Crossword News November 2026
The October Prize Puzzle was Bad Actors by Pandiculator. The
theme was an episode of the Simpsons, Lisa’s Rival. Lisa is invited to dinner
with Allison, her rival and eventually friend. The family plays a game of
anagrams, rearranging the letters in a person's name to make a description of
that person. Allison's father gives her ALEC GUINNESS (1ac) and she comes up
with GENUINE CLASS. He gives Lisa JEREMY IRONS (14dn) and she, being less
well-practised at finding anagrams, comes up with the rather uncreative
JEREMY’S IRON. Lisa is unimpressed by the father’s patronising response,
illustrating her SLIM PASSION (an anagram of Lisa Simpson) towards the
proceedings; this was to be highlighted in the final grid.
Here are some of the comments from solvers.
Thanks to Pandiculator. Spotted Guinness and Irons
reasonably quickly but couldn’t imagine the two of them in a tv show episode,
other than something like Spitting Image. The Lisa’s Rival bit got me to The
Simpsons but I needed the internet to explain the game. Unfortunately, it also
gave away the result of the thematic treatment.
A very enjoyable puzzle, with accessible clues revealing the
message from the across answers and a nice endgame. A well chosen theme, which
I hope appeals to both solvers and fans of the TV show. Many thanks!
I solved the first three down clues when I first read them
and then guessed 1a was ALEC GUINNESS but I was assuming he was an actor in the
episode so it didn't help me to think of the theme. It took me longer to get
JEREMY IRONS and by then I had solved enough of the down clues to make out
LISA'S RIVAL and I knew exactly what to do. I always like a theme that could
require me to look something up but I happen to be familiar enough with the
theme not to have to.
A very enjoyable puzzle, with accessible clues revealing the
message from the across answers and a nice endgame. A well chosen theme, which
I hope appeals to both solvers and fans of the TV show. Many thanks!
There were 55 entries, of which 13 were marked incorrect.
The lucky winner, picked at random was Andy Grady, 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/2026/11/bad-actors-by-pandiculator-solution.html
There is still lots of time for you to post your entry to
the November puzzle, Higher Calling by Hedge-sparrow. https://crosswordcentre.blogspot.com/2026/10/november-2026-higher-calling-by.html
For December we have our traditional Seasons Greetings by
Eclogue, now its 18th appearance. There will also be an Advent
Challenge, Stock Reduction by Arcadia. After that we have nothing lined up for 2007.
We hope to run a Round Robin puzzle in March. Any offers of crosswords for 2027
would be appreciated.
***
I am excited by the news from The Observer. There has been a long break since
the last Azed clue writing competition. This Sunday, 25 October, marks Gemelo's
52nd puzzle, and a new clue-writing competition returns in January 2027,
starting with Gemelo No. 63 on 31 January. There is a new entry system: a free,
unpaywalled page where anyone can submit a clue, whether they solve in print or
online, and a back end where Gemelo sees every clue exactly as submitted, with
no retyping. Entry will be digital only and no postal entries
There will be a trial run with Gemelo No. 56 on Sunday 29 November. It won't
count towards the honours list. It's there so that they can test the process
end to end and hear what works and what doesn't before the official launch in
January.
I was present at a Zoom meeting with puzzle editor, Caitlin
O’Kane, showing us how the Clue-writing competition will work. Ste Curran, who
designed it, demonstrated the new interface, the Observer &lit. This site
will show all of the previous slips, a league table, and the competitions that
were previously set up by John Tozer. Fortunately, I had all of the missing
slips and I have now passed them on.
All entries must be electronic, on the site for subscribers
or by email. Postal entries will not be accepted. Once you have submitted your
solution, you will be sent a validation code. Using this code you can enter
your clue. All the clues from correct entries will be judged anonymously by
Colin Thomas. Colin will judge all submitted clues blind. Only after he
has selected the winning first, second, third, VHC and HC clues will the names
of the people who submitted the entries be visible to him. This is built into
the system, and there is no workaround, so please rest assured that there will
be no bias or unconscious bias in the competition,
I was impressed by the site and I look forward to seeing it
in action.
***
Congratulations to the new Times Crossword Champion Liam Hughes, who won a
tense final after solving the final puzzle in 10:05 with no mistakes.
Second placed was 2023 winner Matthew Marcus, who was the
last of the finalists to finish, in 12:12, but was the only other solver to
complete the puzzle correctly. Third-placed Chloe Hutton, the fastest finisher,
took 8:09 but made one mistake, as did Peter Steggle in fourth and the 2025
champion and 14-time winner Mark Goodliffe in fifth, at 11:14 and 11:16
respectively.
Erik Agard, a former winner of the American Crossword Puzzle
Tournament who came over from Kansas City for the event, won the Richard Rogan
Prize for best newcomer, finishing fourth in the qualifier and 12th in the
semi-final.
Liam, a 29-year old postdoctoral researcher in maths based
in Helsinki, sets a new record for the youngest champion, being two months
younger than Guy Haslam when he won in 1992.
You can read Mick
Hodgkin’s report here with access to the video with commentary by Colin
Thomas, hundreds of photos and all the results.
Try the final puzzle here. https://www.thetimes.com/puzzles/crossword/times-championship-final-2026-pcrfvswc2
It seems the problem clue in the final was 2 down.
Wolf trap missing its lowest crosspiece? (5)
The answer was SNARF (SNARE with the E losing its lowest
crosspiece to be F. A difficult clue where some competitors entered SCARF>
Mark Goodliffe talks through the final puzzle of the
championship.
https://youtu.be/LjYn0Cb_W4Q?si=L39gOabShrOjLJLx
***
Exciting news about the APEX (A Puzzle Every Xmas) book.
“Book, new one with puzzles by Apex?
(5)”
This is just one of many hundreds of clues in this collection of fifty-five
themed puzzles by or about Eric Chalkley MBE (1917 - 2006), better known to his
many fans as Apex.
In 1971, Apex began circulating 'A Puzzle Every Xmas' to a small group of
dedicated solvers. While the composition of this group changed over time,
the puzzles became something of an institution among this select band. In
later years, Apex also used this annual event to raise funds for charitable
causes, particularly Moorfields Eye Hospital, who helped to save Eric's sight
in 1999.
After more than thirty years, Apex's last puzzle in the series appeared in
2001. Since then, the baton has been passed to Paul Henderson (Phi), who
has continued 'A Phi Every Xmas' in the same charitable fashion. Now,
for the first time these puzzles are brought together in book-form for a wider
audience of crossword enthusiasts to enjoy.
All profits from the sale of this book will be donated to Moorfields Eye
Hospital. We hope you will enjoy solving A Puzzle Every Xmas.... Every
Day!
The book will be available early December from Amazon at
£19.99.
***
A friend recommended this book and the Guardian review was very encouraging.
Murder Most Cryptic by
Alys Cummings
Cummings’s entertaining debut begins with a man walking into a meeting of
people in recovery, announcing that his name is Laurence and he’s an alcoholic,
then dropping dead. The group, who spot a handwritten cryptic crossword clue
that’s fallen out of Laurence’s pocket – answer: Murder – are quicker to
suspect foul play than the police, and when the same clue appears in the
following day’s newspaper, they decide to figure out what’s going on. Told from
the points of view of people trying, with varying degrees of success, to remain
sober, this book involves a fair amount of unreliable narration – not least
because of the memory gaps of the blackout drunk. The emergence of pertinent
backstories lends rather more emotional depth than is found in the average cosy,
while the discovery of further cryptic crossword clues provides an ingenious
puzzle element (answers given at the end for non-cruciverbalists).
***
On the CCCWC the word to clue for November is MONSTER.
Voting has now started on the clues to PRACTICAL.
The results are in on the clues to CHARACTER.
1st Steve Randall 49pts.
Buttons perhaps and no zip in restyled crotch area
2nd Viresh Ratnakar 41.5 pts
Property rent includes air conditioning
3rd Adam Vellender 41 pts.
Quality Street finally devoured by runner after tea (9)
You can now check your own standing and comments.
If you are not a member it is easy to sign up. Just enter
your email address and choose your own password.
***
On the 31st October, the Independent published its final crossword,
one by Eimi, the pseudonym of the crossword editor, Mike Hitchinson.
To mark the end of the Independent crossword, Paul Henderson, probably its
longest serving setter, comments nostalgically on its passing. https://phionline.net.nz/2026/09/the-future-of-the-independent-crossword/
***
News of the crossword magazine UNCH, Issue 5 is coming very soon and is
available to pre-order right now.
It features exclusive new cryptic crosswords from Amoeba,
Henri, Heron, Jam, Lepus, Meles, Ouroboros,
Penelope and Raider, plus a barred thematic puzzle from the
legendary Chalicea.
Unch Issue 5 is only £5, plus £1 UK postage. They are
only shipping copies within the UK at the moment.
https://unchcrosswords.com/#shop
***
Collins has voted Mogging as its word of the year. The definition is outperforming,
outshining, or upstaging someone or something, often making them look inferior
in appearance, confidence, status, or quality. Other notable words were:
• Ghost job: A job vacancy advertised by an employer with no real intention of
hiring anyone.
• P(doom): A mathematical-style percentage or probability
estimate of an AI-aided collapse of human civilization.
• Bixie: A women's haircut style that sits shorter than a
traditional bob but longer than a pixie cut.
• Manchesterism: A political and economic philosophy
associated with Andy Burnham focused on devolving power to the regions and
combining growth with social progress.
• Hydration break: A mandatory water pause in sports matches
introduced due to hot weather.
• Firewave: A rapid sequence of urban or regional wildfires
occurring during a dry spell.
• Carspreading: The trend of manufacturers making cars wider
and heavier, crowding parking spaces and lanes.
• Fricy: A food or drink flavour profile that combines
fruity and spicy elements.
***
25 years ago, I managed to secure the crossword.org domain name from Freenetname.
Freenetname was bought by other companies and for the past 10 years the
Crossword Centre website was hosted by Madasafish. Last week the site went down
and looking at web forums there are lots of us in this situation. Madasafish
was taken over by Plusnet and they are not accepting Freenetname accounts.
However, with expert advice and help from Adam Vellender, I have been able to
secure the domain name and the site is running. I have been unable to retrieve
all the files and you may notice gaps and 404 notices. I am working hard at
replacing them.
Best wishes
Derek Harrison
