Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31133 (Hints)
The Saturday Crossword Club (hosted by crypticsue)
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Month: January 2026
Toughie 3616
Toughie No 3616 by Elgar
Hints and Tips by crypticsue
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BD Rating – Toughie Difficulty ***** – Enjoyment *****
DT 31132
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31132
Hints and tips by Mr K
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BD Rating - Difficulty ** - Enjoyment ****
Hello, everyone, and welcome to Friday. This puzzle was a quick solve that managed to be very enjoyable. I congratulate our setter. Continue reading "DT 31132"
DT 31127 (Full Review)
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31127
A full review by Rahmat Ali
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This puzzle was published on 3rd January 2026
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
Greetings from Kolkata. A nice, entertaining Saturday puzzle from NYDK that I enjoyed solving and thereafter writing a review of the same for your kind perusal and significant feedback. Continue reading “DT 31127 (Full Review)”
Toughie 3615
Toughie No 3615 by Beam
Hints and tips by ALP
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BD Rating – Toughie difficulty * – Enjoyment ****
The usual synonym work-out from Beam who has dreamed up more alternatives for “run” than I would have thought possible! Sweetheart and Queen both make a welcome re-appearance. Some lateral thinking may be required but it’s fairly straightforward. All yours.
EV 1727 (Solution)
DT 31131
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31131
Hints and Tips by Gazza
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BD Rating – Difficulty **** Enjoyment ****
I don’t think there’s much doubt about the identity of today’s setter based on the smooth surfaces and the inclusion of a Scottish football team. Thanks to him for a very enjoyable puzzle.
I’ve given the puzzle four stars for difficulty because I thought some of the wordplay was quite tricky – I’ll be interested to know whether you agree or not.
I have to go for an eye test this morning which involves drops in the eyes so I’ll probably be unable to read your comments for a couple of hours.
Continue reading “DT 31131”
Toughie 3614
Toughie No 3614 by Shabbo
Hints and Tips by crypticsue
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BD Rating – Toughie Difficulty * – Enjoyment ****
DT 31130
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31130
Hints and Tips by Deansleigh
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BD Rating – Difficulty **/*** Enjoyment ****
Good morning and welcome to my first blog as an official member of the BD blogging team, although it’s my fourth effort overall – I blogged three of the vintage puzzles last summer, so I should be getting the hang of it by now! Many thanks to Gazza for inviting me to become a regular blogger, and to Shabbo, from whom I’m taking over (albeit on a Wednesday rather than a Thursday). I wish him well in his new role as a DT puzzle compiler.
I felt this puzzle to be the hardest of the week so far, finishing in just over 3* time. I especially liked the cricketing legend in 9a, the ursine visitor in 1d and the boring old Conservative in 18a, but my COD has to be the eccentric mind in 28a. Many thanks to today’s setter.
In the hints below the definition element of each clue has been underlined, anagrams are CAPITALISED and indicator words (e.g. anagram indicators) are in brackets. The answers are concealed under the Click Here buttons.
Sunday Toughie 205 (Review)
Sunday Toughie No 205 by Beam
Review by Sloop John Bee
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This puzzle was published on the 28th of December 2025