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)

Weatherman’s gone a tad retro in today's Toughie – & borrowed Chalicea’s magic dictionary to boot! And why the devil not? Boorish Aussies on roadside stuck with prison trousers (14) Inept sleuth finally following a friend of Mr Geller? (10) House band at last introduced to former TV host Lily (8)

Who may be delivering Thursday’s ultimate cryptic? Find out @ bigdave44.com/2025/12/11/3599 States tour may start here (8) He made "small step" with crew (8) Prize money keeping United in chase (6)

A jauntily sporty little number from Dharma in the Tel – racing, athletics and football, etc. Expect Dory Previn .... Course, focus of Grand National (5) Bash ace Farah perhaps and Bolt (2,1,6) At last, Manchester United got better (7)

Kcit’s back to deliver cryptic mischief. HEROICALLY, I’ve managed to dodge Cher, The Living Years and Peter Gabriel. Parody? British rules rewritten, quite outlawing it (9) Me and Charles installing a lot of precise procedures (9) Remark about Irish city, not new location of cathedral (9)

It’s Wednesday, it’s Silvanus in the Tel – slick as an otter’s pocket. Expect Jimmy Cliff, Hendrix and Peter Kay. Now, THAT'S a dinner party ... Enthusiasm of extra on EastEnders (7) Street flashers trying to attract attention! (7,7) Attractive quality, courage, in one sharing your bed? (3-5,6)

Django’s back in the Tel with a fizzy 80s flavour. I have NOT clipped When Will I Be Famous ... 80s band making comeback film - it's sweet (6) Stage actor ultimately missing out on a lead in Mexican TV show (3,1-4) Screen Dundee clubs put on right before Old Firm Derby is large enough initially (9)

Back in the Indy as Magus. I’m thrilled – others less so! puzzles.independent.co.uk/games/cryptic-crossword-independent Celebrity failing to finish Iron Man? (4) Past 007 George Lazenby finally splits (6) Spooner’s favourite source of protein is seeds (9)

The usual wit and economy from Beam in today’s Tel, blogged @ bigdave44.com/2025/11/13/3583. Expect Loudon, Johnny and categorically NO Julie Andrews! Study missing one old head teacher (9) Current Republican in very hot water? (6) Conflict with desperate sweetheart about droop (8)

A jolly blast of nostalgia from Light in today’s Tel, taking in cinema, football & cleaning product. Blogged @ bigdave44.com/2025/11/12/3582 Support for fencing sheep that's a life-saver (3,4) Banks perhaps getting tip from security guards (7) Imposing old lady starts to dust office with Pledge (7)

Prime Prime in today’s Tel. Fizzy fun, blogged @ bigdave44.com/2025/11/06/3579 Expect Sleaford Mods and, um, Rita Hayworth. The perfect dinner party, no? A brown drink rising here? (10) Does live sport save City game? (1-3) One close to Venus said it's less cloudy (7)

Very Thursday, very Dharma. Today's Tel Toughie's blogged @ bigdave44.com/2025/10/30/3575 with – obviously – Withnail & blues. Bar Merriam-Webster's latest, really wants Chambers (5) Limited by cue, ace finds rest (9) Safely negotiate dire clue? (4,3)

More casual defamation from me in my latest puzzle @ brainbox Raider’s mycrossword.co.uk/cryptic/2807 Is pissing on PM a good idea? (6)

Another Django jamboree in the Tel with references that prompted a check to see if he’s the same age as me. He is! Blogged @ bigdave44.com/2025/10/23/3571 I’ve even thrown in some techno just to prove there’s life in us old dogs yet ... Plane in Cologne maybe held up for work on the outside (9)

It's official – ‪@cranberryfez.bsky.social‬ has just broken me. Along with several pencils! vg

It’s Beam – expect sweethearts, (mild) scatology and pre-watershed S&M! Blogged @ bigdave44.com/2025/10/16/3567 Acting fit, embracing sweetheart (7) Reversing makes water trickle slowly (4) Smacks and spanks gripping thong's end (5)

Kcit’s back in the Tel with a non-Toughie that sparked Bruce and Withnail – it doesn’t take much! Blogged @ bigdave44.com/2025/10/09/3563 Assume working peer to take precedence? (5,2) Place to stay some eleven nights when upset (3) Klingons primarily annoy … me? (4)

Django’s back, rejoicing in his wordcount of old. And I’m all for it! Blogged @ bigdave44.com/2025/10/02/3559 Expect Dury and, less happily, Strictly. State, say, Ross King’s content to start (7) Awful Everton on edge defending headers from Tottenham Hotspur - that's a touchy subject! (4,4,2,5)

Dharma’s back in the Tel with cake and politics, blogged @ bigdave44.com/2025/09/25/3555 Expect Muddy, Marley and the Viagra Boys. Bounty and cake put in a skip (9) What diehard Remainers did in public possibly sad yet … (9) … standard course and popular, with Spain moving to the far right (7)

It’s Beam, a man of few words and fewer anagrams – i.e. none! Blogged @ bigdave44.com/2025/09/18/3551 Expect royalty, degenerate(s) and dissent. Make of that what you will … Defence of royal retainer in speech (8) Degenerate with everybody in bog (6) Gripe pain eating rhubarb (7)

A beautifully light Light to tickle and tease, blogged @ bigdave44.com/2025/09/11/3547. Expect 1928 detectives, 70s pop and, alas, trees! Noel presents Legs & Co. and flirts zanily, entertaining family (8,7) Star, Moon and Newton in Brian Cox show (10) Dessert in pâtisserie is most delightful (8)

Chuffed and amazed to be back in the Indy as Magus @ puzzles.independent.co.uk/games/cryptic-crossword-independent *hides behind sofa* Hide from Jersey Boy’s Brothers? (8) Nick Knowles’s ultimate essential? (5) Ben & Jerry’s ice cream opened by bird (9)

Kcit’s back in the Tel, blogged @ bigdave44.com/2025/09/04/3543 and – despite 17d’s open door – it’s entirely smut-free! Beach and garden footwear? (8) Blue Tory gutted to support upwardly mobile corporations (6) Expert turned up old records on American espionage targets? (10)

Hudson’s in a sporty mood in the Tel: football, cricket and athletics, plus Bond’s favourite frisbee thrower. Blogged @ bigdave44.com/2025/08/28/3539/ With which Oddjob threw a lob, tragically? (6,3) Centre right Tory peer who ran shelters (4) Shining River Mole runs away, heading for Thames (7)