Is that a promotion? I don't recall you in the Prize slot before - congratulations!
For others - the second teaser clue is listed on the Guardian site as: Seat for one artiste essentially jamming on a musical instrument (7)
For others - the second teaser clue is listed on the Guardian site as: Seat for one artiste essentially jamming on a musical instrument (7)
December 6, 2025 at 9:32 AM
Is that a promotion? I don't recall you in the Prize slot before - congratulations!
For others - the second teaser clue is listed on the Guardian site as: Seat for one artiste essentially jamming on a musical instrument (7)
For others - the second teaser clue is listed on the Guardian site as: Seat for one artiste essentially jamming on a musical instrument (7)
"I don’t really care about the difficulty, either I like the clues or I don’t" - this. Some of the best crosswords are not hard, but are full of witty clues that make you look at words in a new light. The parallel with your kind of comedy is strong.
November 19, 2025 at 9:48 AM
"I don’t really care about the difficulty, either I like the clues or I don’t" - this. Some of the best crosswords are not hard, but are full of witty clues that make you look at words in a new light. The parallel with your kind of comedy is strong.
Excellent again. Was it a tad easier this time? Or was I just on your wavelength? (apart from the 1331 clue, which took me ages!). One thing I enjoy about crosswords is when the setter spots something interesting about the makeup of a word - you did this very nicely at 7a.
November 18, 2025 at 10:07 AM
Excellent again. Was it a tad easier this time? Or was I just on your wavelength? (apart from the 1331 clue, which took me ages!). One thing I enjoy about crosswords is when the setter spots something interesting about the makeup of a word - you did this very nicely at 7a.
Excellent again. My heart always lifts when I see "Fed" as the setter. Mrs End remarks that you often hide the definitions very well - me, I reckon it's the constructions that you mislead on. Either way, you have a way with surfaces - loved 4/14d.
November 6, 2025 at 10:17 AM
Excellent again. My heart always lifts when I see "Fed" as the setter. Mrs End remarks that you often hide the definitions very well - me, I reckon it's the constructions that you mislead on. Either way, you have a way with surfaces - loved 4/14d.
"Good for me; bad for the country". The personal manifesto of far too many politicians today.
October 27, 2025 at 8:07 PM
"Good for me; bad for the country". The personal manifesto of far too many politicians today.
May the light of Diwali bring you joy and prosperity!
October 20, 2025 at 3:04 PM
May the light of Diwali bring you joy and prosperity!
Looks to me like Belize
October 10, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Looks to me like Belize
Excellent again. It took us a while - one of those puzzles that are difficult to get started, but slowly take shape. Some beautifully inventive constructions in there.
October 10, 2025 at 8:17 AM
Excellent again. It took us a while - one of those puzzles that are difficult to get started, but slowly take shape. Some beautifully inventive constructions in there.
There might be some technicalities about damage to, or theft of, property belonging to persons unknown. But more importantly, if the wrong people see you doing it, you could be putting yourself in personal danger. If you do it, take care, and good luck!
September 22, 2025 at 3:35 PM
There might be some technicalities about damage to, or theft of, property belonging to persons unknown. But more importantly, if the wrong people see you doing it, you could be putting yourself in personal danger. If you do it, take care, and good luck!
That was my first thought... then I relaxed and went with it. You can work out what's going on from body language, tone of voice, and the odd recognisable word (Nazi, Fuhrer). Following Matt's advice, I turned on subtitles (bottom right-ish); the English added polish but I already had the sense
September 13, 2025 at 2:10 PM
That was my first thought... then I relaxed and went with it. You can work out what's going on from body language, tone of voice, and the odd recognisable word (Nazi, Fuhrer). Following Matt's advice, I turned on subtitles (bottom right-ish); the English added polish but I already had the sense
Oh very good. I'm not normally good at cold solving clues, but those were delightful, especially the first. You have a distinctive trademark sense of humour. Now stop slumming it at the Telegraph, and get back to the Guardian!
September 3, 2025 at 9:21 AM
Oh very good. I'm not normally good at cold solving clues, but those were delightful, especially the first. You have a distinctive trademark sense of humour. Now stop slumming it at the Telegraph, and get back to the Guardian!
That's more like it! I can do it now. Nice - lovely surface, and pleasing bit of misdirection in there. If you're going to keep setting Indie crosswords, I'm going to have to start buying the paper! (at least, on an occasional basis...)
July 31, 2025 at 1:43 PM
That's more like it! I can do it now. Nice - lovely surface, and pleasing bit of misdirection in there. If you're going to keep setting Indie crosswords, I'm going to have to start buying the paper! (at least, on an occasional basis...)
Another excellent puzzle. I seemed to be on your wavelength this morning. I'll pick out 5d as a favourite. I still need to work on a couple of parsings though!
July 9, 2025 at 8:08 AM
Another excellent puzzle. I seemed to be on your wavelength this morning. I'll pick out 5d as a favourite. I still need to work on a couple of parsings though!
I hope it isn't a one-off! When we saw the new name, it had to be either a new setter, or a new name for an old setter. We thought from the quality of the clueing that it must be an experienced setter with a new name. You're good at this! A good, entertaining puzzle. I'd love to see more!
July 2, 2025 at 6:40 PM
I hope it isn't a one-off! When we saw the new name, it had to be either a new setter, or a new name for an old setter. We thought from the quality of the clueing that it must be an experienced setter with a new name. You're good at this! A good, entertaining puzzle. I'd love to see more!
A smile on our faces when we saw you were today's setter! I'll confess that I'm still working on the last four, but really enjoyed the rest - plenty of humour, clever workplay, imaginative definitions, and a good variety of clue types
June 26, 2025 at 1:48 PM
A smile on our faces when we saw you were today's setter! I'll confess that I'm still working on the last four, but really enjoyed the rest - plenty of humour, clever workplay, imaginative definitions, and a good variety of clue types
Quite so. I come here for clever, witty, insightful satire that highlights very specific shortcomings in its target. Not empty abuse.
June 23, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Quite so. I come here for clever, witty, insightful satire that highlights very specific shortcomings in its target. Not empty abuse.
Another entertaining puzzle, with your trademark wit. Some nicely hidden definitions in there. And a special thank you for ensuring that answers that cross two lights, do so in a straight line. Not all setters do, and that upsets my sense of order!
June 12, 2025 at 8:30 PM
Another entertaining puzzle, with your trademark wit. Some nicely hidden definitions in there. And a special thank you for ensuring that answers that cross two lights, do so in a straight line. Not all setters do, and that upsets my sense of order!
Thanks for the heads up! I'd have missed it as I was away from home yesterday. Tough to get into, but very enjoyable. Satisfying, cleverly constructed clues with brilliant surfaces - especially the Wonka one! Still struggling with 1A but I'll get there.
May 23, 2025 at 8:36 AM
Thanks for the heads up! I'd have missed it as I was away from home yesterday. Tough to get into, but very enjoyable. Satisfying, cleverly constructed clues with brilliant surfaces - especially the Wonka one! Still struggling with 1A but I'll get there.
I'm going to raise my head above the parapet and respectfully disagree. Mock him for standing, yes. Villify him for the unutterable cheek of standing. But let him stand. Let the electorate decide.
April 26, 2025 at 7:51 AM
I'm going to raise my head above the parapet and respectfully disagree. Mock him for standing, yes. Villify him for the unutterable cheek of standing. But let him stand. Let the electorate decide.
Weird, eh? There's a few satirists out there that I don't get on with. I just ignore them. Wouldn't occur to me to waste energy creating a hate meme. Kinda ironic that he doesn't seem capable of being "blissfully oblivious" to your presence!
April 24, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Weird, eh? There's a few satirists out there that I don't get on with. I just ignore them. Wouldn't occur to me to waste energy creating a hate meme. Kinda ironic that he doesn't seem capable of being "blissfully oblivious" to your presence!
Really enjoyed this - it's a while since you last did the Guardian! Some excellent surfaces. And pleasingly difficult, but fair, clues.
April 23, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Really enjoyed this - it's a while since you last did the Guardian! Some excellent surfaces. And pleasingly difficult, but fair, clues.
It's as meaningful as "I would like to apologise most sincerely" - which is never followed by a sincere apology
April 14, 2025 at 12:09 PM
It's as meaningful as "I would like to apologise most sincerely" - which is never followed by a sincere apology
So Trump has revealed that the USA can't afford to have a big tariff on smartphones and computers. So maybe now China should put a 145% *export* tariff on all such goods heading for the USA
April 12, 2025 at 8:17 PM
So Trump has revealed that the USA can't afford to have a big tariff on smartphones and computers. So maybe now China should put a 145% *export* tariff on all such goods heading for the USA
Hmm yes, looks like the subsonline site is messing up the secure connection somehow. All it does is redirect - you could go straight to checkout.private-eye.co.uk/SingleItem?I...
Private Eye - Select Your Offer
checkout.private-eye.co.uk
April 5, 2025 at 1:30 PM
Hmm yes, looks like the subsonline site is messing up the secure connection somehow. All it does is redirect - you could go straight to checkout.private-eye.co.uk/SingleItem?I...
The other option would be to give up on the social media that's feeding you the spoilers
March 19, 2025 at 9:50 AM
The other option would be to give up on the social media that's feeding you the spoilers