Some sad news for the crossword world this month, as we learned that the Independent<\/em> plans to cease publication of its cryptic crossword at the end of October. The news – shared on the Fifteen Squared website<\/a> – prompted a considerable reaction from solvers and setters alike.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Although I’m not a regular solver of the Indy<\/em> cryptic myself, I know that it’s played an important role in the wider crossword landscape. Mike Hutchinson has given many setters their first outing in a national newspaper. Colin Thomas, for one, started setting cryptics for the Independent<\/em> as Twin in 2022, three years before he became Gemelo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Of course, this is not the first time a cryptic crossword has come under threat. The Independent<\/em> has been here before: there was a question mark over the future of its puzzles back in 2016 when the paper moved online. At that time, the blocked cryptic survived (in digital form, and later in the i<\/em> paper), but its barred Beelzebub crossword did not<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In contrast, the Listener crossword – an obsession of mine since I discovered it a couple of years ago – succeeded in outliving the publication after which it is named. When The Listener<\/em> magazine ceased publication in 1991, the crossword was picked up – after a short hiatus – by The Times<\/em>, where it has continued ever since. (Plans to discontinue the Listener in 1997 were countered by an impassioned campaign from fans and even an Early Day Motion tabled in the House of Commons.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n A contribution to the Clue Clinic’s forum this month reminded us that the Telegraph <\/em>cryptic also came under threat in 1997, when the crossword editor announced “seismic changes”: future puzzles would be compiled from a computer database of existing clues. Thanks to the determination of Roger Squires and Ruth Crisp, the assistant editor at the time (Boris Johnson) reversed the decision on April Fool’s Day 1998.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So crosswords can be saved – and indeed new outlets can emerge. For aspiring solvers, Melbourne-based Angas Tiernan’s Minute Cryptic has provided a daily dose of wordplay since 2024. Today it has over 311,000 followers on Instagram, more than 53,000 subscribers on YouTube, and – I’m told – a healthy following on TikTok (which I feel too old and jaded to investigate). Simon Anthony of Cracking the Cryptic<\/a> even started a new ‘MinuteCryptic in a Minute’ series in February this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meanwhile in the UK, the new kid on the block is crossword magazine Unch<\/a> which this month marked its first year in print. Editor Matt Holland and editorial team member and setter Rachel Playforth (Angel) shared their reflections on this milestone with the Clue Clinic:<\/p>\n\n\n\n “We’ve had a great year producing the first four issues of Unch, with sales increasing each time (over 500 people have now bought issue 4). We’ve featured over 30 different setters so far including familiar names from the daily newspapers and emerging setters who haven’t been published in print before. Around a third of our setters are women, as are two of the four puzzle editors. The aim is to continue to publish setters from a diverse range of backgrounds and we actively encourage contemporary and inclusive language and references. Plans for the future include exploring subscription models and a way to sell back issues (which we get asked for a lot!) Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, on both the content and the design (and especially the paper quality, which is very nice to write on…).”<\/p>\n\n\n\n Issue 4 of Unch (July 2026) is lying on the desk in front of me as I type this. I’ve completed most of the blocked puzzles at this point – the magazine is A5 and pleasingly sturdy (as well as being beautifully designed), which makes it ideal for carrying around and solving on the go. I’ve read the interview with Times<\/em> Puzzles Editor, Mick Hodgkin, another setter who made his debut in The Independent<\/em>. However, I’m yet to attempt the barred puzzle, set by Mort and titled ‘Surprise!’…<\/p>\n\n\n\n Whether the Indy<\/em> cryptic can be saved in some form remains to be seen. But I feel optimistic that the cryptic crossword species is evolving rather than heading for extinction. And I’m sure there’ll be some more surprises along the way…<\/p>\n\n\n\n What are your thoughts? You can add your comments below, respond to our monthly poll, or have your say in the Forum<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I [writes Dr Clue] have for the last few weeks been using the AI assistant Claude to check my Azed\/Gemelo Notes for typographical errors. He usually finds a couple – a repeated word here or a missing pronoun there – for which I am very grateful, being something of a stickler for accuracy [pause for collective gasp]. However, with Gemelo 48 he decided (unprompted) to verify my analysis of the clues, concluding his critique with: “I checked the wordplay for each clue I could work through (e.g. TIGHTER, MACHETE, ORACLE, GARAGE BAND, BALEARIC, DANCERS, NAGOR), and the explanations are consistent with the enumerations, so I found no factual slips.” Was he showing off? Was he ultracrepidating? Was he planning to take over the Notes? My fears on that last count were allayed somewhat with Gemelo 49, where he resumed his normal checking role as if nothing had happened, although he did seem particularly upset at my suggestion that David Bowie had been killed at the Battle of the Alamo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I can’t help feeling, though, that he’s served notice and is now just waiting until the time is right…<\/p>\n\n\n\n Results of August poll<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The question was “How do you feel about clues that employ Spoonerisms?” There was a rather disappointing ‘turnout’ of voters for this one, but the results suggest that the Spoonerism divides the crossword community roughly down the middle – those who weren’t keen had the slight edge (57%) over those who were (43%), and in each group there was a near-equal split between those with strong feelings on the subject and those without. So the device is perhaps not exactly the cruciverbal equivalent of Marmite, but it certainly isn’t everybody’s cup of jar dealing. This month, in light of the news about the Independent<\/em>, I’d like to know how optimistic you’re feeling about the future of the cryptic crossword.<\/p>\n\n\nClinical Observations<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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After you, Claude<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Poll of the Month<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
September Poll<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nCryptic crosswords: what’s your prognosis?<\/h4>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t