Derek Harrison
@derekharrison.bsky.social
Keen cyclist, lover of crosswords and manager of the Crossword Centre website
Lots of news for puzzlers in the latest newsletter from the Crossword Centre.
crosswordcentre.blogspot.com/2026/02/cros...
crosswordcentre.blogspot.com/2026/02/cros...
Crossword News February 2026
Crossword News February 2026 The January Prize Puzzle was Dressing Down by Hedge-sparrow. The theme is the 1974 / 75 song “FLING IT HERE...
crosswordcentre.blogspot.com
February 11, 2026 at 5:48 PM
Lots of news for puzzlers in the latest newsletter from the Crossword Centre.
crosswordcentre.blogspot.com/2026/02/cros...
crosswordcentre.blogspot.com/2026/02/cros...
Ximenes on the Art of the Crossword is long out of print and exceedingly rare. Fortunately, someone has put the book online. So here you are!
xotaotc.nfshost.com
xotaotc.nfshost.com
Ximenes On The Art Of The Crossword
xotaotc.nfshost.com
February 9, 2026 at 4:59 PM
Ximenes on the Art of the Crossword is long out of print and exceedingly rare. Fortunately, someone has put the book online. So here you are!
xotaotc.nfshost.com
xotaotc.nfshost.com
The solution to the Crossword Centre January Prize Puzzle - Dressing Down by Hedge-sparrow. Our muckiest puzzle!
crosswordcentre.blogspot.com/2026/02/solu...
crosswordcentre.blogspot.com/2026/02/solu...
Solution to Dressing Down by Hedge-sparrow
Dressing Down by Hedge-sparrow - SOLUTION Perpetrator: WALTER HODGKINS The theme is the 1974 / 75 song “FLING IT HERE, FLING IT THERE”...
crosswordcentre.blogspot.com
February 9, 2026 at 7:07 AM
The solution to the Crossword Centre January Prize Puzzle - Dressing Down by Hedge-sparrow. Our muckiest puzzle!
crosswordcentre.blogspot.com/2026/02/solu...
crosswordcentre.blogspot.com/2026/02/solu...
Can you help a budding crossword setter?
www.tapatalk.com/groups/cross...
www.tapatalk.com/groups/cross...
Crossword Centre-Cryptic crossword clueing
I am new to writing cryptic crossword clues. A recent submission I made to a British newspaper received bruising criticism which has shattered my conf
www.tapatalk.com
February 4, 2026 at 3:12 PM
Can you help a budding crossword setter?
www.tapatalk.com/groups/cross...
www.tapatalk.com/groups/cross...
Just one week left to solve the Crossword Centre Prize Puzzle, Dressing Down by Hedge-sparrow. Remember, it is so easy to enter on our smart interface.
crosswordcentre.blogspot.com/2025/12/janu...
crosswordcentre.blogspot.com/2025/12/janu...
January 2026 Dressing Down by Hedge-sparrow
Dressing Down by Hedge-sparrow Perpetrator _____________________________ The puzzle re-enacts a story told in a comic song. Cells where cr...
crosswordcentre.blogspot.com
February 2, 2026 at 6:08 PM
Just one week left to solve the Crossword Centre Prize Puzzle, Dressing Down by Hedge-sparrow. Remember, it is so easy to enter on our smart interface.
crosswordcentre.blogspot.com/2025/12/janu...
crosswordcentre.blogspot.com/2025/12/janu...
The February challenge from the Crossword Centre is another fun challenge - Cover Stories by Phylax.
crosswordcentre.blogspot.com/2026/01/febr...
crosswordcentre.blogspot.com/2026/01/febr...
February 2026 Cover Stories by Phylax
Cover Stories by Phylax Six answers must be replaced prior to entry. In the initially populated grid, two of these entries must be modified...
crosswordcentre.blogspot.com
January 31, 2026 at 7:34 AM
The February challenge from the Crossword Centre is another fun challenge - Cover Stories by Phylax.
crosswordcentre.blogspot.com/2026/01/febr...
crosswordcentre.blogspot.com/2026/01/febr...
The Azed Slip for the clues to PEDALIER and, on a sad note, Azed announces that he will be no longer judging the clues.
www.crossword.org.uk/Azed2773.pdf
www.crossword.org.uk/Azed2773.pdf
www.crossword.org.uk
January 27, 2026 at 5:57 PM
The Azed Slip for the clues to PEDALIER and, on a sad note, Azed announces that he will be no longer judging the clues.
www.crossword.org.uk/Azed2773.pdf
www.crossword.org.uk/Azed2773.pdf
Another thematic crossword from an exiled Scot.
johnnolantheverylogicalprizepuzzle.blogspot.com/2026/01/tvlp...
johnnolantheverylogicalprizepuzzle.blogspot.com/2026/01/tvlp...
TVLPP 409
Across 1. Turkey to go back with nothing new for tropical bird. (6) 4. Camp bed needed for poor Gina to see tropical bird. (7) 9. Pr...
johnnolantheverylogicalprizepuzzle.blogspot.com
January 24, 2026 at 4:49 PM
Another thematic crossword from an exiled Scot.
johnnolantheverylogicalprizepuzzle.blogspot.com/2026/01/tvlp...
johnnolantheverylogicalprizepuzzle.blogspot.com/2026/01/tvlp...
All the latest cruciverbal news in the January edition of the Crossword Centre newsletter.
crosswordcentre.blogspot.com/2026/01/cros...
crosswordcentre.blogspot.com/2026/01/cros...
Crossword News January 2026
Crossword News January 2026 Happy New Year! In December the Prize Puzzle was Seasons Greetings XVII by Eclogue, a lovely puzzle based ...
crosswordcentre.blogspot.com
January 8, 2026 at 5:56 PM
All the latest cruciverbal news in the January edition of the Crossword Centre newsletter.
crosswordcentre.blogspot.com/2026/01/cros...
crosswordcentre.blogspot.com/2026/01/cros...
The Crossword Centre will be publishing its 18th Round Robin puzzle in March. We now need 40 clue-writers to volunteer to participate. More info at the link.
www.tapatalk.com/groups/cross...
www.tapatalk.com/groups/cross...
Crossword Centre-Round Robin XVIII
The grid for this year's Round Robin has been designed by Arcadia. There are 40 clues and I am asking for 40 volunteers each to write a normal cryptic
www.tapatalk.com
January 4, 2026 at 6:43 PM
The Crossword Centre will be publishing its 18th Round Robin puzzle in March. We now need 40 clue-writers to volunteer to participate. More info at the link.
www.tapatalk.com/groups/cross...
www.tapatalk.com/groups/cross...
Start the New Year with the January Prize Puzzle from the Crossword Centre, Dressing Down by Hedge-sparrow.
crosswordcentre.blogspot.com/2025/12/janu...
crosswordcentre.blogspot.com/2025/12/janu...
January 2026 Dressing Down by Hedge-sparrow
Dressing Down by Hedge-sparrow Perpetrator _____________________________ The puzzle re-enacts a story told in a comic song. Cells where cr...
crosswordcentre.blogspot.com
December 31, 2025 at 9:43 AM
Start the New Year with the January Prize Puzzle from the Crossword Centre, Dressing Down by Hedge-sparrow.
crosswordcentre.blogspot.com/2025/12/janu...
crosswordcentre.blogspot.com/2025/12/janu...
Reposted by Derek Harrison
My god we are so lucky to live in an age where kids, nevermind adults, have to be nowhere near a coal mine.
I'm heartbroken by this tale of a 7 year old who, in 1829, fell asleep keeping a trap door down in Ravensworth Colliery and was ran over by wagons. Never any justice.
I'm heartbroken by this tale of a 7 year old who, in 1829, fell asleep keeping a trap door down in Ravensworth Colliery and was ran over by wagons. Never any justice.
December 29, 2025 at 4:10 PM
My god we are so lucky to live in an age where kids, nevermind adults, have to be nowhere near a coal mine.
I'm heartbroken by this tale of a 7 year old who, in 1829, fell asleep keeping a trap door down in Ravensworth Colliery and was ran over by wagons. Never any justice.
I'm heartbroken by this tale of a 7 year old who, in 1829, fell asleep keeping a trap door down in Ravensworth Colliery and was ran over by wagons. Never any justice.
The December crossword from John Nolan.
johnnolantheverylogicalprizepuzzle.blogspot.com/2025/12/1-4-...
johnnolantheverylogicalprizepuzzle.blogspot.com/2025/12/1-4-...
John Nolan: The Very Logical Prize Puzzle
Across 1, 4 dn. A crazy Dr. No reassembled teen’s china doll to sho...
johnnolantheverylogicalprizepuzzle.blogspot.com
December 21, 2025 at 5:42 PM
The December crossword from John Nolan.
johnnolantheverylogicalprizepuzzle.blogspot.com/2025/12/1-4-...
johnnolantheverylogicalprizepuzzle.blogspot.com/2025/12/1-4-...
Reposted by Derek Harrison
At this time of year, I like to quote Araucaria's amazing anagram...
"O hark the herald angels sing the boy's descent, which lifted up the world", which produces "WHILE SHEPHERDS WATCHED THEIR FLOCKS BY NIGHT/ALL SEATED IN THE GROUND"
www.theguardian.com/crosswords/c...
"O hark the herald angels sing the boy's descent, which lifted up the world", which produces "WHILE SHEPHERDS WATCHED THEIR FLOCKS BY NIGHT/ALL SEATED IN THE GROUND"
www.theguardian.com/crosswords/c...
Goodbye, Araucaria
Hugh Stephenson: For over 55 years John Graham's puzzles entertained (and educated and informed) generations of Guardian solvers
www.theguardian.com
December 10, 2025 at 6:18 PM
At this time of year, I like to quote Araucaria's amazing anagram...
"O hark the herald angels sing the boy's descent, which lifted up the world", which produces "WHILE SHEPHERDS WATCHED THEIR FLOCKS BY NIGHT/ALL SEATED IN THE GROUND"
www.theguardian.com/crosswords/c...
"O hark the herald angels sing the boy's descent, which lifted up the world", which produces "WHILE SHEPHERDS WATCHED THEIR FLOCKS BY NIGHT/ALL SEATED IN THE GROUND"
www.theguardian.com/crosswords/c...
All the crossword news in my December newsletter.
crosswordcentre.blogspot.com/2025/12/cros...
crosswordcentre.blogspot.com/2025/12/cros...
Crossword News December 2025
Crossword News December 2025 The November Prize Puzzle was Nonsense by Craft. Extra letters in down clues spell NEDERLANDS NEDERLANDS, a...
crosswordcentre.blogspot.com
December 8, 2025 at 7:18 PM
All the crossword news in my December newsletter.
crosswordcentre.blogspot.com/2025/12/cros...
crosswordcentre.blogspot.com/2025/12/cros...
The solution to the tricky November prize o=puzzle on the Crossword Centre, Nonsense by Craft.
crosswordcentre.blogspot.com/2025/12/solu...
crosswordcentre.blogspot.com/2025/12/solu...
Solution to Nonsense by Craft
Nonsense by Craft - Solution Extra letters in down clues spell NEDERLANDS NEDERLANDS, a cryptic indication of Double Dutch. In nine clues,...
crosswordcentre.blogspot.com
December 8, 2025 at 6:23 PM
The solution to the tricky November prize o=puzzle on the Crossword Centre, Nonsense by Craft.
crosswordcentre.blogspot.com/2025/12/solu...
crosswordcentre.blogspot.com/2025/12/solu...
Reposted by Derek Harrison
Chris Lancaster, the Telegraph's puzzles editor, was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease last year, and is fundraising for a wheelchair-accessible vehicle - please donate if you can: www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding...
December 2, 2025 at 7:52 AM
Chris Lancaster, the Telegraph's puzzles editor, was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease last year, and is fundraising for a wheelchair-accessible vehicle - please donate if you can: www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding...
Final call. Only 3 days left to enter your solution to Nonsense by Craft, the November Prize Puzzle on the Crossword Centre.
crosswordcentre.blogspot.com/2025/10/nove...
crosswordcentre.blogspot.com/2025/10/nove...
November 2025 Nonsense by Craft
Nonsense by Craft For nine symmetrically-placed entries, definitions in clues lead to an answer which must be treated before entry. Wordplay...
crosswordcentre.blogspot.com
December 4, 2025 at 11:58 AM
Final call. Only 3 days left to enter your solution to Nonsense by Craft, the November Prize Puzzle on the Crossword Centre.
crosswordcentre.blogspot.com/2025/10/nove...
crosswordcentre.blogspot.com/2025/10/nove...
The Azed slip with the results for the clues to METEORIST is now on the Crossword Centre.
www.crossword.org.uk/Azedslip.html
www.crossword.org.uk/Azedslip.html
The Azed Slip
www.crossword.org.uk
December 3, 2025 at 2:37 PM
The Azed slip with the results for the clues to METEORIST is now on the Crossword Centre.
www.crossword.org.uk/Azedslip.html
www.crossword.org.uk/Azedslip.html
Let’s help Chris
www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding...
www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding...
December 2, 2025 at 7:42 AM
Let’s help Chris
www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding...
www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding...
The Crossword Centre's traditional Christmas treat, Seasons Greetings by Eclogue.
crosswordcentre.blogspot.com/2025/11/dece...
crosswordcentre.blogspot.com/2025/11/dece...
December 2025 Seasons Greetings XVII by Eclogue
Seasons Greetings XVII by Eclogue The wordplay for every clue generates an extraneous letter. Those generated by down clues should be ente...
crosswordcentre.blogspot.com
November 30, 2025 at 1:49 PM
The Crossword Centre's traditional Christmas treat, Seasons Greetings by Eclogue.
crosswordcentre.blogspot.com/2025/11/dece...
crosswordcentre.blogspot.com/2025/11/dece...
A neat thematic puzzle from the USA.
johnnolantheverylogicalprizepuzzle.blogspot.com/2025/11/407-...
johnnolantheverylogicalprizepuzzle.blogspot.com/2025/11/407-...
John Nolan: The Very Logical Prize Puzzle
TVLPP 407 Across 1. Townsman, contemptuously, in Scotland to run to earth and find semi-precious stone. (7) 5. Pale stone? It’s the...
johnnolantheverylogicalprizepuzzle.blogspot.com
November 23, 2025 at 2:04 PM
A neat thematic puzzle from the USA.
johnnolantheverylogicalprizepuzzle.blogspot.com/2025/11/407-...
johnnolantheverylogicalprizepuzzle.blogspot.com/2025/11/407-...
Reposted by Derek Harrison
More Unch to brighten up your January! Pre-order now! 🎉
November 22, 2025 at 9:13 AM
More Unch to brighten up your January! Pre-order now! 🎉
Reposted by Derek Harrison
New Listener video is out. One of the more impressive uses of grid symmetry out there!
youtu.be/qijbeetn0bc?...
youtu.be/qijbeetn0bc?...
Listener 4892 "Tell Me What..." by Kea
YouTube video by Dmitriy Adamskiy
youtu.be
November 21, 2025 at 3:57 PM
New Listener video is out. One of the more impressive uses of grid symmetry out there!
youtu.be/qijbeetn0bc?...
youtu.be/qijbeetn0bc?...
Reposted by Derek Harrison
Could you design a 3D Crossword? Have a go ... 3dcalendarpuzzles.co.uk/2025-world-c...
2025 World Championship & RPM Trophy Competitions - 3D Calendar Puzzles
How to enter the 3D Crosswords 2025 World Championship and RPM Trophy competitions.
3dcalendarpuzzles.co.uk
November 16, 2025 at 4:41 AM
Could you design a 3D Crossword? Have a go ... 3dcalendarpuzzles.co.uk/2025-world-c...