A new battle of wits set by smart top compiler blogged @ bigdave44.com/2026/07/09/3719 In America, game wife dancing in ballgown holds in ... (4,7) ... boob, somewhat overreacting (3) Celebrate Viagra's latest cracking blue tablet (7)

Andy Burnham savagely snubbed by bunny boiling Telegraph writer @ bigdave44.com/2026/07/02/3715 Well, not in today's Toughie, but other parties get a look-in … Reform is inane with party splitting country (9) Inspire Kemi's possible statement of political allegiance, ignoring Liberal (5)

@crypticblah.bsky.social I may just have casually defamed you on DIY ... I just couldn't help myself!

Possibly born to pen today’s stern Toughie puzzler, he’s rated @ bigdave44.com/2026/06/25/3711 Like strong acid kept in tin by puzzle setter (6) Understanding lumberjack's work includes competitive price (6,7) One descriptor of Othello then another's enthralling head of theatre company (7,6)

@crypticblah.bsky.social Dear chap, are we going to see an ANDY BURNHAM (4,7) off you this week? www.ukpuzzle.com/phpBB3/viewt...

Her vile career’s kaput – No.3 to Keir Starmer finally quitting (6,6)

Reviewer’s mark for returning Toughie setter today @ bigdave44.com/2026/06/18/3707 Solid work at university involving reading, perhaps? (6) Get the best of complete component of quadratic equation (9) Journalists heading for Klosters engaged in excellent evening in bar there? (5-3)

Flipping brilliant – gold stuff from cool new Toughie setter @ bigdave44.com/2026/06/11/3703 This setter's cracking cryptic clues shine (9) When to participate in small amount of alcohol? (5) New Yorker's break with partner spanning a year (7)

Today’s Toughie setter is back to work with letters @ bigdave44.com/2026/06/04/3699 Fat swine blocks old port (8) Heartless competitor Omani bit (4) Concern of EV buyers published outside of garage (5)

With surfaces of roguish naughtiness, nobody will fail to endorse today’s Toughie setter blogged @ bigdave44.com/2026/05/28/3695 S&M in apartment: I'm all right with it (5,2) Okay result of sleeping on infested mattress? (2,2,7) Obsession of Big Apple politician travelling in Omaha (11)

Chuffed as eggs (©Twm) to return as Magus in the Indy … I’ll be behind the sofa if you need me. Hellraiser Magus’s back to bewilder in drôle No. 6 for Independent cryptic (6,4) #cryptic #crossword

Had a wobbly over terms found in puzzler from today’s Toughie setter? Hints & tips @ bigdave44.com/2026/05/21/3691 Saints ace playing around with back from rugby team (7,4) Match experience entertains half of Kopites? (5) Pep's zip not moving at this speed? (5)

@karolszym.bsky.social Surf's up, ace – so get your boots on!

Some tickety-boo tips for today’s Toughie setter @ bigdave44.com/2026/05/14/3687 What's self-described as birdwatching? (10) Climax of grave accident - overturning - is … (8) Someone who made bad marriage sadly poised to smother you in texts (7)

Labour wannabe on the Right set shortly to resign by tomorrow’s end (3,9)

MP who just oddly resigned, largely pissed off about half-lies by Labour’s leader? (4,8)

I do realise that wannabe skateboarders have to practise somewhere so as to stop being an embarrassment for life … I just wish they’d find another place to fall over other than right outside my window. I can highly recommend the M25.

Blogged @ bigdave44.com/2026/05/07/3683, today’s Toughie compiler set with oomph (6) Sly American in charge is past it (7) Against flipping roll call in the middle of the night (9) Rewarded waster and a couple of donkeys elected to parliament (8)

Today’s Toughie puzzler is a cracking lark, solved @ bigdave44.com/2026/04/30/3679 Flush edges clamped by one inside (7) Spoil a bunch of sultanas Spain's exported (4) Least credible stories essentially duplicated given time (7)

Today’s Toughie setter can be incredibly hard – tips from me at bigdave44.com/2026/04/23/3675 Outsider suggesting tip, sir? (4,6) Realises plastic's out of fashion, so we're told (6,2) Likelihood of large cup breaking like this soaring (4)

Very lean, clipped tips on a review of newspaper Toughie setter @ bigdave44.com/2026/04/16/3671 Ever clear he's mistaken one for Rachel Reeves! (7) Will novelist this writer's left barely suppress conceit? (4-10) Ignoring signs at intervals traveller is repeating (7)

Loving the ads popping up every time Drumpf posts yet more bollo on TrumpetSocial. The juxtaposition is perfect.

This compiler’s cracking puzzler unpacked by me – finally! @ bigdave44.com/2026/04/09/3667 Sloth, in time, holding back sex (7) Gin is slipped into pint for silent type (8) Reminder to switch sides for line in bar? (4)

All but outwitted by Parisian bloke who set today’s Toughie? Hints @ bigdave44.com/2026/04/02/3663 Sound of bird could alert him? (5) Animal included in cattle drive (5) Brooded with rage seeing caricature (6)

And here I go again … with a slightly fruity (well, it is the weekend) little number @ mycrossword.co.uk/cryptic/3254. Ta lots to Raider as always.. Tear a Mars bar wrapper (3) Savage review of The Sound of Music? (3,2) Flipping red-top, say, pinching Independent's talent (6) #cryptic #crossword

Had troubles with flipping advanced chap who set today’s Toughie? Hints and tips @ bigdave44.com/2026/03/26/3659 Non-standard, like a PC that's not working? (7) Misguided Liberal leaving for SNP discovered and exposed (7) Apocryphal book? Newspaper article from the east covers it (7)

Who set today’s cryptic bit? All is revealed @ bigdave44.com/2026/03/19/3655 Taking lead from Barclays, make smaller bank cards (8,6) Media cover players getting hold of prescribed drug (8) Hard decision over America (7)

So, now he DOES want our help in the doomed-to-fail war he's "already won"? Clown.

Free-for-all tips on nifty rib-tickler nobody should fail to approve @ bigdave44.com/2026/03/12/3651 Old Peruvian comedians collaborating (2,7) Exploited European employed in Bucks? (4) Work ending so claimed Universal Credit? (6,2)

Setting with a bit of oomph, this compiler could be Amoeba (it’s not, he’s in the Indy!) Tel Toughie blogged @ bigdave44.com/2026/03/05/3647 Incompetent with US agency in clear (10) Fires back lacking energy and strength (7) Left inside, grass grassed? (8)

As if I could possibly love Radiohead more..

Who set today’s Tel Toughie? Practical guidance provided here with review of paper’s puzzler @ bigdave44.com/2026/02/26/3643 Mere youngsters perhaps cringe facing Chuck cycling (9) More friendly American ousts top European from job (6) Former Tory escapes from those twisted blackmailers (13)

Tips for Kiwi-based crossworder’s intricate Telegraph puzzler @ bigdave44.com/2026/02/19/3639 End for Achilles and Hector in a boat? (4) Spat behind unattractive person in suit (9) Harry - name needed - in irons, initially! (7)

Whoever set today’s hardcore Toughie must be heartless – there’s no end of misdirection! Blogged @ bigdave44.com/2026/02/12/3635 Look to pinch empty store's doormat? (8) Absentee soldier, largely faithful to the crown (6) Man aboard small boat gets emergency medical cover (4,5)

This setter has two lives – one as Ray T, t’other as seen in today’s Tel Toughie, blogged @ bigdave44.com/2026/02/05/3631 Wanders around with shopping, maybe (7) Punishes move trapping knight on board (9) Daniel Craig perhaps embraces female villain (10)

#1ACCWC - Only 21 clues in the bag so far.. If you were waiting for the last minute, its almost here 🙂 #cryptic #clue #contest www.1across.org/accwc/clues/

Who set today’s mid-Telegraph cracking treat to wrap up the month? Find out @ Big Dave, with tunes and one horrific picture ... Complete standing order (4) Admiral’s head over heels about rest of crew? (5,5) More than one Arsenal star - but not Seaman - drank to excess in retirement (6)

Beyond chuffed to be back in the Indy as Magus. My tin hat’s on – is yours?! Warning: hipsters lifted by US federal agents … (6) … one after another for speaking out can be put in prison (6) Trump wants one head of BBC arrested by Christmas (5) #cryptic #crossword

Rotten monster, oddly icky head of ICE, who shot a puppy (6,4)

The world's in SHAMBLES, can you set it (right)? Come on, you know you want to! Top fun comp, this.

It’s Thursday, it’s smooth. Who on earth set this Tel Toughie? Visual tips for solvers now up @ bigdave44.com/2026/01/22/3623 Celebrate top new hit with ardent fans (5,3,4,3) Order by peer to find somewhere for sleepers? (7) Flier, leaflet backing mum over creche's closure (8)

“Shooting Minnesota people”, claims maniacal Trump finally, “is a minor mistake” (5) (Well, who wants to visit the USA anyroad?)

Listening to Bruce, desperately trying to remind myself that not all Americans are total arse-hats.

Oddly blacked-out jet of Republican who’s behind ICE & NRA dingbats (3,5,3)

A brisk solve from Kcit in today’s Tel – bar the blindman buff's parsing of 28a, despite its vanilla definition. Even the cavalry couldn’t really help with this one! Any thoughts? As seen here, one possibly equivalent role? (8,6)

Beam’s back on T[oug]h[i]esaurus duty in the Tel proving that “run” can happily mean about a million things! Tourist runs into one giving gratuities (7) Contended, on reflection, argument's sound (7) Perhaps tender sweetheart's pass gets rejected (5)

A rare Tel Toughie from Samuel, AKA the peerless Chris Lancaster. 1a to all! Pay twice when rep cut short cryptic greeting (5,3,4) Putt hit with this feeling could display aptitude (4) Hands clapped themselves? (4)

I really must thank @knutcrosswords.bsky.social - and whoever invented elasticated waistbands - for alerting me to the genius cheese-conveyor-belt gaff in Camden. I ain’t leaving - they’re going to have to remove my happy corpse with an industrial hoist.

A vile, sham libertine exposed inappropriately close to Epstein abandoned by King (3,9,3)

A spirited and superlative puzzle from Silvanus in today’s Toughie slot, blogged @ bigdave44.com/2025/12/18/3603. These 3 sum up perhaps the perfect Christmas … Teacher's maybe in contact occasionally during school (6) Instantly show partiality to a wee dram? (4,1,4) Gosh, naked adult dance! (5)