Crossword solution

Solution to 2537: My Lord!

29 January 2022 9:00 am

The exchange that gave rise to the expression CURATE’s (19 Down) Egg was ‘I’m afraid you’ve got a bad egg,…

Christmas crossword solution

22 January 2022 9:00 am

The NATIVITY (89) of the ACTOR (37) HUMPHREY BOGART (47/13), the singers ANNIE LENNOX (112/12) and IAN BOSTRIDGE (4/61), the…

Solution to 2536: At rest

15 January 2022 9:00 am

The unclued lights (3 composers, 3 artists and 3 writers) are all buried in Père Lachaise Cemetery. The name should…

Solution to 2535: Triplets

8 January 2022 9:00 am

Each unclued lights include one letter three times. The wording of the preamble precludes ALLYLS (2D which would be the…

Solution to 2534: Off pitch

18 December 2021 9:00 am

The unclued lights are cricket fielding positions. The clues contain the names of 12 present and former England cricketers: Old,…

Solution to 2533: Monday’s child

11 December 2021 9:00 am

‘From harmony, from heavenly harmony, this universal frame began’ opens JOHN DRYDEN’s Song for ST CECILIA’S DAY (22 November, a…

Solution to: 2532: Patchy?

4 December 2021 9:00 am

The unclued lights are TV detectives and their PATCH: 10/8, 13/5D, 15/39, 26/41, 36/33. First prize Emma Corke, Abinger Hammer,…

Solution To 2531: Villainy

27 November 2021 9:00 am

The unclued lights are VILLAINS encountered by James Bond. First prize Ian Skillen, Cambuslang, Glasgow Runners-up Liz Knights, Walton Highway,…

Solution to 2530: Ups and downs

20 November 2021 9:00 am

The quotation is ‘LAUGH, AND THE WORLD LAUGHS WITH YOU; WEEP, AND YOU WEEP ALONE’ from Solitude by Ella Wheeler…

Solution to 2529: Formerly

13 November 2021 9:00 am

Each of the unclued lights can be preceded by OLD. First prize Heather McLaren, Seaford, East Sussex Runners-up Rupert Cousens,…

Solution to 2528: Not to Lose

6 November 2021 9:00 am

The unclued lights are all phrases in Chambers meaning ‘HURRY UP — or No T(ime) to Lose’. First prize Andy…

to 2527: The main dilemma

30 October 2021 9:00 am

The question posed by the song is 11A/ 22A/37A. Suggested by 37A, other unclued lights were anagrams of words meaning…

Solution to 2526: Everybody out!

23 October 2021 9:00 am

The unclued lights are preceded by ALL (with the title suggesting that ALL is to be omitted). The paired lights…

To 2525: Prime Times

16 October 2021 9:00 am

The [5 Down] MILESTONE puzzle number 2525 is the product of PRIME numbers 101 TIMES 5 TIMES 5, equivalently the…

To 2524: Spelean II

9 October 2021 9:00 am

The quotation is ‘I DO WISH THOU WERT A [dog] THAT I MIGHT LOVE THEE SOMETHING’. The honest servant is…

Solution to 2523: Monstrous regiment

2 October 2021 9:00 am

The unclued Across lights can be preceded by MISS and the unclued Down lights. MRS 2/15D is the pair. First…

Solution to 2522: A trifle

25 September 2021 9:00 am

Unclued lights were synonyms of NOTHING. ‘A trifle’ is one definition of nothing given in Chambers. First prize James Knox,…

Solution to 2521: Leading question

18 September 2021 9:00 am

The question was ‘What is THE THREE HUNDRED AND SIXTY(-)NINTH PRIME NUMBER’ (7A/10/22/40/16/31/32/28)? The answer is 2521, the number of…

Solution to 2520: 5 4 3 2 1

11 September 2021 9:00 am

The unclued lights are the names of the six principal presenters of COUNTDOWN (hence 5 4 3 2 1 as…

Solution to 2519: Not so up-to-date

4 September 2021 9:00 am

The unclued lights can all be preceded by OLD which is the clued solution at 49 Across. ‘Crocks’ at 5…

Solution to 2518: Make a run for it?

28 August 2021 9:00 am

As suggested by 11A, other unclued lights were all anagrams of ducks: 12A drake; 16A teal; 28A redhead; 31A smew; …

Solution to 2517: Final line-up

21 August 2021 9:00 am

The unclued lights are the eleven England footballers who LINED UP at the kick-off of the Euro FINAL on 11…

Solution to 2516: Such childish vocabulary

14 August 2021 9:00 am

The unclued lights are the nouns from the opening sentence of The Tailor of Gloucester by Beatrix Potter. TAFFETA was…

Solution to 2515: Paragon

7 August 2021 9:00 am

The name was Margaret, whose various versions are suggested by THE SPECTATOR (1: Mag), BARN OWL (10/36: Madge), LEAD HAMMER…

Solution to 2514: Welcome Back

31 July 2021 9:00 am

Unclued lights were stories in The Return of Sherlock Holmes. (The Adventures of the: EMPTY (41) HOUSE (2), DANCING MEN…