Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3382
A full review by Rahmat Ali
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This puzzle was published on 16th August 2026
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
Greetings from Kolkata. A wonderful Sunday prize puzzle from Dada that I enjoyed solving and thereafter writing a full review of the same for your kind perusal and important feedback.
I wasn’t familiar with Todd, the demon barber, who featured in the wordplay of the clue at 17 Across. So, curious to learn more about him, I turned to the internet after finishing the puzzle and found a great deal of fascinating information. Sweeney Todd is a fictional English barber who became infamous as the ‘Demon Barber of Fleet Street’, a murderer whose story has endured as one of Britain’s most recognisable tales of Victorian Gothic horror. He first appeared in the penny dreadful serial ‘The String of Pearls: A Romance’, which was published in parts in 1846-47 and is generally regarded as the earliest known version of the character. In the story, Todd operates a barber’s shop in Fleet Street, London, where he lures unsuspecting customers to their deaths. His most notorious method is to use a specially designed barber’s chair to send his victims through a trapdoor into the cellar, where their bodies are subsequently disposed of. Todd’s crimes are closely connected with Mrs Lovett, the proprietor of a pie shop, who is depicted as using the victims’ remains as the filling for her meat pies. The grisly partnership between the barber and the pie-maker gives the tale its distinctive mixture of horror, sensationalism and dark humour. Although ‘The String of Pearls’ presents Todd primarily as a ruthless criminal motivated by greed, later adaptations have expanded his character and given him more complex motives, particularly the desire for revenge. The story has been adapted repeatedly for the stage, film, television and literature, most famously in Stephen Sondheim’s 1979 musical ‘Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street’. These later versions have transformed Todd from a sensational villain of Victorian popular fiction into a tragic and psychologically tormented anti-hero. His image of a razor in hand, seated in a gloomy Fleet Street barber’s shop has become an enduring symbol of Gothic horror and the darker side of Victorian London.
Borneo, the answer to 6 Down, is the third-largest island in the world. It lies in Southeast Asia and is divided politically among Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei. The Indonesian part, known as Kalimantan, occupies most of the island, while the Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak and the small nation of Brunei make up the remainder. With its vast tropical rainforests, mountains, rivers and coastal wetlands, Borneo is renowned for its extraordinary biodiversity. It is home to many remarkable species, including the Bornean orangutan, proboscis monkey, pygmy elephant and clouded leopard. Some of these species are found nowhere else in the world. Borneo’s rainforests are among the oldest in the world and contain an immense variety of plants and animals. However, extensive logging, agricultural expansion, palm-oil plantations and other forms of development have resulted in significant habitat loss. Conservation efforts are therefore vital to protect the island’s unique ecosystems and wildlife. Borneo is also culturally diverse, with numerous indigenous peoples, including the Dayak communities, who have inhabited the island for centuries. Their traditions, languages and ways of life form an important part of Borneo’s cultural heritage. The island’s natural beauty, rich wildlife and cultural diversity make it one of Southeast Asia’s most fascinating regions.
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Across
7a Crew fed member right message (8)
TELEGRAM: TEAM (crew) as a crew, gang or a number of persons associated together in work or activity or for a particular purpose taking inside (fed) a combo of LEG (member) as one of the members or limbs that an animal uses for locomotion or support and R (right) as the abbreviation for right leads to the definition of a message or communication transmitted or sent by telegraph
9a Hole up in well I modified, nothing in it (3,3)
LIE LOW: The definition of a verb meaning to hole up, hide or remain out of sight is arrived at from an anagram (modified) of WELL I taking O (nothing) as the letter representing naught or nothing inside it (in it)
10a Geezer chewing on old beef (4)
MOAN: MAN (geezer) as an adult male human being, an example of which is a geezer i.e. a slang term for a man or a strange elderly person entertaining or taking in (chewing on) O (old) as the abbreviation for old takes to the definition of a complaint which is perceived as trivia and not taken seriously by others, an example of which is a beef i.e. an informal term for a moan, complaint or grievance
11a Dash hopes of coppers put in post (10)
DISAPPOINT: The definition of a verb meaning to dash someone’s hopes is reached from a charade of DIS (coppers) as the plural of DI, the abbreviated form of Detective Inspector that is a police officer who investigates crime, an example of which is ‘coppers’ i.e. the plural of an informal term for a policeman or police officer and APPOINT (put in post) as to assign a person to a post, position or responsibility
12a Finally, portal into mysterious abode within reach (6)
DOABLE: The final or terminal letter (finally) of [PORTA]L placed inside (into) an anagram (mysterious) of ABODE leads to the definition of an adjective denoting within reach or capable of being achieved or done
14a Form contains permit (8)
SANCTION: An anagram (form) of CONTAINS leads to the definition of a permit or a document or certificate giving permission to do something
15a Calm group let out (6)
SETTLE: The definition of a verb meaning to calm, quiet or bring to rest is reached from SET (group) as a group or collection of things that belong together or resemble one another or are usually found together followed by an anagram (out) of LET
17a A demon barber and son quarrelling (2,4)
AT ODDS: A from the clue followed by TODD (demon barber) as referring to Sweeney Todd, the fictional demon barber and serial killer who first appeared in an 1846-1847 penny dreadful serial called ‘The String of Pearls: A Romance’ and S (son) as the genealogical abbreviation for son guides to the definition of a phrase meaning quarrelling or disagreeing with each other
20a Boy joins company in splendid expression of approval (8)
ACCOLADE: All of LAD (boy) as an informal term for a boy or young man preceded by or coming after (joins) CO (company) as the abbreviation for company placed inside (in) ACE (splendid) as splendid, excellent or exceptionally good of its kind takes to the definition of an expression of approval, acclaim or strong praise
22a Proverb always features in serenade (6)
SAYING: The definition of a proverb, maxim or adage is reached from AY (always) as an adverb denoting ever or always placed inside (in) SING (serenade) as a verb meaning to sing or play music for somebody
23a Free hospital seen in sailing down river? (2,3,5)
ON THE HOUSE: The definition of a phrase meaning free or provided without charge, especially of drinks, at a publican’s expense is arrived at from H (hospital) as the abbreviation for hospital noticed inside (seen in) ON THE OUSE (sailing down river) as referring to sailing down the River Ouse that is in England
24a The end for king and ally (4)
MATE: Double nounal definition; the second being a noun meaning an ally, friend, companion or fellow that leads to the first referring to checkmate, a chess term denoting the king’s defeat or the position in which the king has no legal escape, hence the end for king and of the game
25a Bloke saw user? (6)
FELLER: A cryptic definition of a person (bloke) who job is to use a saw to fell trees (saw user)
26a E-tailers coming a cropper first (8)
EARLIEST: E-TAILERS subject to an anagram (coming a cropper) leads to the definition of an adjective denoting first in time or order
Down
1d Toxic gas flash seen in planet (8)
VENOMOUS: The definition of an adjective meaning toxic, poisonous or noxious is obtained from a combo of O (gas) as the chemical symbol for oxygen and MO (flash) as an instant, moment or flash noticed inside (seen in) VENUS (planet) as the second planet from the Sun
2d Blood vessel full of hot air, we hear (4)
VEIN: The definition of a vessel that carries blood toward the heart is reached from a homophone heard by the audience (we hear) of VAIN (full of hot air) as an adjective denoting full of hot air or excessively proud of one’s appearance, qualities etc
3d Restraint of union member in speech (6)
BRIDLE: The definition of a noun meaning restraint, curb or the act of controlling by restraining someone or something is arrived at from a homophone heard by the audience (in speech) of BRIDAL (of union member) as of relating to a bride who is a member of a marital union
4d Fastener OK, splint fixed (8)
SLIPKNOT: The definition of a fastener or a fastening made by forming a loop in a rope or cord and tying it so that the loop can tighten or loosen is reached from an anagram (fixed) of OK, SPLINT
5d Orderly upset with pet, we hear (10)
REPORTEDLY: An anagram (upset) of a combo of ORDERLY and (with) PET takes to the definition of an adverb meaning as alleged, gossiped, according to what is said or what ‘we hear’
6d Island stood on top of ocean (6)
BORNEO: The definition of a large island in Southeast Asia is reached from BORNE (stood) as a verb in the past participle form denoting stood or carried placed over in the down clue (on) the topmost or first letter (top) of O[CEAN]
8d Wrong application is collected by poetic genius (6)
MISUSE: The definition of a noun denoting wrong application or use is reached from IS from the clue taken inside (collected) by MUSE (poetic genius) as the source of inspiration for a creative artist, especially a poet
13d Collar, something on shirt? (10)
BUTTONHOLE: Double definition; the second being a noun referring to a slit or hole in a shirt through which a button is passed that takes to the first a verb meaning to attract the attention of and detain someone in conversation, typically against their will, an example of which is to collar i.e. to stop someone in order to talk to them
16d First of leaders, they are awfully tough (8)
LEATHERY: The first or initial letter (first) of L[EADERS] followed by an anagram (awfully) of THEY ARE guides to the definition of an adjective meaning tough and hard, like leather
18d All there is around it is clean (8)
SANITISE: SANE (all there) as an adjective denoting all there, rational or of sound mind placed about (is around) IT IS from the clue, leading to the definition of a verb meaning to clean by removing dirt, filth or unwanted substances or to make clean and hygienic
19d Study South American country over Suriname’s borders (6)
PERUSE: The definition of a verb meaning to study or to read or examine with care is arrived at from PERU (South American country) as a country in western South America placed upon in the down clue (over) the edges or outermost letters (borders) of S[URINAM]E (Suriname’s)
21d Slippery swimmer’s dance in audition (6)
CONGER: The definition of a large edible predatory eel of shallow coastal waters that is a slippery swimmer is got from a homophone heard by the audience (in audition) of CONGA (dance) as a lively Cuban street dance of African origin, usually with several people in a single line, one behind the other.
22d Slip in quiet drink (6)
SHERRY: ERR (slip) as to slip, make a mistake or be incorrect placed inside (in) SHY (quiet) as quiet or feeling nervous and uncomfortable about meeting and talking to people leads to the definition of a strong wine from southern Spain that is a pale yellow or brown colour, sometimes drunk before a meal
24d Post Irishman put up (4)
MAIL: The definition of a verb meaning to post a letter or card is obtained from LIAM (Irishman) as a male given name of Irish origin meaning ‘strong-willed warrior’ and ‘protector’ taken upwards (put up) as a reversal in the down clue
There were many clues that I liked in this puzzle such as 7a, 14a, 17a, 23a, 25a, 1d, 3d, 4d, 5d, 13d, 18d and 22d; 13d 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 great day!