Mick Hodgkin
@mickhodgkin.bsky.social
Puzzles Editor, cryptic crossword setter, limerick writer, former TV news producer. Only Connect semi-finalist 2015-16.
As in Charles has got Andrew by the short and curlies?
November 1, 2025 at 1:27 PM
As in Charles has got Andrew by the short and curlies?
Just catching up with the end of Celebrity Traitors ... so Andrew's been banished from the castle. Oh sorry, is it the News now?
October 30, 2025 at 10:05 PM
Just catching up with the end of Celebrity Traitors ... so Andrew's been banished from the castle. Oh sorry, is it the News now?
Reposted by Mick Hodgkin
“Select all squares containing J D Salinger books” - CAPTCHA in the Rye.
October 5, 2025 at 7:35 AM
“Select all squares containing J D Salinger books” - CAPTCHA in the Rye.
Reposted by Mick Hodgkin
Quick cryptic in The Times today is a debut by ‘Kybos’
Kybos is a Greek word for a six-sided 🎲 …
Testers are wonderful people who deserve so much ❤️
#cryptic #crossword #isitreal
Kybos is a Greek word for a six-sided 🎲 …
Testers are wonderful people who deserve so much ❤️
#cryptic #crossword #isitreal
September 12, 2025 at 7:41 AM
Quick cryptic in The Times today is a debut by ‘Kybos’
Kybos is a Greek word for a six-sided 🎲 …
Testers are wonderful people who deserve so much ❤️
#cryptic #crossword #isitreal
Kybos is a Greek word for a six-sided 🎲 …
Testers are wonderful people who deserve so much ❤️
#cryptic #crossword #isitreal
Keir Starmer's approach to dealing with embattled colleagues is a three-stage process: back, crack and sack.
September 12, 2025 at 12:10 PM
Keir Starmer's approach to dealing with embattled colleagues is a three-stage process: back, crack and sack.
Reposted by Mick Hodgkin
🚨 UK PRE-ORDERS ARE OPEN 🚨
Roll up roll up - assure yourself a copy of Unch now!
Visit: unchcrosswords.com#shop
Roll up roll up - assure yourself a copy of Unch now!
Visit: unchcrosswords.com#shop
a man in a suit and tie is saying oh my god okay it 's happening .
Alt: Michael Scott (US Office) saying oh my god okay it's happening .
media.tenor.com
September 9, 2025 at 3:25 PM
🚨 UK PRE-ORDERS ARE OPEN 🚨
Roll up roll up - assure yourself a copy of Unch now!
Visit: unchcrosswords.com#shop
Roll up roll up - assure yourself a copy of Unch now!
Visit: unchcrosswords.com#shop
If AI Overview is so intelligent, how come it can't count to 7? Outsmarted by an abacus.
September 8, 2025 at 9:02 PM
If AI Overview is so intelligent, how come it can't count to 7? Outsmarted by an abacus.
Try the new online Ponder crossword from @thetimes.com . Free this week, it has an American-style grid with Brit-friendly vocab. Concise-ish but may contain wordplay. At thetimes.com/puzzles/crossword/times-ponder-no-2-let-039-s-trip-9cv7fb93m
Latest news & breaking headlines
The latest breaking UK, US, world, business and sport news from The Times and The Sunday Times. Go beyond today's headlines with in-depth analysis and comment.
thetimes.co.uk
September 5, 2025 at 11:18 AM
Try the new online Ponder crossword from @thetimes.com . Free this week, it has an American-style grid with Brit-friendly vocab. Concise-ish but may contain wordplay. At thetimes.com/puzzles/crossword/times-ponder-no-2-let-039-s-trip-9cv7fb93m
Quizle August 9
"Which fictional character was originally going to have the surname Puckle?"
🟠🟠✅⚪️⚪️
www.thetimes.com/quizle
How many hints will you need? Ok, I could have got it in one because I edited the Q but that would be cheating.
Free to play, no sub needed.
"Which fictional character was originally going to have the surname Puckle?"
🟠🟠✅⚪️⚪️
www.thetimes.com/quizle
How many hints will you need? Ok, I could have got it in one because I edited the Q but that would be cheating.
Free to play, no sub needed.
Quizle | Puzzles | The Times & The Sunday Times | The Times and The Sunday Times
Times Daily Quizle. One quiz question, once per day.
www.thetimes.com
August 9, 2025 at 8:57 AM
Quizle August 9
"Which fictional character was originally going to have the surname Puckle?"
🟠🟠✅⚪️⚪️
www.thetimes.com/quizle
How many hints will you need? Ok, I could have got it in one because I edited the Q but that would be cheating.
Free to play, no sub needed.
"Which fictional character was originally going to have the surname Puckle?"
🟠🟠✅⚪️⚪️
www.thetimes.com/quizle
How many hints will you need? Ok, I could have got it in one because I edited the Q but that would be cheating.
Free to play, no sub needed.
I'll be on @bbcpm.bsky.social about 1720 talking the enduring appeal of cryptic crosswords
August 2, 2025 at 4:04 PM
I'll be on @bbcpm.bsky.social about 1720 talking the enduring appeal of cryptic crosswords
This is brilliant. And also feels like a nice tribute to Tom Lehrer, who used the same template for The Elements.
I am the largest language model anyone could ever need
I’m trained on hefty datasets that no one sane would ever read
I’ll answer any question with great eloquence and attitude
As long as you indulge me with a little factual latitude
stroppyeditor.wordpress.com/2025/07/29/t...
I’m trained on hefty datasets that no one sane would ever read
I’ll answer any question with great eloquence and attitude
As long as you indulge me with a little factual latitude
stroppyeditor.wordpress.com/2025/07/29/t...
The largest language model anyone could ever need
(With apologies to Gilbert and Sullivan) I am the largest language model anyone could ever needI’m trained on hefty datasets that no one sane would ever readI’ll answer any question with great eloq…
stroppyeditor.wordpress.com
July 29, 2025 at 2:07 PM
This is brilliant. And also feels like a nice tribute to Tom Lehrer, who used the same template for The Elements.
Reposted by Mick Hodgkin
Sample clue from today's Times Quick Cryptic:
Very attractive, the Spanish goalie - he's bedded plenty (11)
Very attractive, the Spanish goalie - he's bedded plenty (11)
July 15, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Sample clue from today's Times Quick Cryptic:
Very attractive, the Spanish goalie - he's bedded plenty (11)
Very attractive, the Spanish goalie - he's bedded plenty (11)
Reposted by Mick Hodgkin
Fabulous from Anax in today's ST...
Multitude possibly fed Hovis and tuna (4,8)
Multitude possibly fed Hovis and tuna (4,8)
July 13, 2025 at 5:09 AM
Fabulous from Anax in today's ST...
Multitude possibly fed Hovis and tuna (4,8)
Multitude possibly fed Hovis and tuna (4,8)
Reposted by Mick Hodgkin
Absolutely everybody at Wimbledon was dressed like someone Hugh Grant accidentally insults in a Richard Curtis movie.
June 30, 2025 at 9:03 PM
Absolutely everybody at Wimbledon was dressed like someone Hugh Grant accidentally insults in a Richard Curtis movie.
Reposted by Mick Hodgkin
Could cryptic solving become an Olympic sport? @mickhodgkin.bsky.social on today's World Cryptic Crossword Championship (and yes, women do also solve crosswords....) www.thetimes.com/puzzles/mind...
Could crosswords be an Olympic sport? British pastime goes global
The World Cryptic Crossword Championships organisers are on a mission to get the popular puzzle recognised on the world stage
www.thetimes.com
June 29, 2025 at 8:34 PM
Could cryptic solving become an Olympic sport? @mickhodgkin.bsky.social on today's World Cryptic Crossword Championship (and yes, women do also solve crosswords....) www.thetimes.com/puzzles/mind...
Crosswords as a spectator sport: my Times report on the first World Cryptic Crossword Championship (in the paper tomorrow) www.thetimes.com/article/c2f7...
Could crosswords be an Olympic sport? British pastime goes global
The World Cryptic Crossword Championships organisers are on a mission to get the popular puzzle recognised on the world stage
www.thetimes.com
June 29, 2025 at 8:35 PM
Crosswords as a spectator sport: my Times report on the first World Cryptic Crossword Championship (in the paper tomorrow) www.thetimes.com/article/c2f7...
Reposted by Mick Hodgkin
Great clue in today’s Times…
Go out of one’s mind, according to faculty (14)
Go out of one’s mind, according to faculty (14)
June 27, 2025 at 11:53 AM
Great clue in today’s Times…
Go out of one’s mind, according to faculty (14)
Go out of one’s mind, according to faculty (14)
Using @google search has become a good test of one's bullshit detector. The top result from AI Overview is invariably utterly wrong
June 27, 2025 at 12:21 PM
Using @google search has become a good test of one's bullshit detector. The top result from AI Overview is invariably utterly wrong
Reposted by Mick Hodgkin
What a super clue in today's Times puzzle:
Spooner's take on his characteristic hobby (12)
Spooner's take on his characteristic hobby (12)
June 21, 2025 at 5:15 AM
What a super clue in today's Times puzzle:
Spooner's take on his characteristic hobby (12)
Spooner's take on his characteristic hobby (12)
Today's Quizle question in @thetimes.com is "Whose reported last words translate to "do not disturb my circles"? Do you need a hint? No sub needed. www.thetimes.com/puzzles/quiz...
Quizle | Puzzles | The Times & The Sunday Times | The Times and The Sunday Times
Times Daily Quizle. One quiz question, once per day.
www.thetimes.com
June 17, 2025 at 11:04 AM
Today's Quizle question in @thetimes.com is "Whose reported last words translate to "do not disturb my circles"? Do you need a hint? No sub needed. www.thetimes.com/puzzles/quiz...
Reposted by Mick Hodgkin
Quizle June 16
"Who or what is Major General Sir Nils Olav III?"
✅⚪️⚪️⚪️⚪️
www.thetimes.com/quizle
Far too easy today!
"Who or what is Major General Sir Nils Olav III?"
✅⚪️⚪️⚪️⚪️
www.thetimes.com/quizle
Far too easy today!
Quizle | Puzzles | The Times & The Sunday Times | The Times and The Sunday Times
Times Daily Quizle. One quiz question, once per day.
www.thetimes.com
June 16, 2025 at 2:40 PM
Quizle June 16
"Who or what is Major General Sir Nils Olav III?"
✅⚪️⚪️⚪️⚪️
www.thetimes.com/quizle
Far too easy today!
"Who or what is Major General Sir Nils Olav III?"
✅⚪️⚪️⚪️⚪️
www.thetimes.com/quizle
Far too easy today!
Have a go at Quizle, now on the Times Live App. One question, up to 4 hints. How many/few will you need? Today's Q concerns Maj-Gen Sir Nils Olav III. No spoilers here please!
www.thetimes.com/puzzles/quiz...
www.thetimes.com/puzzles/quiz...
Quizle | Puzzles | The Times & The Sunday Times | The Times and The Sunday Times
Times Daily Quizle. One quiz question, once per day.
www.thetimes.com
June 16, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Have a go at Quizle, now on the Times Live App. One question, up to 4 hints. How many/few will you need? Today's Q concerns Maj-Gen Sir Nils Olav III. No spoilers here please!
www.thetimes.com/puzzles/quiz...
www.thetimes.com/puzzles/quiz...
In 1976 Sly Stone released a single called Crossword Puzzle: www.youtube.com/watch?v=D88l...
Crossword Puzzle
YouTube video by Sly Stone - Topic
www.youtube.com
June 12, 2025 at 2:15 PM
In 1976 Sly Stone released a single called Crossword Puzzle: www.youtube.com/watch?v=D88l...
It's a doge eat doge world out there
May 30, 2025 at 5:59 PM
It's a doge eat doge world out there