Daily Telegraph – Page 2 – Big Dave's Crossword Blog

Toughie 3736

Toughie No 3736 by Elgar

Hints and Tips by crypticsue

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

If I hadn’t struggled so mightily to parse two of the clues, I might have said that I really enjoyed this proper Friday Toughie but I still can’t parse one of them (and none of the three crossword-solving ‘friends I phoned’ could help until I got an email just after the blog was published.  I spotted the theme quite early on in the solving process – apparently it is the centenary of Britain’s first Grand Prix [the names of eleven British Formula One champions are to be found in the Across solutions, some of them crossing over two solutions, one name doing double duty for father and son with that surname]

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DT 31307 (Full Review)

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31307

A full review by Rahmat Ali

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This puzzle was published on 1st August 2026

BD Rating – Difficulty **Enjoyment ****

Greetings from Kolkata. An excellent Saturday puzzle from Chris Lancaster that I enjoyed solving and thereafter writing a review of the same for your kind perusal and significant feedback. Continue reading “DT 31307 (Full Review)”

Toughie 3735

Toughie No 3735 by Django
Hints and tips by ALP

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

Solid stuff from Django today, with his usual flourishes. 1a tickled me from the off. I once filed a piece for The Independent about Britain’s “poshest” dump. There were working tumble-dryers discarded there willy-nilly – one still in its box, quickly snapped up by the hawk-eyed manager. There was even an on-site shop to sell the best of the plunder that included a W-reg Ford Fiesta (with MOT) and a speedboat. That’s Dorset for you!

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DT 31311

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31311
Hints and Tips by Gazza

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

This is the trickiest puzzle of the week so far which is just right for a Thursday and I enjoyed it a lot. Thanks to today’s setter.
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DT 31310

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31310
Hints and Tips by Deansleigh

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BD Rating – Difficulty **  Enjoyment ****

Good morning everyone, and welcome to the midweek back-pager blog.   I found today’s crossword fairly challenging for a Wednesday.  A reasonable amount of general knowledge is needed: there are several artistic and literary references, and some familiarity with Indian nobility is useful.  My favourite clues today are the Spoonerism in 1d and the hapless prince in 26a.  Many thanks to our setter.

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Toughie 3733

Toughie No 3733 by Beam
Hints and tips by Gazza

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BD Rating – Difficulty **Enjoyment ***

Whybird is off on his holidays so I’m standing in today.

Beam is obviously the flavour of the month at Telegraph Towers – this is his second Toughie in three days. All his trademarks are present today in a gentle and enjoyable puzzle.
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DT 31309

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31309

Hints and tips by Huntsman

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BD Rating – Difficulty * Enjoyment ****

Mercifully cooler today so it promises to be a lot more comfortable on the golf course this afternoon.

I found today’s Anthony Plumb offering a good bit easier than last week & about on a par with Heron’s puzzle yesterday in terms of difficulty. As ever nicely clued throughout with some excellent surfaces. Any corrections to the hints (if current form is anything to go by there’s bound to be at least one) will have to wait until later.

There’s a quick reappearance from Ray T over in t’other place with a very enjoyable & fairly gentle(ish) Beamer that’s begging to be walloped to the boundary ropes. I’m sure both he & Whybird would welcome your thoughts on it.

As usual there is a selection of music to enjoy or ignore.

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.

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