A personal take on the best dozen Times crossword clues from the last 5 years
Part eight of a thirteen-part series of blogs

In addition to computer training, Andy Brown is also an addict of the Times Crossword. In this blog Andy takes a break from blogging on software to list his 12 favourites clues from the last 5 years of puzzles.

  1. 12 best Times Cryptic Crossword clues of the last 5 years?
  2. 12th position (from puzzle number 26670)
  3. 11th position (from puzzle number 26345)
  4. 10th position (from Sunday Times puzzle 4698)
  5. 9th position (from puzzle number 26796)
  6. 8th position (from Jumbo crossword puzzle number 1171)
  7. 7th position (from puzzle 25442)
  8. 6th position (from puzzle 26322) (this blog)
  9. 5th position (from puzzle number 26111)
  10. 4th position (from puzzle number 26734)
  11. 3rd position (from Sunday Times puzzle 4687)
  12. 2nd position (from Sunday Times puzzle 4659)
  13. In 1st position (from puzzle 25482)

Posted by Andy Brown on 11 December 2017

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6th position (from puzzle 26322)

I love a really good anagram.  Sometimes they are so good that it's hard to believe they're possible, such as in my clue in position 6:

Likelihood of person catching criminal? (8, 6)

The answer is SPORTING CHANCE - here the whole clue gives the definition, but hidden inside is the almost impossibly good anagram of PERSON CATCHING.

Here are some more clues which make you (well, me) gasp with delight at the unexpected anagrams:

Puzzle Clue Answer
25435 Over fifty, unsettled and single (5-4) FORTY-FIVE
26369 Working at present for the Guardian? (6,6) FOSTER PARENT
4728 Promise of heaven revealing itself to be nonsensical (11, 4) EVERLASTING LIFE

For young readers, records used to come in two sizes: 33 and 45.  These were called "albums" and "singles" respectively.

  1. 12 best Times Cryptic Crossword clues of the last 5 years?
  2. 12th position (from puzzle number 26670)
  3. 11th position (from puzzle number 26345)
  4. 10th position (from Sunday Times puzzle 4698)
  5. 9th position (from puzzle number 26796)
  6. 8th position (from Jumbo crossword puzzle number 1171)
  7. 7th position (from puzzle 25442)
  8. 6th position (from puzzle 26322) (this blog)
  9. 5th position (from puzzle number 26111)
  10. 4th position (from puzzle number 26734)
  11. 3rd position (from Sunday Times puzzle 4687)
  12. 2nd position (from Sunday Times puzzle 4659)
  13. In 1st position (from puzzle 25482)
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