The Times Crossword Friday Masterclass: Episode 14

*** TODAY'S PUZZLE ***

In the 14th edition of our attempt to solve a Friday Times crossword, Simon takes on today's puzzle which is the hardest of the week and gives him quite some trouble. It also turns out to be the first puzzle in The Times for a friend of ours - so congrats to Jason Crampton (Serpent) on a wonderful debut!

The puzzle is available to play on The Times crossword club website (which is behind their paywall):

You can find more information about the SNITCH rating here:

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The new GAS pack is out on Steam for PC here:

It's already out on Android and App Store. 60 original puzzles by Sam Cappleman-Lynes, Clover and Philip Newman!! Earn party hats and dinosaurs with these brand new puzzles!

We've also released a FREE app full of handmade puzzles to celebrate reaching 500k subscribers - simply download the Cracking The Cryptic app on Android, Steam or App Store and then select the 500k pack. We're streaming a playthrough of this app and you can watch all seven episodes

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▶ SUDOKU PAD - Our New App ◀

You can input classic sudoku puzzles into our software and help support Sven, the programmer responsible for the wonderful user interface we all use to play these puzzles everyday. The app also comes with 12 handmade puzzles from us:

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ALSO on Amazon: Search for “SudokuPad”

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[RiseofPerfection]

As a non native english speaker most of this is just gibberish when reading the clues. However watching Simon guide me through the intricacies of the british language is a real joy!

[Juanchodh]

For me, it has become quite a Friday morning plan to wake up and watch CTC solving the crossword with a cup of coffee. Thanks!

[GordonjSmith]

'Master classes' are not demonstrations of perfection, they are how skilled people resolve tricky problems. This was both an excellent (and slightly different 'setter's voce) and also a lovely lesson for the rest of us! Bravo. More please - this is very addictive 🙂

[christopher]

"I was let down by being useless" will be my excuse the next time I mess something up.

[johnciolfi]

One of the things I find fascinating when watching these solves is when Simon gets the right answer right away, but can’t figure out the wordplay (8-D, 13-D), but as soon as he says the word, I understand the wordplay immediately (but wouldn’t have gotten the word by myself). It’s always fun seeing how different solvers can see and approach puzzles differently from each other (and from the setter as well - congrats to Serpent, btw!).

[chris_wicksteed]

I solve these on paper before watching the video. Was satisfied with my answers to the other clues, but was eagre-ly waiting to see whether I had 'agree' correct. Glad it was Simon's last one in too!

Congrats to the setter on their debut! Really enjoyed this one.

[davidrattner]

Best Friday tradition out there!! Seeing you tackle with such aplomb and panache these cryptic clues for us.

[drbutler]

I finally got one before Simon! Disenchanted (thank you Minecraft!). Thank you Simon for a wonderful Crossword Solve! I love the Crossword Solves, I also love the Sudoku solves.... I love this channel!

[bobblebardsley]

I think you overcomplicated the bank = pot part of 8 Down, I'm pretty sure it just means e.g. in a card game, if you put money into the pot, you pay it into the 'bank', or even just in terms of a housekeeping kitty, 'money in the bank' = 'money in the pot'. I could be wrong though as a 'bank shot' is indeed when you pot a ball along the cushion/rail.

[martinwilson]

Thank you once again for solving and explaining this to us all.

[archivist]

I fully agree Times setters should get a credit for their skilled and creative work. Some traditions are silly.

[riotblob]

Thanks for another educational rollercoaster ride!

[SourabhDas]

Looks like Simon's knowledge of the word mare's-tail was a bit of a mare's-nest for this puzzle

[nickloader]

Great debut puzzle! Disenchanted, march hare and wildebeest were brilliant!

[dtcaffy]

Love these crossword videos, please keep them coming.

[emilywilliams]

This was definitely a master class, no worries there, Simon. I enjoyed it, as usual; was somewhat lost all the time, as usual; was totally lost some of the time, as usual; learned something, as usual. Thanks so much!

[stevewithaq]

The Timeson with Simeson - A fun way to start a Friday!

[archivist]

I'm still struggling with a weekend cryptic. I blame Mark! 😂

[glum_hippo]

The clue for 'Wildebeest' was absolutely sublime, and kudos to the setter on their daybieugh!

[memeswithcringe]

I think I recall seeing something similar to 15 across in the Independent before, although the definition of the clue was “Tea Party member”, which is perhaps a lot more straightforward than “being in a frenzied state”.