Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3368
A full review by Rahmat Ali
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This puzzle was published on 10th May 2026
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
Greetings from Kolkata. Dada has given us an enjoyable solve this Sunday and now I present to you a full review of his puzzle. Hope to have your valuable feedback and comments.
I became interested in learning in detail about the various popes who took the name ‘Innocent’, as in 9a, and so, after solving the puzzle, I explored the internet and gathered a great deal of information. From the early fifth to the early eighteenth century, the name ‘Innocent’ was borne by thirteen popes of varying influence and reputation within the Roman Catholic Church. Pope Innocent I (401–417) strengthened papal authority during the decline of the Western Roman Empire. Pope Innocent II (1130–1143) overcame a disputed election and conflict with rivals during a turbulent medieval period. Pope Innocent III (1198–1216) became one of the most powerful medieval popes, asserting supremacy over European rulers and supporting the Fourth Crusade. Pope Innocent IV (1243–1254) fiercely opposed the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II. Pope Innocent V ruled only briefly in 1276, while Pope Innocent VI (1352–1362) governed during the Avignon Papacy and attempted church reform. Pope Innocent VII (1404–1406) reigned amid the Western Schism. Pope Innocent VIII (1484–1492) was associated with Renaissance politics, artistic patronage and controversies surrounding nepotism. Pope Innocent IX served for only two months in 1591. Like, Pope Innocent VIII, Pope Innocent X (1644–1655) was also associated with Renaissance politics and controversies surrounding nepotism. He opposed the Peace of Westphalia and patronised Roman art and architecture. Pope Innocent XI (1676–1689) was respected for moral reform and resistance to the absolutism of Louis XIV. Pope Innocent XII (1691–1700) curtailed nepotism within the papacy. Finally, Pope Innocent XIII (1721–1724) pursued cautious diplomacy and supported missionary activity. After his death, no subsequent pope adopted ‘Innocent’ as a papal name. The name did not formally cease by decree; rather, it gradually fell out of favour. Changing political climates, shifting devotional preferences and the growing popularity of other papal names such as Pius, Leo and John contributed to its disappearance from papal usage after the early eighteenth century. But nonetheless, the ‘Innocent’ popes reflected the evolving political, spiritual and administrative role of the papacy across more than thirteen centuries of European history.
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Across
1a Prisoner inspired by state of belonging, finally (2,10)
IN CONCLUSION: CON (prisoner) as a slang short for convict or a person serving a sentence in a prison covered or filled with (inspired by) INCLUSION (state of belonging) as the state of being included or belonging within a group leads to the definition of an adverb denoting lastly or finally
8a Marsupial with problem tracking spoor that’s been cut off (7)
OPOSSUM: The definition of a thick-furred marsupial, especially Didelphis marsupialis, of the family Didelphidae of North, Central and South America, having an elongated snout and a hairless prehensile tail is arrived at from SUM (problem) as referring to an arithmetic problem preceded by or coming after (tracking) an anagram (off) of SPOO[R] from the clue that’s been reduced with the removal of the last letter (cut)
9a Innocent, perhaps, plea initially working before argument (7)
PONTIFF: The definition of the Roman Catholic pope, an example of which is Pope Innocent, one of the most famous papal names in history that was shared by thirteen different pontiffs from Pope Innocent I to Pope Innocent XIII is derived from the initial or starting letter (initially) of P[LEA] and ON (working) as working, functioning or operating placed in front of (before) TIFF (argument) as a minor, relatively unimportant argument or fight
11a Page with less original outline – device bringing documents together? (7)
STAPLER: P (page) as the abbreviation for page having on the outside an outer frame (with … outline) of STALER (less original) as an adjective in the comparative degree denoting more stale i.e. having less of originality or spontaneity that takes to the definition of a tool or device used to bind sheets of paper and thus bringing them together
12a Banana skin with fat bananas in something bitter to swallow? (7)
PITFALL: The definition of an unapparent source of trouble or danger or a hidden hazard, an example of which is banana skin i.e. an idiom or a classic metaphor used to mean a hidden hazard, trap or pitfall is attained from an anagram (bananas) of FAT placed inside (in) PILL (something bitter to swallow) as something unpleasant that must be endured, especially in the phrase ‘bitter pill to swallow’
13a Beginning on spaghetti, hang on … fork out! (5)
SPEND: The starting or initial letter (beginning) on S[PAGHETTI] followed by PEND (hang) as a verb meaning to hang, remain undecided or be suspended guides to the definition of a verb meaning to pay out or otherwise dispose of money, resources etc, an example of which is to fork out i.e. a slang verb meaning to pay money, goods etc, especially with reluctance
14a Characteristic of chicken, animal I cared about (9)
COWARDICE: The definition of an abstract noun denoting chicken-heartedness or the trait or characteristic of lacking courage; chicken being the slang term for a coward or someone who is afraid or unwilling to take risks is deduced from COW (animal) as the mature female of a bovine animal followed by an anagram (about) of I CARED from the clue
16a Drive past car in unconscious state (9)
AUTOPILOT: PILOT (drive) as to drive or run and control a motor vehicle placed after or preceded by (past) AUTO (car) as a short form for automobile used in the United States that is equivalent of car of the United Kingdom guides to the definition of a noun denoting unconsciousness or a state lacking normal awareness of the self or environment
19a First notes written in print, romanticised (5)
INTRO: The definition of a colloquial contraction for introduction, used especially of the opening passage of a jazz or popular music piece taken as first notes is part of or hidden inside (written in) [PR]INT, RO[MANTICISED]
21a Steal, and sound emotionless (7)
ROBOTIC: A charade of ROB (steal) as to steal or take something away by force or without the consent of the owner and OTIC (sound) as sound or acoustic property of the ear that is the sense of hearing or concerned with sound guides to the definition of an adjective denoting machine-like or mechanical and hence emotionless
23a Beloved stuff (7)
SQUEEZE: Double definition; the second being a verb meaning to manage to force into or through a narrow or restricted space, an example of which is to stuff i.e. to force or cram something tightly into a receptacle or space that takes to the first a slang term for a beloved or sweetheart
24a How bag stuffed with present (7)
WHEREIN: The definition of an adverb denoting how, by what means or in what way e.g. ‘He showed them wherein they were wrong’ is got from WIN (bag) as to acquire or secure as a result of a contest, conflict, bet or other endeavour, an example of which is to bag i.e. to succeed in securing or winning something having inside (stuffed with) HERE (present) as an adverb denoting present, as used to answer a roll call
25a Ham, tricky to carve (7)
OVERACT: The definition of a verb meaning to ham i.e. to act or perform in an exaggerated, often intentionally broadly humorous or ridiculous style is obtained from an anagram (tricky) of TO CARVE
26a Insincere feeling within the Cabinet? (8,4)
CUPBOARD LOVE: The definition of a phrase denoting hypocritical show of affection material gain is cryptically arrived at from LOVE (feeling) as a strong feeling of affection and concern for another person accompanied by sexual attraction within the Cabinet within the CUPBOARD (cabinet) as a cabinet of any size up to that of a small room for storing food, crockery and utensil i.e. LOVE within the CUPBOARD, or precisely, CUPBOARD LOVE
Down
1d Prehistoric period over, about which I seethe (4,3)
IRON AGE: The definition of the pre-historic period following the Bronze Age, during which people discovered how to make iron tools and weapons is obtained from ON (over) as a preposition denoting over, upon or above having on the outside or surrounded by (about which) a combo of I from the clue and RAGE (seethe) as to seethe or be in a state of extreme agitation, especially through anger
2d Made chess move, guided by players? (7)
CASTLED: The definition of a verb in the past tense denoting moved the king two squares horizontally and brought the appropriate rook to the square the king had passed over in a game of chess is arrived at from LED (guided) as guided or directed in a course, action or opinion preceded by or coming after (by) CAST (players) as referring to the players or the group of performers in a play, motion picture etc
3d A nice rum shot left – on the counter? (9)
NUMERICAL: An anagram (shot) of A NICE RUM followed by L (left) as the abbreviation for left takes to the definition of an adjective denoting relating to, expressed in or counted by numbers, an example of which is ‘on the counter’ i.e. anything that exists or is handled on the counter or a counting device is fundamentally numerical
4d Enjoy young animal from California? (3,2)
LAP UP: The definition of a phrase meaning to enjoy, relish or delight in something e.g. ‘He laps up old horror films’ to mean ‘He enjoys old horror films’ is obtained from PUP (young animal) as a young dog, especially when under one year of age or the young of various other animals, such as the seal preceded by or coming after in the down clue (from) LA (California) as the abbreviation for Los Angeles that is the largest city of California, a massive state of the United States i.e. LA PUP or Los Angeles pup that is obviously from California
5d Lawmaker in refinement of one’s art (7)
SENATOR: The definition of a lawmaker or someone who makes or enacts laws is reached from an anagram (refinement) of ONE’S ART
6d Capital in instant raised before newspaper folding (7)
ORIGAMI: RIGA (capital) as the capital, primate and largest city of Latvia placed inside (in) MO as the slang abbreviation for moment that is a precise instant in an upward direction (raised) as a reversal in the down clue coming before (before) I (independent) as the abbreviation for Independent that is a British online newspaper, often nicknamed the Indy takes to the definition of the Japanese word meaning ‘folding of paper’ and used to mean the traditional Japanese art of creating ornamental or decorative objects and shapes by folding paper
7d How to catch river’s salmon for bird (5,7)
HOUSE SPARROW: HOW from the clue to take inside (catch) a combo of OUSE’S (river’s) as of or belonging to a river in North Yorkshire, England and PARR (salmon) as a young salmon up to two years of age, before it becomes a smolt, leading to the definition of a small Eurasian weaverbird, Passer domesticus, that has a brown streaked plumage with grey underparts
10d Denial of talent brought home to farm animals, performing fleas way ahead! (5,7)
FALSE MODESTY: The definition of pretended humility or insincere denial of one’s talents, abilities or achievements is reached from STY (home to farm animals) as a pen or enclosure serving as home for farm animals like pigs or swine having in front (ahead) a combo of FLEAS from the clue that is subject to an anagram (performing) and MODE (way) as a way or manner of acting, doing, happening or existing
15d Bore accompanying rose (9)
WITHSTOOD: The definition of a verb in the past tense meaning bore or tolerated the effects of something is got from a charade of WITH (accompanying) as a preposition denoting accompanying or in the company of someone and STOOD (rose) as a verb in the past tense meaning rose to one’s feet
17d Scene where Greek character keeps fit (7)
TABLEAU: The definition of a dramatic group or scene is reached from TAU (Greek character) as the 19th letter of the Greek alphabet that has inside (keeps) ABLE (fit) as an adjective meaning fit or having the requisite qualities or skills to undertake something competently
18d Best time to plant additional mint, say (7)
POTHERB: PB (best time) as the abbreviation for personal best, referring to the personal best time of a track and field athlete to put inside (plant) OTHER (additional) as an adjective denoting additional or extra, taking to the definition of a plant whose leaves, stems or flowers are cooked and eaten or used as seasoning, an example of which is mint i.e. a type of potherb used in cooking or for flavouring
19d Reworked routine – as yet undelivered? (2,5)
IN UTERO: An anagram (reworked) of ROUTINE takes to the definition of an adjectival phrase in Latin meaning happening before birth or an adverb denoting in a woman’s uterus i.e. describing a foetus that has not yet been born or delivered
20d Young English horse accessing area on course (7)
TEENAGE: The definition of an adjective meaning in the teens or appropriate to someone in any age from thirteen to nineteen, an example of which is young, an adjective denoting relating to, typical of or suggestive of youth or early life is reached from a combo of E (English) as the abbreviation for English and NAG (horse) as a horse, especially a small one getting inside (accessing) TEE (area on course) as the slightly elevated, designated area in a golf course from which the player drives the ball
22d Country of New Guinea first of all leading a dance (5)
CONGA: The initial letters each (first of all) of COUNTRY OF NEW GUINEA placed in front of or followed by (leading) A from the clue takes to the definition of a Latin American dance in which dancers are linked in single file and move forward in a series of steps and side kicks
There were many clues that I liked in this puzzle such as 1a, 9a, 16a, 23a, 25a, 2d, 7d, 10d, 18d and 20d; 20d being the best of the lot. My prayers to the Almighty for the eternal rest and peace of BD and my thanks to Dada for the entertainment. Looking forward to being here again. Have a nice day.