ALP

Toughie setter back in Telegraph with sound cryptic @ bigdave44.com/2026/10/27/3781 Fine for pub innkeeper returning to stash drug (9) Men losing their head chasing Streep, extraordinarily fine actor (5,7) Teammate of Oscar P, touring France exhausted, offered sleep (4,2,3)

A hard crossword finally put up by jolly ace Toughie setter @ bigdave44.com/2026/10/22/3779 Partner left out after my appeal to bully (4,2,4) Outspoken proprietor behind sport’s Bruce? (5) Showboat’s golf label covering head and stomach (10)

Top new turn set by ace Toughie setter @ bigdave44.com/2026/10/15/3775 Race official in first place? (7,4) Car put to work, assuming 6 is show time (7,2) Occasionally recalling Eric Idle's first undergarments (8)

Tips for knotty clues in today’s Toughie puzzler @ bigdave44.com/2026/10/08/3... Berries for those feeling peckish? (9) Get rid of dreadful piano, out of tune (4,3) One encouraging member to get cheese (9)

Toughie setter that’s hilarious and jolly inspired by classic style @ bigdave44.com/2026/10/01/3767 Claims the entire perimeter excludes diameter (7) Bad time to abandon spruce that's rotten at heart (7) Smart to turn down drop of schnapps after prune tart (7)

Content from work penned by dope pair who set today’s Toughie @ bigdave44.com/2026/09/24/3763 Roughly boxing in clubs, fighter shows craft (5,7) Wink hidden by German contractor almost noted (6) Mysterious secret objects and information primarily (9)

A new turn by smart top Toughie setter @ bigdave44.com/2026/09/17/3759 Company car starts quicker – fine to go for ride (13) Miss Whiplash maybe in shed gripping client’s backside – it involves pins (3,6) Plane from LAX more tense – on board mostly drunk (5,4)

Tackle entertaining curtain-raiser from crafty Toughie setter @ bigdave44.com/2026/09/10/3755 Dancing nude – what, still cold? (8) Persian nightwear perhaps best? (3,4,7) Early general drink produced by farmers? (8)

Toughie setter’s latest in Tel checked by contrary spirit @ bigdave44.com/2026/09/03/3751 Attack group with assistance back at the front (8) Granny possibly inspiring island air that's foul (6) Right about old pub stocking east European ham? (11)

Review of a very lean, concise setter over @ bigdave44.com/2026/08/27/3747 Hunt down suspect possessing lead to intriguing mystery (9) Pull up boring character having a pair of shades (3-4) Hurtful broadcast twin oddly put out (7)

BOO[m]! Magus rides again in the Indy – I’ll get my coat. Tricky setter’s back to gush about fine rock band (3,7) puzzles.independent.co.uk/games/crypti...

Toughie setter that’s funny and jolly, tackled by poster in review @ bigdave44.com/2026/08/20/3743 Social climber's finished with graffiti? (7) Fanatical members in a cult sporting hair on face (7,6) Lady who sings right at home producing Rocket Man (7)

F*ck, it’s impossible to avoid Featherston’s top Toughie setter! Blogged … again @ bigdave44.com/2026/08/13/3739 Knave almost entirely a scoundrel (6) Dull expert still offering no end to torment at all (7) Slow mover caught by fishing boat with no prow (7)

Today’s Toughie puzzler has smashing tips for baffled beginners over @ bigdave44.com/2026/08/11/3737 Finally Gordon Brown becomes less sensitive (6) Trump’s enforcers' best course? (3,5) Upset to be sacked? (12)

Today’s Toughie setter: broadcaster and largely good egg @ bigdave44.com/2026/08/06/3735 Tumble dryer’s a “gift” found at entrance for scrap-heap (8,4) Piece journalist filed (7) Finally play Spice Girls’ Wannabe as on broadcast – keep stopping song (3,2,4,2,7)

@unchcrosswords.com Sorry if I'm late to the party but I just almost fell off my chair ... Unch gets a top plug in the latest T3 magazine – the best, cheapest thing in there by about a million pounds!

Opening with starters of smoothly inventive Lego, veteran setter @ bigdave44.com/2026/07/30/3731 Dinosaur bone discovered by retired academic early in August (9) Identify England's opener after scoring runs taking drug (9) Australian music producer made love, embracing Spice Girl before party (10)

Upbeat Toughie setter blogged today @ bigdave44.com/2026/07/23/3727 Ex-leader departs, excluded from data store successfully (8) Wild English composer, filled with spirit, losing head (9) Approach experts, doubling care and skill initially (6)

Toothsome muso dude gets thumbs-up as today’s Toughie setter @ bigdave44.com/2026/07/16/3723 Despicable celeb in pop lady cleaned out (9) Smuggle in a cutting implement (6) Drink in sailor's world? (6)

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..