Sunday Telegraph – Big Dave's Crossword Blog

ST 3375 (Full Review)

Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3375

A full review by Rahmat Ali

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This puzzle was published on 28th June 2026

BD Rating – Difficulty **Enjoyment ****

Greetings from Kolkata. An excellent and straightforward 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 3375 (Full Review)”

Sunday Toughie 232 (Hints)

Sunday Toughie No 232

by proXimal

 

Hints and Tips by Sloop John Bee

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Many thanks to Mr-K for getting us up and running again. When I finally got to see the puzzle, I was pleasantly surprised but mentally challenged by proXimal.

I see from Phibs’ post that the other SJB (proXimal) has passed over editorship of the EV to Elgar. I hope that will give him plenty of opportunities to post more back-pagers like 31252 or Sunday Toughies like this.

All the trademarks are present – start with a Spoonerism and a couple of compound anagrams, but only one X today.

We have 14a and 14d clues today and I have hinted half. I hope you find the checkers to reach the end, but I will try to give a nudge if asked.

 

Here we go, Folks…

Continue reading “Sunday Toughie 232 (Hints)”

EV 1754 (Hints)

Enigmatic Variations 1754 (Hints)

Block Letters by Nudd

Hints and tips by Phibs

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Today the EV community extends a warm welcome to our new editor, the cruciverbal legend that is John Henderson (Elgar, Enigmatist, Io, and editor of the Inquisitor puzzle in the i newspaper); at the same time, we bid farewell to Steve Bartlett, who has been in the editorial seat since 2019 and has by my reckoning brought 373 puzzles to us during his seven-year tenure – I’m sure you will join me in thanking him for a sterling shift, in the course of which, along with editing many fine puzzles, he introduced these ‘hints and tips’ blogs. Thanks, too, on behalf of all EV setters: there’s no doubting that when many of those puzzles were received by Steve they were significantly less satisfactory than their polished, published forms.

Continue reading “EV 1754 (Hints)”

ST 3376 (Hints)

Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3376 (Hints)

Hints and tips by Senf

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A very good Sunday morning from Winnipeg where I express great thanks to Mr K for resolving issues to fend off Chinese bots and other DDoS attacks in the middle of my night which is why my blog is a little late this morning, it still is the middle of my night, and if you notice any errors have a Mars Bar and a 48.

For me, and I stress for me,© Dada symmetrically not so friendly today with two long ‘uns, six anagrams with five partials (I might have mis-counted), two lurkers (don’t forget the ‘if all else fails . . . ‘), and no homophones, all in an symmetric 28 clues; with 14 hints ‘sprinkled’ throughout the grid you should/might be able to get some of the checkers to enable the solving of the unhinted clues. I hope you have your Crimson Tomes at hand!

Remember that Reading the Hints before commenting can be beneficial!

If it is some time since you read, or if you have never read the instructions in RED below the hints then please consider doing so before commenting today as my electronic blue pencil is at the ready and the Naughty Step is OPEN!

Continue reading “ST 3376 (Hints)”

ST 3374 (Full Review)

Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3374

A full review by Rahmat Ali

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This puzzle was published on 21st June 2026

BD Rating – Difficulty ** Enjoyment ****

Greetings from Kolkata. A truly superb 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 3374 (Full Review)”

Sunday Toughie 231 (Hints)

Sunday Toughie No 231

by Beam

 

Hints and Tips by Sloop John Bee

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After Thursday I was hoping, but we haven’t seen a Robyn here in Sunday Toughie land since #175, 1st June 2025, over a year ago; however, Beam is a more than adequate replacement.  The daunting castellated grid (nice description, ALP) soon filled itself as I watched a slightly laboured performance of England last night. I was able to turn in before Keane and Neville had their say.

14a and 14d clues and I have hinted half. Beam trademarks are there, under six words per single word solutions, no anagrams, Queens, sweethearts, and initialisms, although we have been spared a trip to the lingerie department today.

I can’t hint them all, but will try and give a nudge if you ask

 

Here we go, Folks…

Continue reading “Sunday Toughie 231 (Hints)”