Big Dave's Crossword Blog – Page 13 – Putting the words to lights – crossword clues explained in plain English

DT 31175 (Full Review)

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31175

A full review by Rahmat Ali

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This puzzle was published on 28th February 2026

BD Rating – Difficulty **Enjoyment ****

Greetings from Kolkata. A highly entertaining Saturday puzzle from NYDK that I enjoyed solving and thereafter writing a review of the same for your kind perusal and significant feedback. Continue reading “DT 31175 (Full Review)”

Toughie 3647

Toughie No 3647 by Beam
Hints and tips by ALP

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BD Rating – Toughie difficulty * Enjoyment ***/****

It’s Beam, so you know what to expect – sweethearts, a Queen, a flurry of imaginative synonyms and no anagrams. Over to you.

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DT 31178

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31178
Hints and Tips by Deansleigh

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BD Rating – Difficulty **  Enjoyment ****

Good morning from a sunny and springlike South Hampshire.  Once again we have an excellent midweek puzzle, with some cracking clues.  This was the hardest of the week for me so far, mainly because it took me a while to identify the Russian spymaster in 3d.  The clues that made it to my (somewhat overcrowded) podium today were 4a, 9a, 2d, 14d and 19d, with 9a the winner by a whisker. Many thanks to today’s setter.

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ST 3357 (Full Review)

Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3357

A full review by Rahmat Ali

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This puzzle was published on 22nd February 2026

BD Rating – Difficulty **Enjoyment ****

Greetings from Kolkata. A straightforward and gentle puzzle from Dada this Sunday that I enjoyed solving and thereafter writing a full review of his puzzle for your kind perusal and valuable feedback. Continue reading “ST 3357 (Full Review)”

Toughie 3645

Toughie No 3645 by Dada
Hints and tips by Whybird

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

Namaste! Many thanks to Gazza for filling in for the past two weeks whilst I “trundled” around India seeing most of the cast of the Jungle Book, through some absolutely wonderful wildlife experiences– although the leopards weren’t black – and eating equally wonderful food .  I thought I might return somewhat lighter and slimmer, but that hasn’t happened at all. Fortunately, the return flight from Delhi was direct to Heathrow, and the normal route is well north of the Gulf, so everything went smoothly.  I’m disappointed to see I missed blogging a Tuesday Django – I’d been looking forward to that pleasure, so I hope the chance comes around again soon.

I was hoping for a gentle reintroduction to the blog, but that hasn’t happened.  Dada has given us a quirky puzzle, which I think would have fitted in reasonably well later in the week.  Perhaps the cough and head cold I have acquired, coupled with the “safari massage” my body has endured, has deadened my senses somewhat, but I found this rather tricky.  My podium places are occupied by 2d, 16a and 21a today.

Thanks to Dada for a re-baptism of fire.

Please let us know how you fared and what you thought of the puzzle. 

Continue reading “Toughie 3645”