July 2026 Pronouncement by Noctifer

 Pronouncement by Noctifer

Down clues contain extra single words. The positions of these words within their clues index letters, which taken together spell how most people treated a pronouncement.

Corrections to misprints in each across clue provide instruction on what and how to highlight cells to reflect the pronouncement more properly, after filling the central cell to show the key name involved.

One answer is an abbreviation.

Across

2    Roman haul buried in Gaul, allegedly (4)

5    Child forest animals identified by hedge tracks (8, 2 words)

10    Abruptly walk back in vestment (3)

11    Athletic need less easy influence (6)

13    Swat sponge (3)

15    King defers to knight in devolved part in Montenegrin bay (5)

17    Pudsy primate briefly covered in sauce (5)

18    Large deer is sour-tempered, striking rock (5)

19    Bedroom obliterated in rowdy nights for those just made to punch holes (4)

20    Fit up behind (3)

21    After half time, Athletic bind Ross's large chest … (7)

22    … Mexican had serious role until the end of the first half (8)

24    Gunners relinquishing lodgings for light tents (4)

25    Perth reorganised to accommodate English for its preps, eagerly (5)

28    Oedipus' wrongdoing produces $100 in dodgy fines (6)

30    Band formation in festival return? No thanks! (4)

31    Noctifer would be found in best mishap; far from Olympic extremes? (8)

35    Maintain bearing in twisted slender gutters (7)

38    Statisticians ignoring the cries of Reds (3)

40    Go back and turn up to see secret policy! (4)

41    Potations brewed from these essential oils and processed paan (5)

43    Vengeful sorceress in the middle of local river (5)

44    Focus of fraying around goat's hair cloth (5)

45    Henry involved in borderline thuggery of yob (3)

46    Threefold mental exercises (6)

47    Band leader in horrifying ties up on assault charge (3)

48    Mass suspended in some oozing treacle (8)

49    Idly note a couple of variables (4)

Down

1    Acorns as Bambi fodder are in fine tangled mats (7, 2 words)

2    Original Uptown Funk starts under a Latin ostinato at first, with detachment (5)

3    Country in SE Asia head also organised (4)

4    Reach a consensus on controversy regarding age limits (5)

5    Ornament with spangles once barest sexuality is out (6)

6    Small capitals in the manner of 1999 ladder-like structure (5)

7    Over-excited ones lacking delirious energy make heavy particles (8)

8    Bornean tribesman fitted up old landing-place with automatic notice (5)

9    Deceitful people of Spenser's America urge sly sham (7)

12    Coat of arms' red colour uncovered by one short kiss over Edmund's crown (5)

13    Arbroath's halfpenny ball, born in little mountains? (6)

14    Half of muscle T's are scandalous essentials (5)

16    Dorothy's companion's opulent cream coat in outskirts of Toledo (4)

23    Earlier sideboards exist - use 20 for insatiable regeneration (8)

26    Exclamation of fatigue as tons thunder, dropped from altitude - stop! (7)

27    Like waves some watercolourists apply after about 7 (6)

29    Silk colours unconventionally freshened up suits I left out; peach has worked? (7)

30    Solid-eating piglet's space has to transform (5)

32    Archery hit off centre: winners missing gold outside (4)

33    Racket sport spectators, musicology faculty presidents take in inspired finish (6)

34    Tiny hint fury leads to inflammation of the amygdala (4)

35    A bit of drum, guitar, bass defines Afro-Cuban dance (5)

36    New Uptown Funk dub intros regularly ease people out of clothes? (5)

37    One's nearest pub's familiar screwdriver suitable for those on a diet? (5)

39    Perhaps Mr Stiles noisy breakdown is dropped for books (5)

42    Musical pattern Baltimore Indians play in contrapuntal arrangement (4)

PDF version

   To enter this competition, input your solution into the website at https://cc.vellender.com before 8th August 2026. The first correct entry drawn from the hat will receive a book from the Chambers range, which has been donated by Chambers. 

Crossword News June 2026

 

Crossword News June 2026

The May Prize Puzzle was Adorns Anew by Yimin. Solvers were asked to find three works and complete a perimeter quotation. The three works are Birth of Venus (11a/13d), Venus and Mars (13d/26d) and Primavera (12d) – paintings by Sandro Botticelli: the title being a clue to his first name. The perimeter quotation (and source) is BOTTICELLI ISNT A WINE YOU JUGGINS BOTTICELLI IS A CHEESE (PUNCH). Which explains why three wines (21a, 28a and 43a) must be changed to cheeses. It was an original idea to make extra letters check with the unchecked cells in the perimeter.

Here are some of the comments from solvers.

 

Brilliant. Delightful clues (I loved 20). Allowing the extra letter to be anywhere in the clue gives great scope for finding ingenious places to hide it. A splendid ruse to reveal the unchecked perimeter letters. However, the art-works quickly revealed the perimeter subject and the ODQ then revealed the quotation. I suspect the great majority of solvers will have completed the perimeter via that route (as did I), rather than using the extra letters from the clues.

I have to admit to not finding the three wines (I assume that's what they were). This failure proved to be a significant advantage, as I encountered no clashes in cells, while the three cheeses readily became clear from crossing lights.

A good level of challenge was maintained from start to finish. It was delightfully satisfying to complete the puzzle.

 

Slow to get into, but I saw BIRTH OF VENUS and PRIMAVERA reasonably early, so BOTTICELLI followed. And having possession of a paperback collection of Punch cartoons used in their caption competition I knew the quote, so the perimeter promptly filled and it was a question of simply 'mopping up'. I had TOKAY and made it GOUDA, but I worked backward from RICOTTA (clue answer must be a wine...) and still haven't worked out what lurks behind PANEER!

 

Possibly the most bizarre quotation that's appeared in a puzzle -- presumably it made more sense in context. Worked well as a thematic device, producing an entertaining solve. The device of extra letters providing the perimeter letters was a novel one for me, adding to the interest.

 

There were 58 entries, of which 5 were marked incorrect. The winner, picked at random, was Paul Newell, who will be receiving a prize of Chambers Crossword Dictionary, which is donated by Chambers.

 

There is a full solution and notes at https://crosswordcentre.blogspot.com/2026/06/solution-to-adorns-anew-by-yimin.html The list of correct solvers in May is available on the entry page for the June competition.

 

There is still time to enter your solution to the May Prize Puzzle, Replace by Curmudgeon. https://crosswordcentre.blogspot.com/2026/05/june-2026-replace-by-curmudgeon.html

 

The July Prize Puzzle will be Pronouncement by Noctifer. Noctifer is an actuary from Dublin who fell in love with the Listener in 2015 and recently turned his hand to setting that style of puzzle. He would set more if inspiration would strike!

 

After my plea for submissions last month, we received 3 in the same week which kept John Nicholson and me very busy testing. So, I can promise some exciting solving this summer with puzzles from Noctifer, Vagans and Henri. Also, in the middle of a heatwave we tested the next Seasons Greetings for December and Arcadia has already sent his next Advent Challenge. Thank you all for your support. We would now welcome submissions for the autumn months.
***
Colin Inman, former editor of the FT crosswords died in May, aged 87.  He was a journalist at the Financial Times and wrote the FT Style Guide. He took on the role of crossword editor in 1979 when the FT had only three compilers. He was instrumental in commissioning and encouraging new talent. When he retired there were 30 setters and he had edited over 13,000 crosswords as well as instigating the Polymath general knowledge puzzle. Many current setters are indebted to Colin for his encouragement in starting their careers.

There is an obituary on Fifteensquared https://fifteensquared.net/2026/05/20/rip-colin-inman/ 

It is also worth reading the article written by Roger Blitz on Colin’s retirement. https://www.ft.com/content/c321ea22-57ad-450e-b9dd-86576231c6e5?syn-25a6b1a6=1
***
I have been subscribing to The Times on-line with their Light Pack subscription at £4.99 per month. I am very happy to only read 30 articles each month as I have access to all the crosswords, sudokus and puzzles. It is obviously much cheaper than buying The Times every Saturday to get the Listener Crossword. However, I have been warned that the price will almost double.

“Dear Derek,
Thanks for subscribing to The Times and Sunday Times.
We need to let you know that effective from July 8, 2026, the price of your Light Pack subscription will increase to £9.99 per month. The Light Pack is a bespoke invitation-only subscription offered to readers like you, who value flexibility for a lower cost than our standard digital subscription. We hope you agree that even with this change, the Light Pack continues to offer exceptional value to access our authoritative journalism.”
***
Last month I mentioned how the Guardian was celebrating their Cryptic Crossword no. 30,000. A complex trail led to the May Genius puzzle by Enigmatist. A lot of geniuses were found in the grid, with thinking outside the box! Here is how Alan Connor describes the event.
https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/crossword-blog/2026/jun/02/crossword-editors-desk-celebrating-30000-cryptics-with-a-treasure-hunt
***
I see that the World Crossword Federation is holding an on-line championship in July for US residents and one for Canadian residents, with cash prizes for the winners. You can find out more and how to register at https://crypticsingh.com/new/home.aspx

Best wishes
Derek Harrison.

Solution to Adorns Anew by Yimin.

 Adorns Anew by Yimin - Solution

The three works are Birth of Venus (11a/13d), Venus and Mars (13d/26d) and Primavera (12d) – paintings by Sandro Botticelli: the title being a clue to his first name.

The perimeter quotation (and source) is

BOTTICELLI ISNT A WINE YOU JUGGINS BOTTICELLI IS A CHEESE (PUNCH)

Which explains why three wines (21a, 28a and 43a) must be changed to cheeses.

Across

7 (G)old GIAOUR UR after [GI A O]

9 b(U)y ISRAELI SERIAL* + I

14 NOLE (ei)NO LE(ino)

Eino Leino is one of the pioneers of Finnish poetry

15 fe(U)d RATER ATE in RR

17 bill(Y)’s SOREL SORREL – R

A (very weak) reference to Billy the Kid, a cowboy

18 SCOTOMA STOMA round C/O

20 la(I)d HITS ON H IT + SON

21 TOKAY OK in TAY

24 es(A) MOUE MOUSE – S

ESA is Employment and Support Allowance for disadvantaged people

25 (N)arrow OSSA

[S(laloming) O(n) A(rrow) S(kis)]*

27 (S)hocks HARIMS RI in HAMS

28 CANARY [YR A (k)NAC(k)]<

30 ASCI (trache)a’s ci(lium)

33 TEND CONTEND - CON

34 NAEVE A in EVEN<

35 a(I)m COMATE [AM TO]* in C(ornic)E

37 PRECAST PRE(ss) CAST

38 ba(L)m CHEAT C + HEAT

39 (C)hard EPHAH EP H HA<

42 ta(T)e INTO I(ngres) + N TO

43 (B)raving MADEIRA MAD E IRA

44 (C)old LEESIDE SEE< in LIDE

45 du(N)st SMOOCH [COOM in HS]<

Kirsten Dunst has played high school girls in film (Drop Dead Gorgeous, for one)

Down

1 ra(P)s JAILORS [LJ RAS I O]*

2 OUTROOPER OUT [RE POOR]<

Mounting in the surface as (eg) support for a painting

3 EYOT EY(e) TO<

4 (S)core NIFE KNIFE - K

5 WREST “REST”

6 TEA ROOM OOM under TEAR

8 t(H)in ORE E under OR

Jakob is Norway’s premier distance runner

10 ANOSMIA [MIASMA ON]* - M

11 lo(A)ch BOCKS BLOCKS – L

Ken Loach a well-known ale drinker!

16 tuts(I) AMUSETTES [TUTS A SEEM]*

19 topp(L)ing ADORN ADO over RN

22 AHEAP A [HAP round E]

23 DRIVE HOME DRIVE on HOME

28 ton(E)s PECHT (dee)PE(ned) CH T

29 wa(I)ter ANOESES NOES in SEA<

31 SHANTOU hidden

32 rec(T)al COSTA OS in (re)C(al) (si)T(es) (abr)A(ded)

36 (B)room ATTIC AT [TICK – (muc)K]

40 PREE PREE(n)

41 pla(I)ce HIDE HE round ID

42 ITO I T’ (hokkaid)O

June 2026 Replace by Curmudgeon

 Replace by Curmudgeon

____________________________________

Every across clue leads to the answer that must be entered, but each of those answers can be anagrammed to give a thematic word with one additional letter. A sequence of six of those letters suggests the theme, as does the title 'Replace'. More than one down answer fits the pattern. Solvers must select the highest of the thematic down-clue items and write its name below the grid. 5d is in Collins.

Across

    1    Unstable, difficult for some (5)

    5    Inept row about fortified alcoholic drink (8, 2 words)

    10    Fliers, following level, select manoeuvering (10)

    11    Miscreants present idiosyncratic behavioural features (8)

    14    Young relative's eye-opener in French resort (5)

    15    Be pleased with musical ornament (6)

    16    Seashell, first of two not originally found (5)

    17    Turned over by hoist, a bar rotates into coincidence with another plane (6)

    20    Medical officer ultimately busy circling steamship, unlike proverbial rolling stones (5)

    21    English crowd locally here and there in times gone (5)

    23    Unwrapped lint might finally treat old bruise (6)

    26    Pates in the Globe, no less, trimmed at last (5)

    27    Led around donkey, one at first caught by running noose (7)

    28    Part of an argument over layers in a chloroplast (5)

    29    Liberal intercepting quantity of cash in deprived city area (4)

    35    Small local sample of unruly teds (4)

    37    Decay one cake of bread (4)

    40    Difficult keeping old treasure (5)

    41    South Asian people sorted out alpines (7)

    43    Repairs joints in brickwork with regard to details (8)

    45    Daughter pursuing love affair told exaggerated stories (8)

    46    Very good German military man for some (5)

    47    Quench small volume of water (5)

    48    Songbird drops fine grub and caterpillar (8)

Down

    1    About essentially pushiest calls for instances of reemploying (9)

    2    Dealer in stocks peeled waterproof off (8)

    3    Reportedly capsize in German port (4)

    4    Extracted from eye, tiny creature (4)

    5    Priest is initially such a fussy and prim person (5)

    6    Refreshing inactivity in fire station (4)

    7    Not entirely odd southern ways of damming a river (5)

    8    Individual instances of mites lowering head (5)

    9    Made an effort, unusually exasperated, abandoning, sadly, ASAP (7)

    12    Somewhat sore, belligerent insurrectionist (5)

    13    About to cherish drink (4)

    14    Once ninth hours, now mostly applied to Sabbath (5)

    18    Somehow mean to have the last word (4)

    19    Army guarding larger than normal fighting dog (4)

    20    Surprisingly musical not extremely cacophonous caterwaul (5)

    22    Detected upset child supported by chief journalist (5)

    24    Ultimately elect overthrown prince for ruler (4)

    25    Large mammal perishes turning up headless (3)

    30    Provided means from time to time appropriate for fasting period (6)

    31    Listless male - work is hard (6)

    32    Murmur lovingly about large principally upwardly gliding flying lemur (6)

    33    Treat with contempt member; render defenceless (6)

    34    Hell of woman with nothing left (5)

    35    Cut-off branches hang down loosely (3)

    36    Triplet to go (5)

    38    Formidable competitor's rank, including foremost in gymnastics (5)

    39    Terrorist regularly bungles (4)

    42    Acknowledge a pledge (4)

    44    Symbol of strength Mohawks regularly produced (3)

PDF version

   To enter this competition, input your solution into the website at https://cc.vellender.com before 8th July 2026. The first correct entry drawn from the hat will receive a book from the Chambers range, which has been donated by Chambers. 

Crossword News May 2026

 

Crossword News May 2026.

The April Prize Crossword was Half-baked by Chalicea. 11 stupid or foolish people appeared in the perimeter and unclued lights. Solvers were instructed to SHADE TWO MORE NONGS - requiring them to shade the COCKWOMBLE and HEADBANGER.

Here are some of the comments from solvers.

It says a lot about our opinion of ourselves as a species that there should be quite so many synonyms for a fool... No matter, it makes for excellent crossword fodder (as we saw with various cryptics in the dailies at the start of the month, which trod similar ground). No complaints here though, especially with words like WAZZOCK and COCKWOMBLE getting some much deserved airtime in crosswordland. Thanks, Chalicea.

Pleasingly irreverent – surely the first time I’ve come across COCKWOMBLE in a grid but hopefully not the last!

With 44% of the cells being thematic, there were always going to be many obscure words. Clever composition to place 13 'fools' in the grid. [I was interested in my reaction to this puzzle. Of course we cannot legislate about which words or themes are 'acceptable' in a puzzle - nor would I wish to do so. But I found it disquieting to be reminded how many ways we have to call people stupid. It makes for a depressing commentary on human nature.]

I felt like a right [inserted preferred term here] when I finally noticed the two long diagonals after much scanning of the grid. Hats off to Chalicea, who is certainly not any of the synonyms found herein.

There were 43 correct, out of 59 entrants. The most common errors were highlighting errors or a lack of highlighting, plus a couple of people putting WAD rather than DAW as one of the insults, which doesn't seem to be backed up by Chambers.

The first name out of the hat was Keith Sutherland, who will be receiving a prize of Chambers Crossword Dictionary, which was donated by the publishers.

There is a full solution at https://crosswordcentre.blogspot.com/2026/05/solution-to-half-baked-by-chalicea.html

You still have time to enter your solution to the May Prize Puzzle, Adorns Anew by Yimin. https://crosswordcentre.blogspot.com/2026/04/may-2026-adorns-anew-by-yimin.html

The June Prize Crossword will be Replace by Curmudgeon.

After that, the pipeline is completely empty. I have relied on the good will of setters to maintain our monthly puzzles for 25 years and that is incredible. Maybe you have a puzzle that you would like to have published on the Crossword Centre. I can guarantee sympathetic testing, and excellent publicity. Many established setters had their first puzzles on the Crossword Centre.

***
The Guardian gave early notice of their 30,000^th crossword in an excellent article by their crossword editor, Alan Connor. It is worth reading for the memorable crosswords and articles it contains.
https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/crossword-blog/2026/may/06/crossword-editors-desk-the-guardian-30000th-cryptic

The Guardian published its crossword no. 30,000 on the 7^th of May and marked it with an Editorial - 30,000 grids of noble trickery The puzzle was set by Arachne https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/cryptic/30000  

You will probably need to try the Quick Crossword on the same day https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/quick/17473 and this might lead you back to the Editorial to be read more carefully and lead to another challenge. Great stuff!
 I don’t want to give too much away if you want to try the puzzles. However, you can find a blog of it on Fifteensquared

***
We learn that the editor of the Sunday Telegraph’s EV puzzles, Steve Bartlett, will be stepping down at the end of May. John Henderson, the editor of the Inquisitor puzzles in the i-paper, will be taking on the role.
***
In the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament the winner was Erik Agard. You can see all the results here - https://www.crosswordtournament.com/2026/index.htm
***
Recently added to the Crossword Centre blog is a lovely crossword by Ximenes. The Definition-Letter-Mixture type of clue has gone out of fashion but when skilfully managed by Ximenes it is brilliant. Derrick Macnutt, Ximenes, was head of classics at Christ’s Hospital School in Horsham and must have written hundreds of school reports. However, I doubt whether they were like the ones in this crossword. https://crosswordcentre.blogspot.com/p/terminal-reports-by-ximenes.html

I have also come across two articles published in the Listener in 1982, by the editor D A N Jones, in which he discusses the Listener Crossword, Apex and Ximenes among others.
https://crosswordcentre.blogspot.com/p/endpiece.html

Best wishes
Derek Harrison

 

Solution to Half-baked by Chalicea

 Half-baked by Chalicea - SOLUTION

11 stupid or foolish people appeared in the perimeter and unclued lights. Solvers were instructed to SHADE TWO MORE NONGS - requiring them to shade the COCKWOMBLE and HEADBANGER

Extra letters in red.

 

Across: 10 Accelerators, 12 Sore, 14 Greet, 15 Tar, 16 Cnida, 20 Naric, 21 Waste, 23 Theorbo, 26 Serac, 27 Tired, 31 Del, 32 Taco, 33 Bilk, 35 Laers, 36 Kaval, 37 Hostilities

Down: 2 Acta, 3 Scores, 5 Rerig, 6 Naga, 7 Doe, 8 Irenical, 11 Escot, 13 Edda, 17 Gazed, 18 Crore, 19 Mahi-mahi, 24 Erse, 25 On call, 28 Earst, 29 Lakin, 30 Movie, 33 Bats, 34 Lieu.

 

Across: 10 Double definition, 12 S: (wa)S(te) ORE[S], 14 Double definition, 15 H: T[H]AR, 16 Hidden reversed, 20 A: (CRANI[A]}*, 21 "WAIST" heard, 23 D: [D](u)T(c)H(m)E(n) OR BO, 26 ACRES*, 27 E: DIET[E]R*, 31 LED<, 32 T: TAC[T] O, 33 B + ILK, 35 W: {S[W] REAL}<, 36 Hidden, 37 O: {OILIEST H[O]ST I}*.

Down: 2 PACTA less P, 3 M: SS around C(onsiderably) [M]ORE, 5 Hidden, 6 O: N[O] AGA, 7 DO + E, 8 R: {AIRLINE[R] + C}*, 11 ESCORT less R, 13 E:{A DE[E]D}*, 17 (spottin)G A ZED, 18 N: CRO[N]E around R(upees), 19 MA HI MA HI, 24 O: hidden (het)ER[O]SE(xuals), 25 ON CALL, 28 N: [N]EAREST less second E, 29 LAKIN(g), 30 G: MOVE around [G]I, 33 Double definition, 34 S: LIE[S] U.

May 2026 Adorns Anew by Yimin

 Adorns Anew by Yimin

Three works from four unclued entries - 11a/13d (three words), 13d/26d (three words) and 12d – reveal the identity of the subject of the perimeter quotation (in ODQ), which runs in an anti-clockwise direction from a cell to be determined and is followed by the source.

Twenty-six clues have an extra letter to be removed before solving, always leaving a real word.  In clue order these letters fill the unchecked squares of the perimeter starting at the top-left corner and running clockwise.

The quotation explains why three entries differ from their answers.

Punctuation may mislead.

Across

7    Infidel from ancient city chasing American soldier about gold (6)

9    Begin, say, revolutionary serial – buy Independent (7)

14    Poet’s crown held by Eino Leino (4)

15    Feud occupying bishop’s assessor (5)

17    Billy’s buck – light chestnut – runs away (5)

18    Opening takes care of blind spot (7)

20    Discovers hot sex – gets laid! (6, two words)

21    Lizard’s fine in Perth’s river (5)

24    Grimace from shy person losing ESA (4)

25    Slaloming on narrow skis beginners broke bones (4)

27    King and emperor entering shocks women’s quarters (6)

28    Songbird’s reviewing younger associate with limitless special unfailing talent (6)

30    Trachea’s cilium covers cells (4)

33    Be prone to dispute rejecting conclusion (4)

34    Smooth back interrupted by adult’s old birthmark (5)

35    Aim to renovate breaking edges of cornice crowned with leaves (6)

37    Lacking square section, condense by force mould of concrete blocks? (7)

38    Balm from cold water against redness of skin (5)

39    Measure record chard returned in this year (5)

42    Enthusiastic about Ingres’ opening with new Tate in Edinburgh (4)

43    Island’s braving eastern militant organisation (7)

44    In cold month of March retiring to look for sheltered aspect (7)

45    Dunst in high school head over heels for kiss (6)

Down

1    Lord Justice raps institute over slovenly guards (7)

2    Former auctioneer at a loss about inferior mounting (9)

3    Brood of pheasants briefly raised beside small island (4)

4    Cut a thousand leaving hypothetical score (4)

5    Turn on the radio to be at ease (5)

6    Mandela’s uncle supporting rent for small shop in Soweto (7, two words)

8    Ingebritsen’s thin – energy’s the foundation for gold (3)

10    Mark off aberrant miasma on loss of sense of smell (7)

11    Prevents Loach going for beers (5)

16    Antique weapons Tutsi accepted seem defective (9)

19    Dress trouble toppling nurse (5)

22    Atomic accident swallowing earth previously in a mound (5)

23    Chase over baseball plate to force in completely (9, two words)

28    Steele’s painted woman essentially deepened chestnut tones (5)

29    Experiences without understanding upset waiter full of denials (7)

31    Chinese port feeding Huangshan to Ulsan (7)

32    Rib bone piercing centres of rectal sites abraded (5)

36    Broom to be operated, sweep away last of muck (5)

40    Groom pretty much to try by kissing in Gretna (4)

41    Man devouring fish concealed plaice (4)

42    Japanese city in the northern end of Hokkaido (3)

PDF version

   To enter this competition, input your solution into the website at https://cc.vellender.com before 8th June 2026. The first correct entry drawn from the hat will receive a book from the Chambers range, which has been donated by Chambers.