Putting the words to lights – crossword clues explained in plain English
Hints and tips for completing Daily Telegraph Cryptic crosswords
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
Thanks to Virgilius once again for a super start to Sunday – it didn’t take me long to solve and, apart from a groan at 19a, I did enjoy the experience. If there was a “themette” this time, I certainly didn’t spot it!
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
There is no need to check your calendars, it is Friday. Gazza needs to do something else this morning, so I am standing in for him. I struggled with this crossword from Giovanni in places and thought it was harder than normal. But that might be down to the blogging pressure and continued fun and games with the Telegraphs crossword site.
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
On the basis that the Saturday setter rotates between Cephas and another setter (whose name is a closely guarded secret), this week’s prize puzzle was by Cephas. Sadly Gnomethang is not as regular as Cephas. He has been burning the midnight oil at both ends and is unable to review the crossword. I have volunteered for the happy task preparing this review. Gnomethang promises that the light at the end of the tunnel is just around the corner and he should be back on duty next week to review this coming Saturday’s crossword.
I found this to be an enjoyable crossword with a good range of clues. There was nothing to difficult to unravel in understaning the clues. The only unknown (to me) word was the plant in 5d but the word was easily found from the wordplay.
– + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
Greetings from the Calder Valley. No, you haven’t done a Rip van Winkle and overslept. Bufo is away today and I’m covering. It’s nice to get one of the friendlier setters instead of the Friday Fiends and I’m quite a big fan of Shamus’ puzzles. However, I have to say I felt today’s challenge lacked the usual sparkle. I suspect it was probably because of 1 across, which I am not over keen on.
I also was trying to solve the puzzle online while being attended to by my nursing team and encountered considerable difficulty in doing so. It seems the tech problems are still there and I couldn’t save the puzzle to go back to it.
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty ***/**** – Enjoyment ****
A distinctly tougher back-page puzzle which could be the handiwork of one of the Toughie setters (if it is I hope he comes to claim it!). I found it very enjoyable and if you are struggling it is well-worth the perseverance.
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
We have another delightful, but not over-taxing, puzzle from Micawber. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.
Please let us know how you got on and take the time to click on one of the stars below to grade the puzzle.
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
Hola from the Vega Baja. Maybe it’s just me having my grumpy head on this morning but I don’t feel this is Jay at his entertaining best. A pleasant enough puzzle though and not too taxing. I couldn’t find an excuse for a racing car so this week you’ve got a couple of aircraft as the friend that’s staying with us at the moment is an aviation nut!
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
A Toughie of the kind we have been used to on a Tuesday. Although it was not particularly hard, I made life difficult for myself by trying to fit 13 across into a (5,2,5) pattern instead of (5,7)!
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
This is somewhat of a mixed bag today. It has some really good clues but a few that I thought were a bit “iffy”. There are also a high number of anagrams (my particular bugbear). Let us know your views in a comment.
If you want to see an answer just highlight the space between the curly brackets under the clue.
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment **
An OK crossword today, but not I think Rufus at his best.