovely to be welcomed back but I was actually here last week to provide the hints and those for last Wednesday’s Toughie
I was fooled into thinking that someone else set this one
Many thanks for your incognito puzzle and a very Happy New Year to you as well. Looking forward to seeing more of your puzzles as the year progresses.
Very much enjoyed, and have to say I didn’t think it was you as I was relieved to see no linked clues.
This guzzle was a game of two halves for me. The half NE of the diagonal was very a friendly but it took me a long time to get a start on the other half until the long clue at 6d fell into place and avery effective cryptic clue it was too. I also liked the anagram at 6a, the cleverly worded 3d. My COTD is the equally clever 8a. Many thanks to the compiler for an entertaining and and challenging puzzzle and to CS for the hints.
Belated congratulations to Shabbo! I just caught up with Thursday’s RayT and saw news of your selection, Shabbo. Congratulations again!
Add my congrats too to Shabbo
22d a favourite here as Grandfather Bee (who died long before I was on the scene) was employed by the Chemists in question, his pension paid for Papa Bee’s expensive education, but had run out long before my comprehensive one.
Thanks and welcome back to Sue.
Thanks to NYDK too, for fooling us with an unlinked puzzle to keep us on our toes.
Didn’t quite finish it but enjoyable anyway listening to some 1960’s Rolling Stones🎸
Lovely to see you back, CS. Be careful not to overdo things.
Managed this puzzle except for 8a where I needed the hint…..then really felt a fool.
Otherwise all great stuff. Favourite was the shocking killer.
Thanks to the setter and to crypticsue.
Although we are only a few miles further south than DaveP we have none of the white stuff here. A (very) few flakes were visible this morning, but all have disappeared now. We are very grateful for this as Mr Meringue has to drive our son and daughter-in-law down to Edinburgh for 10am tomorrow to catch their flight home to Norway. (Where there is a great deal of snow, but none currently falling.)
Fingers crossed we don’t get any overnight and that Oslo Airport remains open.
Great Saturday fare. Held up for a while by the glums but got there in the end. Podium places to 25A and 13 & 22D.
6a was a bung in but happily the only one. Many candidates for favourite but it had to be 8a. Thanks to NYD and CS.
Not really my scene. I searched in vain for the NYDK wavelength but some clues were IMHO too clever by half although I do have to admit a second look via hints justified some of them. NE was most demanding sector. TVM NYDK and CS (hope the rehab goes well).
A really nice and chewy puzzle from NYDK that I loved. Always satisfying to complete a puzzle that looks tricky from the onset. I too learnt a new word at 11a . Thanks to NYDK – I also wondered who the setter was so fooled us all and to CS.
1.5* / 4* An excellent first SPP of 2026, plenty of humour throughout and only a couple held me up, last one in 8a.
Favourites today include the game at 20a, shocking killer at 27a and the Fab Four at 3d
Thanks to Sue and NYDK
I struggled with this crossword. I was not on the setter’s wavelength and only completed it after having used all three lifelines; ask the audience, call a friend and read the hints. Well done to those completed it. I think I have mentioned this before, but I always remember Saturday Prize X words being very friendly and generally the easiest of the week, but since last September, I have struggled. Thank you to the setter and CS for the hints, which were badly needed.
Knock me down with a feather – enjoyed this from start to finish and such a relief after yesterday’s struggle. The gentler clues provided enough checkers for me to deal with the trickier ones, with only real holdups being 8d (didn’t twig the Reform bit), 25a and 19d. Didn’t know 11a, but CS provided such a good hint. Something learnt today. COTD shared by 27a and 6d. Thanks to NYDK and to CS.
Quirky one I thought . Happily I know a bit about cricket. But how odd, 10a was my loi
because the quartet was my 2nd last.
The 3 letter answer almost burnt me.
A testy little number completed whilst watching the Darts final. Generational talent doesn’t come close.
Just right for a prize crossword despite the inclusion of the over rated 3d 😉 and the defunct 2d.
Thanks to all.
Still musing why people clear snow from their drive if they are not going out! 🤷🏻♂️
Just finished having started quite late yesterday evening having spent the previous two days decorating the bathroom. Found it a bit tricky, especially in the SE corner and needed CS’s hints to answer for 17d having totally failed to see the anagram aspect of the answer, although the accompanying picture had given me the answer. Since 17d defeated me I will make that my COTD.
Thank you to the setter and to CS for the hints.
First one in was 16a and last one was 25a. Steady progress with this one as I had more spare time to concentrate on it than normal courtesy of the holiday season. Thanks to setter and hints. Off to the closing panto performance tonight (always the best one) oh yes I am!
Just done this over an early Sunday morning coffee and my COD is 26a as it reminded me of my parents daily early evening drinks. Also the ‘other half’ stories amused me – my late OH and I used to wrestle over Telegraph crosswords and I wish I’d discovered this site earlier. I don’t often comment but love being mostly a stalker as I rarely finish ‘on the day’ – thanks to you all and HNY
I disliked the comment on clue 8 across. I’ve seen a few of these digs at Reform in these cryptic crosswords – poor taste and not becoming.
I agree
Just to say very belatedly I thought this was one of NYDK’s finest offerings despite the absence of linked clues. Superb