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. 

Crossword News April 2026

 

Crossword News April 2026

The March Prize Puzzle was our 18^th Round Robin, Tour Party by Arcadia. It was a carte blanche grid in which words in each of the four quadrants were entered in a different direction. The key to getting it right was to solve the 12 letter entries which could only join in one way. Solvers had to ‘show up’ congratulations on his achievement, which was CHAPEAU TO WAN. In the end we decided that highlighting was optional.

Here are some of the comments from solvers.

Arcadia is to be commended for such an ideal grid for Round Robin purposes - no clue gimmicks and answers all of 6 letters deftly avoids any issues of some setters being luckier than others as to what they're given. I do worry with these puzzles that the range of clues is going to be off (which can't be helped, presumably), but it did feel remarkably balanced, and the solving experience was a very enjoyable one. And choosing to honour a particular setter makes for a beautiful theme, especially one as universally admired as Wan. Thank you Arcadia (and to all my fellow contributors!)

I noticed that in each quadrant the two answers starting in the corner of the grid must have the same first letter, and their third, fourth, fifth and sixth letters are collectively the first letters of the other eight answers in that quadrant, and a similar thing was true for the answers sharing their third, fourth, fifth or sixth letters. I had solved six of the clues in Quadrant C so at least two of these answers must cross on the diagonal which helped me to enter the answers I had worked out find the rest of them. Then I was able to guess MAN OF LETTERS and, after much more thought, TABULAE RASAE, and I managed to fit Quadrants B and D around these 12-letter entries. It took me a while to guess the other two 12-letter entries, especially CHAPEAU TO WAN since I hadn't thought the cruciverbalist would be explicitly named and I don't know if there is a particular reason for dedicating the puzzle to Wan or if he is just a setter with a three-letter name. I found the appropriate definition of SMOCKS in Chambers and for a while thought that "An indication of little ones in a delivery system?" was a cryptic definition clue using a non-obvious meaning of the word, since I don't particularly think of smocks as being worn by pregnant women. I had a good laugh when I realised it was -OCK in SMS, and it made me think that writing an &lit clue does carry a risk of the solver not realising what it is especially when it's for a clue-writing competition where you don't get to explain your clue before it is judged.

With forty different clueing styles, this was not a particularly easy solve, made trickier by the need to cold solve 6 or 7 of the entries in each quadrant. With persistence, the puzzle eventually yielded and the tribute to Wan very appropriate.

There were 52 entries and 47 were marked correct. The lucky winner, picked at random, was Ned French, who will be receiving a copy of Chambers Crossword Dictionary which is donated by Chambers.

Solvers were asked to vote for their favourite clues. 32 of the 40 clues received at least one point. The podium was as follows

1st (27pts): Insular forest-dwellers Napoleon's first encountered in Elba? (N in IDRIS) INDRIS[Steve Bartlett]
2nd (20pts): One acquiring tea leaves for ship's counter (PUR(cha)SER) PURSER [Adam Vellender (Pandiculator)]
3rd= (19pts): Trump stops leaders of France and Spain overturning attack (FART in F+S)<  STRAFF[Charlie Oakley (Quotient)]
3rd= (19pts): Initially damp hay spread with this could become dehydrated (DEHYDRATED*-(D+HAY)* &lit) TEDDER [Brian Betker (buddy)]

I will be sending a prize to Steve.

Thanks to Arcadia for a superb grid and for organising the puzzle. There is a solution with notes at https://crosswordcentre.blogspot.com/2026/04/solution-to-round-robin-xviii-tour.html

There is still time to solve the April prize puzzle, Half-baked by Chalicea. https://crosswordcentre.blogspot.com/2026/03/april-2026-half-baked-by-chalicea.html

The May challenge will be Adorns Anew by Yimin.

***
It is sad to announce that John Tozer died on the 18th of March. John was a dedicated writer of clues in the Azed competitions and set up the &lit website, recording all of the slips by Ximenes and Azed. He was also the brains behind the Crossword Centre clue-writing competition. I met John a few times and found him most congenial and friendly. He persuaded me to type up some of the Azed slips for the &lit website and he was a very diligent proofreader.

He never recovered from the cardiac arrest that he suffered in 2022 and was increasingly ill. His wife, Jane, and daughters, Mary and Lucy, are planning a quiet family funeral.
***
For anyone who hasn't yet seen it, here's the short Azed tribute film which was premiered at the Observer's Crossword Centenary event last Thursday:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z16h8bFr8MA
***
After the Listener Crossword Dinner, you can now download a copy of John Henderson’s fiendish table quiz from Jane Teather’s Jetdoc site.
Dimitriy Adamskiy shows the top five Listener Crosswords of 2025 in this video.
https://youtu.be/n9hSPpzUjPU?si=d86VSQln5pKsDYgn
***
Barry Joseph, author of Matching Minds with Sondheim, will be in London this month. He says:
APRIL 16 - NYU London  

12:00 - 1:15: How To Play The Sondheim Way: A Parlour Game Workshop (for NYU Students, but you can join in). We’ll be playing Sondheim games and discussing his game design values. 

6:30 - 7:30: The Puzzling Mind of Stephen Sondheim (free alum event open to the public). Discover how Stephen Sondheim, best known as a composer and lyricist, applied game design principles to shape social interaction, foster emotional connection, and structure artistic expression. A lifelong puzzle enthusiast, he didn’t just play games—he made them: treasure hunts, board games, cryptic crosswords, parlor games, and more. Tixs and more info here. 

265 Strand, London WC2R 1BH

April 19 - Sondheim Society 

7:00 - 9:00pm: Sondheim and The Game of Murder. Discover how Stephen Sondheim, a lifelong puzzle enthusiast, didn’t just love games—he created them. His most ambitious, The Murder Game, inspired the 1973 film The Last of Sheila, built on hidden information and carefully designed social chaos. Blending live performance, gameplay, and rare archival material, this presentation by Barry Joseph—author of the new book Matching Minds With Sondheim—explores how Sondheim used rules and puzzles to create tension, reveal character, and navigate vulnerability across his work. Joining me is composer-lyricist and musical director Colm Molloy, who shares a deep love of puzzles and Sondheim. Also featured are Oliver Sidney (Addison Mizner in Road Show; No Such Thing As Wolves; You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown) and Rhys Lambert (Hollis Bessemer in Road Show; DORIAN: The Musical; Charlie and the Chocolate Factory), performing selections from Sondheim’s work. Tixs and more info here. 

Upstairs at the Gatehouse  - 1 North Rd, Highgate Village, London N6 4BD, United Kingdom. 

Dennis Caouki, my podcast line producer, has graciously offered to help me coordinate a Sunday (19th) lunch at a restaurant to bring us all together. If you would be free to join, please email Dennis (dcaouki@gmail.com) .
***
Keith Williams is now in charge of the Crossword Club. He has written to ask for a volunteer assistant and you might be able to help.

“Since becoming the sole editor in September 2025, I've had an opportunity to think in more detail about the offerings, opportunities and vulnerabilities of the Club, from which I am formulating a general 'direction of travel'. As we know, I am only the second ever editor of this organisation, and it is one of my many aims to ensure that I am not the last. One of the key vulnerabilities that Brian and I often spoke of was the ability of the Club to fulfil its function to its members if one or other of us became unavailable for reasons of IT- or human- frailty. Fortunately, we never had to test the process until recently, but in reality, there was always a potential difficulty were we (or our systems) to be incapacitated for whatever reason. This has of course now been exacerbated by administration, production and distribution coming back under the control of just one person once again. While I'd like to think I can fulfil this role for many years to come, it concerns me that the Club is currently devoid of a contingency plan.

In that vein, I would very much like to have the ‘safety net’ of having at least one Editor-in-waiting', who would be able to pick up the reins and ensure the continuity of the Club were I to be unable to do so, for whatever reason. It is hoped that the Editor-in- waiting' would not be called upon for quite some considerable time, but just having such a person and facility in place (probably through a shared set of cloud files for example), would seem to me to be a practical way to address the key vulnerability that the Club has once again found itself facing. If you feel you may be that person, I would love to hear from you.”
***
The 48^th annual American Crossword Puzzle Tournament starts on the 12^th April. You can check on the results at this link. https://www.crosswordtournament.com/

Best wishes
Derek Harrison

 

Solution to Round Robin XVIII Tour Party by Arcadia

 Round Robin XVIII - Solution

Theme

 

Homage to John Nicholson (Wan) on his retirement after seventeen Round Robins. Answers derived from the preamble were: “Man of Letters” (scholar), “Tabulae Rasae” (cartes blanches), “Bring To Light” (show up) and finally “Chapeau to Wan” (congratulations on his achievement), which needed to be shown up ie highlighted.

All entries forming part of the round robin were of six letters.

Explanation of Answers

  

Clue	Derivation	Answer	Author
		Quadrant A
That is either end of comic aboard take off for each one	(IE+C)in APE	APIECE	John Reardon
Female goats supply kids	FGOATS*	FAGOTS	David Arnott (Phylax)
Erin somehow immersed in French first issue of Loki	ERIN* in FR	FENRIR	Terry Brennan (mad dog)
Sweeper dusted boiler	BOILER*	LIBERO	Ed Powles
Court decision in Poland accepted Conor's first appeal	PL+A+C+IT	PLACIT	David Thompson
Type of music appropriate for medley	RAG+BAG	RAGBAG	Rod Beards
Unusual variant of chips at L'Enclume, for starters, served in special bowls	L in S+CUPS	SCULPS	Craig Fothergill (Craft)
For some, privates could be gross, when entering bed unclothed	GROSS round (b)E(d)	SOGERS	Ian Simpson
Trump stops leaders of France and Spain overturning attack	(FART in F+S)<	STRAFF	Charlie Oakley Quotient)
Once feeling disgust at robbery, after money's taken	(m)UGGING	UGGING	Peter Smith
		Quadrant B
Amongst Rodentia, no mice presenting social disorganisation	Hidden word	ANOMIC	Peter Finan (Skinny)
Chilled drink because Earl's entertaining (two words)	AS+E round TEA	AT EASE	Simon Griew
On reflection, do try backless dress for Ed	[PART(y)+TA(x)]<	ATTRAP	Jamie ??  (amoeba)
Sprinkler set off in taxi?	SET* in CAR	CASTER	Dave Williams
Sue may emerge from this mistreatment	ILL+SUE*	ILL-USE	Keith Williams
Adelaide's acacias turning silver in squalid neighbourhood	(AG in SLUM)<	MULGAS	Rob Pinnock (Hedge-sparrow)
Apropos of nothing, extremely eager to accept boring part	0+E...R round BIT	OBITER	Peter Biddlecombe
One acquiring tea leaves for ship's counter	PUR(cha)SER	PURSER	Adam Vellender
Term for liquor – primarily one that gives upset tummy	&lit:R+ 1st letters	ROTGUT	Simon Shaw
Work clothes with special fabrics	(TILL round W)+S	TWILLS	David Whyte
		Quadrant C
Sauce is revolting in octopus tacos	[...PUS TAC...]<	CATSUP	KevinMcDiarmid
Eton's first form feed us on last of chocolate spread	E(ton)+FF+US+E	EFFUSE	Alf Mullins
Sole part's matching tempo	2 defs	INSTEP	Jim Fishwick (Ghoti)
Mark, under pressure, picked up weapon	Homoph CREASE	KREESE	John Nicholson
Scratching head, lioness writhes and perhaps roars	(l)IONESS*	NOISES	Ellie Seaward (Gumboot)
Intermittently, members of Oasis, if unhappy, ultimately turn to hard stuff?	O(a)S(i)S +IF +Y	OSSIFY	Luciano Ward
Fisherman essentially functions without nets	..E.. in SINES	SEINES	John Hood (Nudd)
Learns to accept extremely pernicious bacterial infections	P...S in SEES	SEPSES	Rob Townsend (Henri)
Foot following surreptitious passages	PES after SLY	SLYPES	Derek Harrison
An indication of little ones in a delivery system?	OCK in SMS &lit	SMOCKS	John Walsh
		Quadrant D
Earlier, undying bird caught by Hoy's lamp?	TERN in EE	ETERNE	Julian Stadling (Hawk)
Need for one enclosure in front of base	(EG+ENC) after E	EGENCE	Paul Henderson
Insular forest-dwellers Napoleon's first encountered in Elba?	N in IDRIS	INDRIS	Steve Bartlett
Call to witness truncated witchcraft trial	OB(i)+TEST	OBTEST	Roger Emerson (Arcadia)
“Old South Whales” repulsed NSW citizens?	OS+SEIS<	OSSIES	Edmund French
Singular biblical warrior covering head with archer's stance	S+(g)IDEON	SIDE-ON	Tim Coates
Philosophers and saints imbibing nameless restorative	SS round TO(n)IC	STOICS	Jonathan Owen
Maybe De Niro clipping a letter to portray accent?	ST(a)R+ESS	STRESS	Stu Thomas (Cagey)
Initially damp hay spread with this could become dehydrated	DEHYDRATED*-D+HAY* &lit	TEDDER	Brian Betker (buddy)
Sent to change Ebenezer Scrooge initially e.g past, present and future	SENT*+ES	TENSES	Philip Stevenson

                                            

April 2026 Half-baked by Chalicea

 Half-baked by Chalicea

Nine half-baked characters (ancient and modern) circle the perimeter and two appear in the unclued lights. An extra letter not required for the answer, appears in the wordplay of alternate clues. These letters, in clue order, give an instruction to solvers. 20 and 5 are in Collins. Unchecked perimeter and corner letters would spell EGOISTIC WIND-UP - WOE!

Across

    10    Throttles muscles that increase rate of function (12)

    12    Painful to contemplate essentially waste metal aggregates (4)

    14    Weeping to become evident to the ear (5)

    15    According to Will, incite to fight Himalayan wild goat (3)

    16    Some sad incidents recalled involving jellyfish stings (5)

    20    Related to facial features in reshaped crania (5)

    21    Refuse narrow part we're told (5)

    23    Instrument of Dutchmen regularly or US fellow (7)

    26    Ice formation spoiled acres (5)

    27    Hapless dieter grown weary (5)

    31    Operator shown the way back (3)

    32    Discretion with ordinary item of Mexican cookery (4)

    33    Elude British type (4)

    35    Overturned in south-west genuine Boer encampments (5)

    36    Partly unpack a valuable musical instrument (5)

    37    Belligerence of oiliest host I mishandled (11)

Down

    2    Official proceedings of informal agreements lacking power (4)

    3    Achieves at first considerably more on-board ship (6)

    5    Set up again some of offshore rights (5)

    6    No historical military commander in group of peoples from Burmese hills (4)

    7    Cook English animal (3)

    8    Pacific airliner running amok, involving speed of light (8)

    11    In Stratford maintain armed guard with no resistance (5)

    13    A deed reproduced in volume of mythology (4)

    17    Looked intently ultimately spotting a final letter (5)

    18    Old hag guarding rupees originally in vast number in India (5)

    19    Mother with welcome twice over for edible marine fish (8)

    24    Language of some heterosexuals (4)

    25    Working phone available as needed (6, 2 words)

    28    Formerly once closest but lacking second base (5)

    29    Will's little lady mostly sporting in the north (5)

    30    Shift around US soldier film (5)

    33    Crazy blows (4)

    34    Is situated on university place (4)

pdf copy

  To enter this competition, input your solution into the website at https://cc.vellender.com before 8th May 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 March 2026

Crossword News March 2026

The February Prize Puzzle was Cover Stories by Phylax. This delightful Puzzle had the theme of characters in  the Dandy and Beano comics. The answers which much be replaced are CAT (→KORKY), DESPERATE (→DAN), BEAR (→BIFFO), MINX (→MINNIE), OSTRICH (→BIG EGGO) and MENACE (→DENNIS). These all suggest strips that have appeared on the cover of The Beano or The Dandy.

The entry KORKY must then be changed to DANDY, and BIFFO to BEANO, the comics in which they appeared.

Finally, the entry WARBLES must be changed to either CUDDLES or DIMPLES, this pair of twins having featured on the cover of Dandy between 1999 and 2000.

Here are some of the comments from solvers.

Thanks Phylax. A fun puzzle in more than one sense. I was fortunate in solving the NW corner quickly and seeing KORKY emerging even before I’d solved CAT. With the puzzle title, the theme was clear. A clever construction to allow both CUDDLES and DIMPLES to be accommodated. They were after my time and BIGEGGO before and I can’t really claim nostalgia, because I was Rover and Adventure, rather than BEANO and DANDY.

As a Yank, I was unfamiliar with The Beano and The Dandy, not to mention all of the characters referenced in this puzzle. As with many puzzles on this site, this was an education. I am, of course, familiar with the U.S. comic strip Dennis the Menace. I wondered if one inspired the other. But, according to Wikipedia, the American Dennis the Menace and the British Dennis the Menace are unrelated but debuted on the same day in 1951! A well-constructed and well-clued puzzle. Many thanks!

I took a couple of wrong turns before getting on the right track. Bottom left corner and 26d was my inroad. Brimming with excellent clues - 24a (Black Adder?), 38a, 7d, 10d, 33d to name just a few. I was struggling to understand the modifications required until the penny dropped. I had to google for 10d. All in all, a Beezer, (but definitely not a breeze)!

There were 54 entries, of which there were 13 with errors. The lucky winner, picked at random, was Samantha Tame, 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/2026/03/solution-to-cover-stories-by-phylax.html 

As mentioned in the comments, it is 75 years since Dennis the Menace first appeared in the Beano. Our Royal Mint is issuing a 50p coin featuring Dennis and you can order one here https://www.royalmint.com/shop/limited-editions/dennis-the-menace/

There is still lots of time for you to enter the March competition, our Round Robin XVIII - Tour Party by Arcadia. https://crosswordcentre.blogspot.com/2026/02/march-2026-round-robin-xviii.html

The April Prize puzzle will be from one of our favourite setters, Half-baked by Chalicea.
***
I was at the View Hotel in Eastbourne for the annual Listener Crossword Dinner. It was nice to meet up with old friends and to make new ones.

Jane Teather began the speeches with a long list go obits, Roger Hooper (Mime), Gareth Snowden-Davies (Gos), Adam Sobey (Adam) and Mike Wilson (Phalarope). John Henderson then read obituaries to David Harry (Dilwitch) and Brian Head (Brym) who founded the Crossword Club and was editor for almost 47 years.

Shane Shabankareh then announced the winner of the Radix Auditorum, which goes to the most successful new solver. The winner was Jacob Warbrick, who started solving the Listener last January and had a run of 40 correct entries.

The Solver Silver Salver goes to the solver who has the longest run of all-correct entries, with previous winners deferring. The unbeaten record-holder is Simon Long with a run of 412. This year the winner was Daniel Goldberg with 283. He gave a most amusing speech and opened the suitcase that he takes everywhere to help with solving, containing the BRB, Bradfords, ODQ, envelopes, calculator, pens, pencils, eraser etc!

There were 6 all-correct who had to choose 5 of their favourite puzzles in 2025. There were 10 puzzles that had only one nomination. The chosen winner was no. 4880 Listen! by ‘Eck. I look forward to seeing how many got this right, as I failed miserably and was stumped, even after seeing the solution.

Also highly rated were Mounts by Pointer and Forever by Twin.

Former marker, Neil Aspland, then took the mike and told us about his year in the role. He explained how he marked entries and how he gradually dropped behind on feedback and data.  In the end he had help from Roger Philips and Ed Hall. He promised that all the setters would be receiving feedback soon. I had a chat with the current marker, Andy Mullins, who said that he is coping well and reckons on two hours a day for marking. He suggested that email entries may be instigated in the near future.

We had been solving one of Enigmatist’s picture quizzes during the meal. It was based on sisters with the final entity one of the Seven Sisters cliffs near Eastbourne. Solvers had to write a clue to Seven Sisters. The Bronze Casket went to the table that wrote this clue.

Shaking Stevens rises for several stars

The event was perfectly organised by Jane and John. The hotel was nicely situated and we found the staff very helpful. Jane has asked for suggestions for next year’s venue. Eastbourne was lovely and it was nice to walk along the prom on a sunny Saturday morning. However, apart from the Paris dinner, it was the longest journey for us and our trains home, including a bus replacement section, meant for an 11-hour trip.
***
The Magpie has published their statistics for last year. Who were the top solvers in 2025? All of these were all correct.

1= Matthew Auger 12 12 72 [225.5]
1= Tim Burt 12 12 72 [262.2]
1= Richard Chamberlain 12 12 72 [240]
1= Liam Hughes 12 12 72 [263.3]
1= John Reardon 12 12 72 [251.6]
1= Darren Roberts 12 12 72 [251]
1= Michael Shuter 12 12 72 [256.5]
1= Mark Suddaby 12 12 72 [263.5]
1= Neil Talbott 12 12 72 [264*]
1= Adam Vellender 12 12 72 [263*]
1= Clive Walker 12 12 72 –
1= Will Walker 12 12 72 [264*]
1= Philip Wood 12 12 72 [204.5]
1= Nick Yannacone 12 12 72 [240.3]
15 Ken Harvey 12 12 70 273.

Which was the most popular puzzle of Year? 1 Dire Straits by Nebuchadnezzar 18.83% 2 Predicament by Mash 10.28% 3 In a Perfect World by Mr E 7.72% 4 Shaken by Twin 7.24% 5 Magpie by Twin

***
In the Inquisitor crosswords, solvers were invited to vote for their favourite puzzles of 2025. The clear winner was Harribobs with Pictures at an Exhibition, a work of
genius: a reproduction, in a crossword puzzle, of Mondrian’s Composition A. 
***
The results are in for the 2025 APEX puzzle, set by Phi. Solvers were asked to write a clue to AMPHIGORY (nonsense verse), omitting one letter.
Winning clues to AMPHIGORY (LL):

1st Short rhyme with pig and ring, possibly work of Lear? Mark Oshin

2nd My pig Nora regrettably misses
A bit of nonsense such as this is Rob Pinnock

3rd Ropy ham acting finally ruined production of Lear Chris Leyland
***
The 48th Annual American Crossword Puzzle Tournament will be held on April 10-12, 2026 at The Marriott in Stamford, CT.
***
On the 19^th March it is The Observer’s Puzzle Centenary event. 6.30pm. An evening of live solving, a Q&A panel with our setters, and the premiere of our new film. Azed himself Jonathan Crowther will be there. If you are going I would be interested in knowing how it went.

Best wishes
Derek Harrison

 

  

Solution to Cover Stories by Phylax

 Cover Stories by Phylax - SOLUTION

The answers which much be replaced are CAT (→KORKY), DESPERATE (→DAN), BEAR (→BIFFO), MINX (→MINNIE), OSTRICH (→BIG EGGO) and MENACE (→DENNIS). These all suggest strips that have appeared on the cover of The Beano or The Dandy.

The entry KORKY must then be changed to DANDY, and BIFFO to BEANO, the comics in which they appeared.

Finally, the entry WARBLES must be changed to either CUDDLES or DIMPLES, this pair of twins having featured on the cover of Dandy between 1999 and 2000.

With DIMPLES being an alternative for CUDDLES at 10d.

Explanations

Across: 5 (S MATE) after O, 13 (penit)ENTIA(ry), 14 S(chefller) PALE, 15 ((g)ET ON) + I (gig)AN(tic), 16 S + HAS around RE, 17 CA(ugh)T, 18 INT(r)O, 19 DIES E(lmswel)L, 20 A NO(b)LES, 21 (SLOO(p) RED)*, 23 CE IN DENT produces DECENT, 24 B in RE(v)EL, 27 SPEED* + RATE, 28 (SO< + SO) after M(asseur), 29 SPICE around A, 30 DOG SHIP, 34 (LATE EG)*, 35 ROD + E(ating) N(ative) T(rees), 37 (he)WING, 38 B(each w)EAR, 40 LINING*, 41 GEN< + A TED, 42 (ARMLEG - (veno)M)*; ref drink, 43 FREE around R, 44 ROE (a)STI.

 

Down: 1 SEE K, 2 LINE< around TO, 3 TO in (S RED), 4 S(hr)INKS, 6 NAIL in S(ainsbury')S, 7 MIN(i) X, 8 A B STAIN, 9 EP A + (SO DON)<, 10 ((R)hythm B(lues)) in WALES, 11 EVENS after (E L), 12 PROTESTS*, 21 (h)ORSE ILL E, 22 REPINER with CL replacing P, 25 ((LAX APE)< around I), 26 (C in SHIRT*) after O, 27 DE TIN + EU<, 30 MACE around EN, 31 ORG(y) EAT, 32 (EFT in HE) + (pon)D, 33 INF(ring)ERS, 36 AID< + R(att)Y; ref Adrian Mole, 39 (r)O(a)D(i)E(s) A(t).

March 2026 Round Robin XVIII

 Round Robin XVIII - Tour Party by Arcadia

Quadrants start in the NW corner and move clockwise round the grid, with the direction of answers moving similarly, so Quadrant A's answers are across and down, Quadrant B's down and back, and so on.  Clues for each quadrant are in alphabetical order of their six-letter answers, which must be entered where they will fit; as must the four 12-letter entries, which pay tribute to a cruciverbalist scholar (three words) who generally eschews cartes blanches (two words). Solvers should show up (three words) congratulations on his achievements (three words). Chambers (2016) is the main reference. One entry is in Collins.

Quadrant A

That is either end of comic aboard take off for each one

Female goats supply kids

Erin somehow immersed in French first issue of Loki

Sweeper dusted boiler

Court decision in Poland accepted Conor's first appeal

Type of music appropriate for medley

Unusual variant of chips at L'Enclume for starters, served in special bowls

For some, privates could be gross when entering bed unclothed

Trump stops leaders of France and Spain overturning attack

Once feeling disgust at robbery, after money's taken

Quadrant B

Amongst Rodentia, no mice presenting social disorganisation

Chilled drink because Earl's entertaining (two words)

On reflection, do try backless dress for Ed

Sprinkler set off in taxi?

Sue may emerge from this mistreatment

Adelaide's acacias turning silver in squalid neighbourhood

Apropos of nothing, extremely eager to accept boring part

One acquiring tea leaves for ship's counter

Term for liquor – primarily one that gives upset tummy

Work clothes with special fabrics

Quadrant C

Sauce is revolting in octopus tacos

Eton's first form feed us on last of chocolate spread

Sole part's matching tempo

Mark, under pressure, picked up weapon

Scratching head, lioness writhes and perhaps roars

Intermittently, members of Oasis, if unhappy, ultimately turn to hard stuff?

Fisherman essentially functions without nets

Learns to accept extremely pernicious bacterial infections

Foot following surreptitious passages

An indication of little ones in a delivery system?

Quadrant D

Need for one enclosure in front of base

Earlier, undying bird caught by Hoy's lamp?

Insular forest-dwellers Napoleon's first encountered in Elba?

Call to witness truncated witchcraft trial

“Old South Whales” repulsed NSW citizens?

Singular biblical warrior covering head with archer's stance

Philosophers and saints imbibing nameless restorative

Maybe De Niro clipping a letter to portray accent?

Initially damp hay spread with this could become dehydrated

Sent to change Ebenezer Scrooge initially e.g. past, present and future

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

Remember to vote for your favourite 3 clues and I will offer a prize to the winning clue writer.

PDF copy

Clues, thanks to:

Adam Vellender, Alf Mullins, amoeba, Arcadia, buddy, Cagey, Craft, Dave Williams, David Thompson, David Whyte, Derek Harrison, Ed Powles, Edmund French, Ghoti, Gumboot, Hawk, Hedge-sparrow, Henri, Ian Simpson, Jonathan Owen, Nudd, John Nicholson, John Reardon, John Walsh, Keith Williams, Kevin MacDiarmid, Luciano Ward, Mad Dog, Paul Henderson, Peter Biddlecombe, Peter Smith, Philip Stevenson, Phylax, Rod Beards, Simon Griew, Simon Shaw, Skinny, Quotient, Steve Bartlett and Tim Coates