Putting the words to lights – crossword clues explained in plain English
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BD Rating – Toughie Difficulty **** – Enjoyment ****
Unusually for both a Wednesday and a Silvanus crossword, I found this to be a proper Toughie – my favourite Across clue was 28a and my favourite Down clue was 8d, as both of them mde me smile
Sunday Toughie No 242 by Silvanus
Full Review by Gazza
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This puzzle was published on 13/09/26
A very enjoyable puzzle from Silvanus this week.
Continue reading “Sunday Toughie 242 (full review)”
Silvanus was here for the Friday backpager, with a great Nina to honour the “Mutch Admired” Jeremy Mutch AKA Jay. I thought we were starting along a tribute to the equally admired Mr Manley AKA 1a, but that is as far as I got with setter spotting. A couple of former PM’s appear but don’t be fooled by the former Chancellor; it isn’t Rachel in 4d
I am finding Silvanus with his Sunday Toughie hat on quite tricky to parse, but that is as it should be with toughies. 7a and 2d in particular, and I have given my best guess in the hints. As a consequence, some other quite tricky constructions have hit the cutting room floor, so I will try and give a nudge if asked
The mental image of George proposing to Daisy at an Elizabethan-themed ball will live in my mind for some time, so 7d gets my COTT
Here we go…
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BD Rating – Toughie difficulty */** – Enjoyment ****
Friendly wordplay from Silvanus with just a sniff of GK (1a, 12a, etc). Nothing overly exotic and all typically fair. Not really a Toughie – just a very enjoyable crossword. The floor is yours.
Sunday Toughie No 235 by Silvanus
Review by Sloop John Bee
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This puzzle was published on the 26th of July 2026
As this is my last review blog, and the hints blog was rather brief, I have gone a bit overboard today. I will continue hinting on Sundays, but Gazza will be reviewing the Sunday Toughie going forward
I hope I have not made the mistake of not checking the fodder for anagrams and apologise to Light for that error last week.
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BD Rating – Toughie difficulty */** – Enjoyment ****
‘Tis always a (rare-ish) treat to see Silvanus pop up on a Thursday – elegant as ever and nowt too tricky, with a very faint French flavour. 22d was new to me but it’s generously clued and I had to run through a few comedians to crack 12a. Still, the deletion and definition couldn’t be clearer. Even 7d’s botany (my bête noire) is gifted on a plate. So, not tremendously tough, just tremendously entertaining. À vous la parole!
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BD Rating – Toughie Difficulty **** – Enjoyment ***
Sunday Toughie No 230 by Silvanus
Review by Sloop John Bee
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This puzzle was published on the 21st of June 2026
Sunday Toughie No 230
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For Silvanus’s third Sunday Toughie (# tooth hurty) I may have expected a dental reference or even a reference to the summer solstice, which passed as I slept on the parsing.
I think the slightly niche British TV references should be widely enough known to those overseas.
14a and 16d clues today and I have hinted half. I hope you find the checkers to finish, but I will nudge if required and able.
Here we go, Folks…