Putting the words to lights – crossword clues explained in plain English
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Ifor needs no introduction for EV solvers. Dave Hennings’ crossword database tells us that he has been setting them since 2010 and this will be his 44th in the series. We know that he will give us a challenge and that we can expect one of a range of scientific, cultural and theatrical themes.… Continue reading
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“Who is Inkling?” we ask. We will have to solve this puzzle to see whether there is the familiar style of a setter hiding under a new pseudonym or whether the setter is new to us.… Continue reading
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Piccadilly has been setting crosswords for 33 years and EVs since 1995 – this one is his 52nd Enigmatic Variations crossword. Of course he sets for the Listener and Magpie too. We enjoy Piccadilly’s crosswords and know that we will have fair clues and an endgame that will not leave us frustratingly head-scratching.… Continue reading
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Kcit needs no introduction for EV solvers. Dave Hennings’ crossword database tells us that he has been setting them since 1993. We know he will give us a challenge and this crossword is no exception to that norm.… Continue reading
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Solvers will already have met Vagans whose first Inquisitor, ‘Excess Baggage’, (with Dante’s Divina Commedia as the subject) appeared last year. In his ‘Encounter’, his first EV, Stanley met Livingstone at Ujiji.… Continue reading
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This is X-Type’s sixth EV crossword. His generous cluing style and use of familiar language will give a speedy solve to old hands and be a pleasure to solve for newcomers to the advanced thematic cryptics.… Continue reading
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Jaques is familiar to EV solvers and to Magpie, Inquisitor and Listener solvers too. We know that his clues can be difficult and expect a challenge but we can also expect an amusing endgame.… Continue reading
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There is no need to introduce Kruger who has been setting EV crosswords for over 25 years. We always find his crosswords challenging and this one was no exception.
Preamble: Wordplay in each of fifteen clues yields an extra letter that is not entered in the grid.… Continue reading
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For the Numpties’ return to hint-writing (we’ll be alternating with Phibs from now on) it is a pleasure to begin with a crossword by Piccadilly who, as we said when writing hints for his last EV where he gave the postal address for Telegraph crosswords, has been setting crosswords for 33 years and EVs since 1995 – this one is his 51st Enigmatic Variations crossword.… Continue reading
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This will be Gaston’s 25th crossword in the Enigmatic Variations series. Solvers will remember his puzzle where we drew a map of the jumps in the Grand National, then his final puzzle after the EV Ladies’ Month where he included geographic features in ‘The South American One’ and his ‘Quest’ that took us back to Pirandello’s Six Characters in Search of an Author.… Continue reading