Wednesday – Page 4 – Big Dave's Crossword Blog

Category: Wednesday

Since the beginning of 2010, Wednesday’s regular setter is Jeremy Mutch who has visited the blog as Jay. During 2009, Jay set almost all the Thursday puzzles.

DT 31148

by Deansleigh  

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31148
Hints and Tips by Deansleigh

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BD Rating – Difficulty **/***  Enjoyment ****

Good morning from Hampshire, where the sun is shining again after yesterday’s deluge.  I found today’s puzzle to be quite a challenge, and it took me a while to get going, but in the end it was well worth the effort.  I especially liked 4d, and the Beatle-themed 27a and 5d, but the pick of today’s clues for me is the magnificent 19a.  Many thanks to today’s setter. Continue reading “DT 31148”

DT 31142

by Deansleigh  

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31142
Hints and Tips by Deansleigh

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BD Rating – Difficulty **  Enjoyment ***

Good morning from a wet and windy Hampshire, where I think someone must have been performing a 17d with spectacular success.  I found today’s puzzle to be suitably challenging for a Wednesday back-pager, with a couple of clues in the NE corner taking a while to fall, pushing my solving time into 2* territory.  I thought there were many concise and elegant clues today; I particularly liked the match official in 10a and the ebullient Mr Cantona in 21a, but my favourite is the cryptic definition in 3d.  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.

Continue reading “DT 31142”

DT 31136

by Deansleigh  

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31136
Hints and Tips by Deansleigh

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BD Rating – Difficulty *  Enjoyment ***

Good morning from Hampshire, where the winter sun has made a welcome appearance after yesterday’s relentless rain.  I found this puzzle to be fairly gentle for a midweek back-pager, and it was my quickest solve of the week so far.  7d and 13d both made it onto my podium today, but my favourite has to be the superb 12a.  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.

Continue reading “DT 31136”

DT 31130

by Deansleigh  

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.

Continue reading “DT 31130”

DT 31124

by Senf  

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31124

Hints and Tips by Senf

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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****

A very good New Year’s Eve morning from Winnipeg and welcome to the last back pager blog of the year 2025.  Will the world be any different in 24 hours time?  Heaven only knows.

But, what I do know is that at some time between midnight UK time and midnight Manitoba time this evening I will be raising a glass, not sure yet if it will be 15 year old Dalwhinnie or 12 year old The Balvenie so I will probably have to call on a shiny new King Charles Loonie to decide for me, to everyone involved with the blog in some way or other, including all of the DT Puzzles Team and Setters, and to the memory of our beloved founder and those who are no longer with us.

For me, etc© (I have to say that for Terence), an enjoyable puzzle.  As I wrote two weeks ago, I have lost track of who set when on a Wednesday and no-one seems to have claimed ownership recently.  This could be the work of Hudson or the work of Twmbarlwm or someone else.  So, my Half Crowns are staying at the back of my sock drawer and I will just say thanks to whomsoever.  As it is still the season of goodwill etc, I have tried to include as many illustrations and musical hints as Smylers and Huntsman – did I succeed?

Continue reading “DT 31124”

Toughie 3606

by Whybird  

Toughie No 3606 by Stick Insect
Hints and tips by Whybird

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BD Rating – Difficulty *   – Enjoyment ***

Greetings once again from the Wirral.  Yes, you must be on the Big Dave De-colonised Universal Non-Patriarchal Behavioural Trait  List, and you’ve got me blogging for a second day in succession.  Things Can Only Get Better… but then look how that turned out!

Stick Insect, to whom, many thanks, has given us a very gentle puzzle by normal Wednesday standards, which made for a relaxed and enjoyable solve.  The boundary clues were all solved pretty quickly which aided the process, with just a few that took a bit more thinking about (and which pretty much occupy my podium spots) but nothing too drastic. My prizes places go to 7d, 17a, with 25a with 27a equal at the top for their condensed cleverness.

Merry Christmas to all of the setters, bloggers, commenters and readers who don’t comment (and I’d love to hear from you)!

Continue reading “Toughie 3606”