The New "Modern Lingo" Times Cryptic Crossword

** TODAY'S PUZZLE **
The Times has today published the first of a brand new style of cryptic crossword in which several of the older style conventions have been cast away. The idea is to make the crossword more accessible to a younger generation. The amusing thing is that this makes it much harder for folk like Simon :)
Prepare to witness a middle-age man have no clue about modern lingo!!
The puzzle is available to play on The Times crossword club website (which is behind their paywall):
www.thetimes.c...
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[@Alexbrainbox]

"there must be a modern phrase that means lie, 'no hat' or something." I hope the Times makes more of these puzzles if we get more gems like that!

[@Fractus]

I was laughing so hard. Not at Simon but that made it in.

[@michaelmatter1222]

No hat on a vertical pile

[@Dymodeus1]

I'm gonna use "no hat" from now on

[@tehvvisard]

The only thing missing is looking up words you don't know on urban dictionary

[@viri6839]

I'm slightly afraid for Simon 😂

[@livmakes21]

Haha this!!! That would be for patrons only not sure it would be allowed on KZbin 😂

[@dankramlich]

No cap!

[@studgerbil9081]

@@dankramlich "No cap!" and right below KZbin helpfully offers to "translate to English". Love it!

[@shellmichael9665]

If Simon pulled up an Urban Dictionary widget instead of a Chambers one, I might fall out of my seat.

[@cipherhex]

"Could Andrew Marvell, the poet, have written Madame Web?..." 😂

[@Alex_Meadows]

That, and "Rings guy...Wagner?" both cracked me up 😆

[@Kradlum]

Simon possibly confusing Andrew Marvell (C17th) and Andrew Motion (C21st) 😃

[@funkym0nkee77]

One of the best moments of accidental comedy in CtC history!

[@cipherhex]

@@Kradlum Personally, I think it's more likely Simon thinks "Madame Web" could've been the name of a 17thC poem - which to be fair, removed from the context of Marvel nonsense, it does sound like it could be an epic poem!

[@mikechappell5849]

That was wonderfully fogeyish

[@anomalousresult]

Now Simon understands what normal cryptics feel like for many of us! His solve of 1a was very entertaining.

[@dwebb2805]

simon crushed that fr fr ong no cap

[@jakstrike1]

No hat fam

[@antoniag8146]

simon is the goat no printer just fax

[@rach6088]

he ate tf down

[@jonas.groschwitz]

Suggestion: what if you turned this into a collaboration where you solve these together with someone who knows all the pop culture / modern slang references, but doesn't know how cryptic crosswords work (but is interested in learning)? Could be a lot of fun!

[@Abalabexabandraba]

Just want to second this suggestion because it sounds really fun to watch!

[@myacky5887]

I would love to watch that!!!

[@SleepyHarryZzz]

That's a great suggestion!

[@maximilianellis1311]

This is sort of how me and my dad do cryptics together, except the opposite. I get a lot of the wordplay parts, and he helps with any more obscure information I don’t know. This is a rare cryptic I probably could’ve finished myself because it doesn’t have any dated knowledge.

[@skymotel2]

As a happily married man it seems entirely appropriate that you do not know the phase "hooking up" as a modern phase for "meeting with someone (often for a sexual encounter)"

[@kirsiloponen6862]

I hope booty call comes up in the next one :D Though that's old enough for him to know about, even if not experienced,

[@julius9055]

I think it was the bed part that confused him, not the connecting part

[@danielnagy8419]

It was an absolute joy to watch this video. I'm one of the younger variety of viewers and usually I just sit silently and watch you solve these crosswords, but today I could scream some of the answers at the screen and rooting for you and that was such a joyful experience. Thank you for solving this!

[@thezanycat]

I’d love to see modern abbreviations incorporated too, like fail = “L”, don’t worry = “NP”, I understand = “K”

[@snowfloofcathug]

They can get a lot of use out of “NGL” to bridge words

[@squelchedotter]

respect for "F"

[@SleepyHarryZzz]

​@@squelchedotter"Social media site pays respects to best club by reserving tickets. (8)"

[@lordnishant]

​@@squelchedotterthis would be so good!

[@5t757]

If any crossword setting people are watching this video and reading these comments, I implore you: PLEASE do more of these puzzles. I don't think it's going too far to say that this is the future of cryptics. I am an avid solver of the normal Times cryptic but often find it just a bit too tough even with years of experience (am 33 myself) but I'm all across all of the references in this puzzle and would love to see many more like it. If you want to keep cryptics alive long into the future this is the way, as I don't think the younger generation will be interested in solving puzzles that are only allowed to refer to deceased movie stars from last century. PS Simon I loved watching the video.

[@shteebo]

I agree. I solve mostly regular crosswords, but the same idea applies. Several times, I've had a child sitting with me and come across a pop culture clue they know and I don't. Their faces light up with excitement and pride. It's a big moment for them. That's the future.

[@richardclegg8027]

I really like this. A regular cryptic crossword I am fairly good at but I have built up (painfully) a store of stupid references used by cryptic crosswords - like an opera singer almost always being Boe a film usually being ET, a singer 50% of the time being cher and it often meaning sex but usually having a second euphemism as the answer. That stuff tests only the number of crosswords you did rather than any cryptic thinking so great to see something that shakes this up a bit.

[@bobblebardsley]

26 Across: 'Run off' = PRINT (As in, to run off a few copies of a document.) Takes in 'Show' = DEMO 'Final part of stylish' = H PRI-DE MO-NT-H

[@user-py8kl5gh2q]

Oh Simon, my sweet summer child - not understanding the reference to "hooking up"

[@PotmosHetoimos]

Understands that “it” somehow means sex appeal, but doesn’t understand hooking up 😅

[@PeterMoore66]

As a married man, older than Simon, I thought that "hooking up" wasn't that obscure. It's a phrase that's been around for quite a while, I think.

[@shteebo]

I'm not so sure he didn't demurely forget to explain that one.

[@Anne_Mahoney]

Yes, I was laughing over that too. Clearly Simon hasn't spent much time with college/university students since he was one himself! 😸

[@gimmicky50a]

I love Simon's wonderful innocence there of not being aware of "hooking up" as a reference to heading for bed!

[@MattYDdraig]

This was possibly the funniest video I've watched here with Simon's perplexity at the modernisms. I think I'm the same age as Simon and found many of the references familiar through my teenage daughter rather than my own more direct knowledge streams, but that's why developments like this are a good thing and important. Expanding our own references into the modern age and helping connect across the generation gap should be encouraged and I hope the Times, and any others who join this movement, choose to blend both old and new in the long run, rather than segregating them into separate puzzles exclusively, but with introductory ones like these that can be a gateway into the cryptic world. Great to see how much Simon enjoys it even as he is baffled by some of the phraseology. No cap, I loved this!

[@momixx]

This video was an absolute delight to watch! As a nineteen year old from Germany who usually find's obscure, old references and the intrigues of the English language hard to get, this was the first time I got a lot of the clues before Simon. We definitely need more of those puzzles made and then solved by Simon. (Next time look the things you didn't know up, that would add a lot to the video) And congrats to the 600k!

[@leehazell7633]

Ok, I’m trying to solve this as I’m watching and already this is perfect. The fact that 1 across has stumped him whereas for me it’s a write in is exactly the kind of feeling this should be producing.

[@dglthrawn1]

Casey Affleck is Ben's brother. Interesting idea. Language that is, perhaps, more accessible to those more in touch with pop culture and slang. I wish this sort of thing was around when I was younger. If it gets more people into cryptic crosswords, then it's a good thing.

[@DaShikuXI]

600k subscribers, in what is ultimately very niche content, is nothing short of incredible. Massive congratulations to CTC.

[@aubelle9680]

Hey Simon! I’ve been a fan of yours and Mark’s for a while, you got me into sodokus and crosswords, but, even despite how many of your cryptic crosswords I’ve watched, this is the first time I’ve actually solved one of the clues. I’m currently only one clue in but, as an 18 year old girl who just adores the channel, this is so exciting that I just had to pause and comment this. I’m so excited to see what else I can get as the video progresses.

[@aubelle9680]

Hahahaha! Just finished the video, I was screaming at you the whole time Simon, especially as a massive Taylor Swift fan. What a fun puzzle!

[@autumndragonfly.]

As a 20 something kiwi living in the UK, I tend to work out 2-3 clues on my own while watching the usual crossword Friday videos, the rest are too obscure or too British for me. But this one I managed about half of them! Absolutely loved it!!

[@danielfromnz]

As a 20 something kiwi living at home in NZ, I normally do the exact same as you Autumn. This one was different!

[@shadowstargate]

Finally a cryptic for us twenty something kiwis :')

[@jakemurphy6125]

Well done! Absolutely fabulous to watch. Some explanations from a young person: Marvel is the movie studio that produced the film Madame Web, to “Hook up” with someone is to date/to go further steps(if you know what I mean)/to go to bed with them, the saying “no cap” means what I’ve just said is the truth and I am not lying, “ok I’ll bite” would be used when one person asks a question which implies anything and you may say “ok I’ll bite, what did you mean by…” for example, H is a member of the band steps, and “Taylor’s Version” is because she owned the lyrics and music behind her earlier work but not the recordings of them (they where owned by her old recording studio who she had a bad contract with) so she re-recorded the songs and self published them entitled “name of song - Taylor’s Version” meaning she got more money out of the songs. I really liked and understood this crossword more than normal, a great way to introduce a new generation. Any more questions don’t hesitate to ask 👍

[@longwaytotipperary]

Appreciate the explanations!

[@Willd2p2]

27A is a really great clue and while it's fun to see Simon's naivety of not knowing the phrase "hooking up" it's a bit of a shame he doesn't get to appreciate the clue. It's a very well written and-lit: Connecting clues Hooking, in the sense of attaching to something. "heading for bed?" clues Up, in the sense that if you say you are "heading up" then you would mean you are going to bed. And the clue as a whole is a very good definition of "hooking up".

[@syxp]

I read it more as a ddef, "connecting" and "heading for bed" both can mean Hooking Up

[@garagedoor0pener]

watching simon solve no cap makes this entire series worth watching every single week xD

[@gnfnrf]

I have been reluctant to try a cryptic crossword on my own, because of the dual barriers of esoteric crossword knowledge and UK-specific knowledge. A puzzle like this lowers one of those barriers, and might just be enough to push me over the edge. And yes, Simon, "Taylor's Version" was a write-in for me and probably half of your audience. It's revenge for the hundreds of times you've read a clue and solved it and we don't even know what half the words mean. As an aside, I don't think a puzzle like this needs a modern reference in every clue, I just think it needs to avoid any older, archiac, or obscure "crosswordese" references. Clean, common language timeless clues are fine in both styles, in my opinion.

[@owenchrisfianwijaya4603]

To answer Simon's interest abt modern lingo in Cryptic Crossword, at least personally, this is definitely a way to preserve the cleverness behind cryptic crossword without resorting to old references. I simply approve of this approach, and can be use as a gateway to the ones with lesser known references, bcs it still uses a lot of the common rules of cryptic crossword, but in a new light. Looking forward towards how this series of puzzles integrated modern culture into the interesting world of cryptic crossword.

[@haezan]

No Cap, I got 5 down in 5 seconds! Please do more of these!

[@haezan]

I think with enough time my partner and I could get all of these. Ordinarily we can get like 1, maybe 2 of the old cryptics

[@owenchrisfianwijaya4603]

5 down is just iconic

[@eveengineer4147]

This might have been the most I've enjoyed watching a CTC video in a while.

[@eashanshenai4980]

14:45 Explanation of 1 across: Wonder is synonymous with 'Marvel' and the company who made Madame web ('who made madame web?') is Marvel Comics.

[@PineArea]

As someone with no knowledge of 17th century poets, ancient monastic terminology, or anything to do with cricket, this was a fun change of pace! Personally, I'd love a happy medium that incorporates some of both old and new; it'll be interesting to see whether they keep this series of puzzles up. (And regardless, it's always lovely to see extra cryptic videos on the channel!)

[@joshjgordon]

I really enjoyed this. And I fully support modernising the cryptic crossword. I enjoy the current style, but it’s like learning a new language and you often run into references I just don’t know or understand.

[@stevieinselby]

I find it incredible how often Simon is able to derive the correct answer despite not knowing a key piece of information (eg ooh-la-la), but also quite comical how much more out of touch with modern life he is than I am 😜 And "it makes them completely un-doable for anyone who is used to the old style" ... but that's _exactly_ how many people feel about the traditional ones that require you to know arcane bits of history or Latin or literature that hasn't been studied since the 1960s.

[@howardgrater7660]

It’s taken me a year to finally start remembering some of the old references for cryptic crosswords, and now they’re taking them away from me?! Back to square bloody one is it?! Faux outrage of course, what a sweet man you are, such an entertaining solve! Love these videos, and enjoyed the puzzle too! Keep up the good work x

[@AO968]

Yes, lap cats exist. My cat can definitely be classified as one, as he loves lying in my lap. This was a pleasant surprise. And right on the heels of that article I read Friday about cryptic crosswords not being very accessible to younger people. Hopefully, they'll make more of these, and you (or Mark) will keep trying to solve them for us. Also, happy 600k subs, Simon and Mark! Who knew that a "silly" idea (to paraphrase Mark) would become so successful?

[@ShaunageMob]

I sent my non-crosswording sister a picture of 5 down with only the S filled in and she got it immediately. Her first cryptic clue! Simon never quite nailing down the implication of “hooking up” is one of life’s great amusements. Please keep doing these!

[@mashpojayde-o]

All the Swifties shouting “Taylor’s Version!” As soon as we read ‘re-record’ lol

[@owenchrisfianwijaya4603]

So true, and it's also a 5 down clue, which if intentional, also iconic considering what the number 5 means

[@michaelmatter1222]

💀

[@nomophobe]

​@@owenchrisfianwijaya4603Just a little disappointed they couldn't make it work for 13 across/down 😂

[@andreaogradyfernandez]

I’ve never shouted at the screen so exasperatedly lol

[@owenchrisfianwijaya4603]

@@nomophobe so true hahaha

[@terencebad7009]

16:28 “It makes them completely undoable for anybody who’s used to the old style” he says, solving it easily

[@JohnZeeable]

oh my god it really is a sign of the times! i got 1 across so quickly when i would normally not be able to solve a single clue

[@danbanks9325]

Congrats guys. Found this channel by complete fluke and have devoured many hours enjoying your puzzles 🎉👏

[@georgesims1724]

This was so much easier for us, as 22 year olds, to join in with. Very reaffirming to know we have the skills to solve the puzzles, just not always the often out of date knowlegde and references. Would love to see you solve these again!

[@Imperial_Squid]

I've been getting into cryptics by playing them with my mum every few weeks and one of my biggest complaints has been the seemingly mammoth amount of obscure knowledge required, this one was incredibly refreshing in it's references and construction (though ironically as someone who never really got into tiktok that particular clue threw me for a second!). I'm absolutely fascinated and would love to see many more of these!

[@ryaneakins7269]

It's funny hearing of Steps as a "modern" band. They disbanded over 20 years ago!

[@rywilk]

Fun video; I'd love to see Mark tackle one of these too.

[@emjayel87]

Simon you’re absolutely right - it’s both more and less accessible at the same time, such a pleasure to watch!

[@vinyl1Earthlink]

Could a 71-year-old solver living in the US solve this puzzle? Well, I did. I'd never heard of nearly everything, but by applying standard cryptic cracking techniques I came up all correct in about 45 minutes. I suspect the cryptics were rather easy for this special occasion - the two 14-letter anagrams were definitely crackable if you looked for common word patterns in the answers. Of course, as a US solver, I wouldn't know Jude Bellingham.

[@richardlawrence6619]

This shows the joy of cryptic crosswords. Learning something new through the wordplay. There are some fun clues there.

[@mussoletart8485]

it's amazingly easy to spot anagrams when you already know the answer (T.V.). now i know how mark and simon must feel all the time!! edit: i love this idea! being from a non-english speaking country, and young, this was much more approachable, but still had the fun wordplay. hope this takes off!!

[@cloudbringer104]

What a lovely Sunday bonus. Congratulations again on getting 600, 000. You both deserve at least 1 million subscribers. Xx

[@davidalderson]

This was absolutely great. Loved Simon speculating if the poet Andrew Marvell had written Madame Web.

[@hoofa2000]

That was glorious. As a 51 year old I thank my teenage daughters for expanding my pop knowledge!

[@angec9908]

I’m not young but this is the first time I figured out an answer 1) at all and B) that you couldn’t. The regular cryptic isn’t too arcane for me because I do the NYT puzzles and learned some very arcane words over the years. But it’s got so many Britishisms that I’ve just never heard of. Also re: the Madame Web answer, I haven’t got a clue (pun intended)

[@reubenmckay]

I think these editions of the TCC could be a great way of getting more people into cryptic crosswords. This one was a joy to watch and I hope you'll do more if the Times publishes another crossword like this.

[@MissMaraJoy]

I can follow Simon's logic pretty well in the typical crossword solves, but I can very rarely solve a clue on my own. At the beginning of this video, I was able to solve 1d and 3d right away!! I'm still completely clueless about the footballers and other modern British stuff like that, but I'd love to see more solve videos for Sign of the Times Cryptics!

[@onion013]

I really hope this is a regular series. Was most excellent!

[@rpe10538]

I hope this becomes a regular Times Crossword (and series on CTC) as I really enjoyed it, even though I was frustrated with failing on 17d. I spent 39 years working on the ironmongery counter of a builder's merchant so with -a-e- p-n being clued as a pointy object I entered "panel pin" even though I couldn't parse it... Whoops! Congratulations on reaching 600,000 subscribers. I'm sure I'm not the only one whose gradual improvement at cryptic crosswords is due to the hints and tips picked up from yourself and Mark. Much appreciated.

[@SheetMusicBoss]

Don’t worry Simon, we too are regularly baffled by the youth!

[@puffin7285]

I don't know how you you mean by youth but I am 36 so a millenial and many of these clues fall within content I should have known and I too was baffled

[@Meeseeran]

As a 20 year old, this was very entertaining to watch. Not being a native English speaker, I was finally able to guess some stuff.

[@slashclaw14]

Wonderful puzzle, would love to see more like this featured on the channel!

[@Neopolis3]

What a delight to watch, and what a great initiative to get more people into crosswords. I'd love to see more videos like this.

[@Astervista]

This is wonderful. First time ever I get more than one clue before Simon does. This may be my chance to seriously begin solving cryptic crosswords

[@thescrewfly]

Simon wondering about Marvell and Wagner in a "modern lingo" crossword! Old dog, new tricks?

[@PeterMoore66]

Anyone who enjoyed this solve may also enjoy listening to a recent edition of the Allusionist podcast, in which Helen Zaltzmann interviewed American crossword compilers who are trying to expand the vocabulary of (for example) the New York Times crossword, and to make it more inclusive of words outside a white, middle-aged, male perspective.

[@PerStarback]

That was fun to watch! People mostly comment on what effect the modern references has, but I think the most important part of making this accessible to new people is what it *doesn't* contain, in that it doesn't use lots of established 'crosswordisms' like U for posh, AB for boatman, RA for artist, etc.

[@waynethomas7406]

The best CTC that I have seen. Since beginning the CTC odyssey, I can now solve (sometimes) the old-style crosswords and seeing you solve this with no knowledge of the answer, other than using the cryptic definitions, was wonderful. A pleasant surprise on a Sunday evening. 🙏

[@Donrafa189]

Yes!!! Please keep doing these. I love the multiple bonus episodes featuring crosswords.

[@LieutenantMoustache]

Many congratulations on 600k! Very well deserved and now onward to 1M.

[@stevenrburgoyne]

This was enjoyable to watch. I actually was able to get about half the clues vs the other crosswords when I have no idea.

[@Layla51]

As a Canadian, I found this puzzle much easier than the regular Times cryptic, even though I am older than Simon. Please Times keep these puzzles coming.

[@pah23]

I hope you do more of these 'modern' references crosswords. It's a beautiful sight to behold, seeing Simon gain the knowledge and fill it in successfully, it's like watching a Pokémon evolve before our eyes lol 🤣

[@deniseiln]

This was absolutely delightful- and I'm thrilled both that the Times is doing this, and that you have tried solving this on camera. Well done!

[@tremner3501]

I hope this becomes a weekly thing. I quite enjoyed watching Simon struggle with "Modern" clues

[@MrTickely]

Watching Simon struggle with pop culture references is sooo satisfying after watching hours of arcane dictionary knowledge, would love this to be a regular part of the content! :))

[@newmsy9997]

This was an absolute joy to solve and watch you stumble on "no cap" as a younger person getting into cryptics!

[@emilywilliams3237]

Being a bit older, and not having much knowledge of modern culture, British sport, etc., this actually felt harder to me as I watched you solve it. I was so pleased to have gotten in-ear by myself, and maybe one other one, but by and large I think I was more at sea than in the Friday masterclass. Everything British has the possibility of tripping me up, though, since my American reference will always be different. I enjoyed watching you solve this nevertheless, Simon, and I'm so glad that you did. And of course, again, many, many congratulations on 600,000 subscribers!! The KZbin channel (and pair of presenters) most deserving, in my opinion.

[@Johnny-zi6lw]

I got "Taylor's Version" immediately, as an avid Swiftie 😂 Also, I wasn't shouting at you, Simon. I enjoyed this thoroughly 😁

[@owenchrisfianwijaya4603]

Honestly same hahahaha

[@dave90mckeague]

This was absolutely fantastic. I love how close you got to some answers, even saging the correct words while having no real clue. AmaIng stuff, i look forward to more of these.

[@longwaytotipperary]

Congratulations!!!! 🍾 so happy to see a surprise video!! This looks like fun!! 😃

[@davidrattner9]

Great to have this for us today!! ❤❤

[@longwaytotipperary]

@@davidrattner9 😊❤️❤️❤️

[@crimsontortoise5298]

solving this with little to no knowledge of modern lingo and trivia is so impressive! well-done!

[@seanbickmore9773]

Massive congratulations on the 600K! This channel has opened my eyes and mind to many new cryptic methods and words. Keep it up Chaps! 👏👏👏

[@adilsanaulla7787]

Congrats! I have been watching you Simon since the early days when you were doing killer sudokus! Amazing work by you and Mark. Wishing you all continued success.

[@Secretcicely]

I loved this. Knew 1A straight away. As has already been said, its great to have a TCC using a more modern and accessible knowledge base for younger people. Please carry on, it was fun to watch

[@jamessaliba1096]

I usually barely get one in, this was by far the easiest solve and the speed with which i found the answers makes me understand how you normally get them so quickly!

[@jamesmurdoch8313]

This was one of my favourite cryptic crosswords to watch yet! Loads of fun shouting answers at the screen before Simon, for once

[@davidfranklin5426]

“‘Ok, I’ll bite.’ That sounds like modern lingo.” 😂 From about 1970!

[@fruitshuit]

Great video, and lovely puzzle form the times. I got a lot more of these than I usually do on the Friday videos. Whiffed totally on the football ones, but I'd say that's fair enough. The "Paw Paw" one was pretty much impossible for me to make the leap because paw and poor aren't even close to homophones in Scottish English.

[@Toytoise]

Absolutely loved this video! Normally I’m so confused by all the old slang, and it’s so refreshing to see some newer references feature in classic cryptic style clues!

[@marisam8460]

Oh my gosh I loved watching this! I hope they make more cryptic crosswords like this, it feels much more accessible and I would love to try a puzzle like this for myself!

[@lucy861]

This was wonderfully fun to watch. Seeing you wonder if it related to Andrew Marvell was hilarious 🤣🤣

[@danjones9224]

Tremendous fun. I hope The Times provides more, and that you cover them!

[@mikewilliams345]

This was a joy to watch, if they put out more, I hope you and Mark will continue to try them.

[@bradleyshannon7894]

That was so much fun to watch. I’m slightly too young, and slightly too Australian to get many of the references in the usual version, and way too old to get many of the references in this one. Loved it.

[@andrewdipplecomedy]

I really really enjoyed this. Might be my favourite crossword one so far. I honestly get lost in the cryptic world so this was a real breath of fresh air

[@futureparticiple]

It felt a little weird getting most of the answers before Simon. I loved this video and hope to see more of them.

[@IcyDeadGaming]

Thoroughly enjoyed Simon truggling with some of these. Felt like I was watching myself attempting the standard cryptic.

[@csw5643]

This was great and I hope it continues! I’ve always loved the word play in cryptic crosswords but felt I didn’t have the word knowledge to solve (a lot of answers I had never even heard of before). But this seems to make things way more accessible. Was even able to figure some answers out this time while watching. Love the videos! Excellent solve as always and hope it continues in the future.

[@bleusabertooth]

So many amazing moments during this solve! I'd love to see this version again in the future!

[@Rob-ew9id]

The first, and almost certainly only, cryptic crossword that I will ever solve faster than Simon.

[@nfc153]

Oh Simon, so innocent. A lovely treat to go with Sunday brunch though.

[@mrscraftalot]

This was so fun to watch! I have gotten to the point where I can do the Quick Cryptics and the easier full Cryptics thanks to your videos. I’m excited to try this new format as well.

[@puffin7285]

600k subs and well deserved. I fell upon this channel randomly about 6 months ago, I didn't even play Sudoku or have any interest in it but it was just so engaging trying to understand and solve puzzles that were more imaginative than I thought they could be. It's such a unique channel and one that is great to watch a video from in the evening. I love the really really long solves by far the best. Looking forward to the day we get a solve that breaks the 3 hour mark

[@davidsolomon05]

That was great fun! I normally follow along and in the vain hope of solving a single clue before Simon, but trying to learn thousands of anachronistic abbreviations for words that haven't been used commonly in my lifetime (outside of cryptic crosswords) has always been a massive roadblock to getting deeper into the hobby. This puzzle however, (apart from the UK football references few outside the UK would know) was approachable, and felt like a great way to introduce newer audiences to the "rules". I hope this continues, and the writers don't burn through their pop culture knowledge too quickly haha