EV1726
Gripping Yarns by Luxor
Solution
DT 31125
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31125
Hints and tips by Shabbo
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
Good morning, fellow puzzlers and a very Happy New Year to you all.
I have been blogging the Thursday back-pager since August 2023, but I now need to pass the baton on. I have been invited to join the Telegraph team of setters and there is an unwritten, but understandable, rule that setters should not comment on other setters’ work. My first DT puzzle will appear in the Toughie slot on 7th January.
Naturally I am thrilled to join the group of setters, but I will miss my blogging duties, particularly as I now leave the coast clear for Huntsman to win the race to 200 blogs! I will not, however, miss setting my alarm clock every Wednesday evening! My thanks go to the BD management team for inviting me to take on the role in the first place and particular thanks to Gazza for teaching this IT Luddite the joys of working with WordPress. I wish my successor well.
What about today’s puzzle, I hear you cry? Good point, well made. This is undoubtedly the work of RayT as all of his trademarks are there. He has even excelled himself by smashing through the 5 words/clue barrier. If my calculations are correct, he is averaging a miserly 4.9 words per clue. Remarkable.
I found it slightly trickier than usual, but then I solved it at silly o’clock when I was woken up by the local celebratory fireworks at midnight. I hope you enjoyed it – the puzzle, that is, not the fireworks.
Many thanks to RayT and to the DT Crossword Team.
Toughie 3610
Toughie No 3610 by Prime
Hints and Tips by crypticsue
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BD Rating – Toughie Difficulty */** – Enjoyment ***
DT 31124
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?
Sunday Toughie 204 (Review)
Sunday Toughie No 204 by Dada
Review by
Sloop John Bee
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This puzzle was published on the 21st December 2025
Nothing against the crossword; it was a good exercise for the brain cells, but I am not a fan of Dada getting both Prize Puzzles on the same day. As Huntsman said about the absence of a Toughie on a Monday, Telegraph Towers have a large enough roster of setters to share them out a bit more or even give a Rookie a shot!.
ST 3348 (Full Review)
Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3348
A full review by Rahmat Ali
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This puzzle was published on 21st December 2025
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
Greetings from Kolkata. A fairly gentle puzzle from Dada this Sunday that I enjoyed solving and thereafter writing a full review of his puzzle for your kind perusal and worthwhile comments. Continue reading “ST 3348 (Full Review)”
Toughie 3609
Toughie No 3609 by Chalicea
Hints and tips by Whybird
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BD Rating – Difficulty * – Enjoyment ***
Hello, good whenever and welcome from a grey, but calm, Wirral today.
Chalicea has turned up the difficulty dial a little in places for this puzzle; this is certainly not a Floughie, but was finished in just about in one-star time for me. Amongst a few “gimmes” are some slightly more unusual senses and at least one pitfall for the unwary solver, although nothing that requires knowledge of what I would class as obscurities. All very fairly and clearly clued, too. My podium places today go to 25a, 14d and 18d. Thank you, Chalicea, for an enjoyable solve.
As this is my final blog of 2025, I will take this opportunity to wish you all a happy and prosperous New Year.
Please let us know how you fared and what you liked about the puzzle
DT 31123
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31123
Hints and tips by Huntsman
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BD Rating – Difficulty * Enjoyment ***
Even by Tuesday standards I’d rate today’s puzzle on the gentle side so I doubt it will detain many for long. Much like yesterday it was all over a bit too quickly but was nevertheless a pleasant & enjoyable solve. The only real head scratch was twigging the synonym for the 3rd word in the Quickie pun. I’ve not looked at it yet but I see that Chalicea is today’s setter over in t’other place so if she’s true to form that will be an entertaining & accessible puzzle.
In the hints below the definition element of each clue has been underlined, anagrams are CAPITALISED & the crossword technique “indicator words” are in brackets. The answers are concealed under the Click Here buttons. Please leave a comment below telling us what you thought & how you got on with the puzzle.
DT 31122
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31122
Hints and tips by Smylers
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BD Rating – Difficulty ★ – Enjoyment ★★★
I find it hard to keep track of the days of the week at this time of year, but apparently it’s Monday and today’s Telegraph Crossword is at the gentler end of the range.
Welcome to all our readers, and especially anybody new to cryptic crosswords or who is only here because they found a newspaper while staying with relatives for Christmas (or discarded on a train back home). Do please leave a comment, especially if you made use of the hints or explanations — there’s no need to lurk until you complete a crossword without the hints! Big Dave’s etiquette guide covers how we do things round here.
DT 31115 (Full Review)
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31115
A full review by Rahmat Ali
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This puzzle was published on 20th December 2025
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
Greetings from Kolkata. A very pleasant Saturday puzzle from the setter that I enjoyed solving and thereafter writing a review of the same for your kind perusal and significant feedback. Continue reading “DT 31115 (Full Review)”