Alan Connor turns the tables on the torturers and asks Britain's cryptic compilers what makes them tick
March 2023
Meet Lady Labyrinth, the AI-generated crossword setter
The latest in our series where we turn the tables on the torturers. But this time, there’s a twist …
November 2022
Meet the setter: the Observer’s Everyman
The latest in our series where we turn the tables on the torturers. Under the spotlight this time is the Observer’s easier puzzle, the Everyman
September 2022
Meet the crossword setter, Phssthpok
The latest in our series where we turn the tables on the torturers. Under the spotlight this time is Adam Sanitt, also known as Phssthpok.
February 2022
Meet the crossword setter, organic chemist Eccles: ‘I have wide but shallow knowledge’
In this series, we turn the tables on the torturers. Under the spotlight this time is Andy McCarroll, AKA Eccles and Snape
January 2022
Meet the crossword setter, Professor Serpent: ‘There’s no point in making it too hard or too easy’
The latest in our series where we turn the tables on the torturers. Under the spotlight this time is the former maths professor Jason Crampton, AKA Jack and Serpent
November 2021
Crossword blog: checking in with … Tramp: ‘I’m never satisfied’
He’s been setting Guardian crosswords for 10 years, so it’s time to catch up with Neil Walker, AKA Tramp
September 2021
Meet the crossword setter, Phi: ‘Each clue should be a little story’
In this series, we turn the tables on the torturers. Under the spotlight this time is Paul Henderson, AKA Phi
August 2021
Meet the crossword setter, plant scientist Soup: ‘A successful clue needs pith and, ideally, humour’
The latest in our series where we turn the tables on the torturers. Under the spotlight this time is the insect pollination expert Hamish Symington, AKA Soup
July 2021
Meet the crossword setter Anto – ‘I just had to get my street name back’
The latest in our series where we turn the tables on the torturers. Under the spotlight this time is Tony Davis, AKA Anto
June 2021
Meet the crossword setter Carpathian – ‘People say: you must be very clever’
The latest in our series where we turn the tables on the torturers. Under the spotlight this time is Victoria Godfrey, AKA Carpathian
May 2021
Crossword blog: Meet the Setter – TV’s Dave Gorman, standup comic with a cryptic alter ego
The latest in our series where we turn the tables on the torturers. Under the spotlight this time is Dave Gorman, AKA Bluth and Django
April 2021
Crossword blog: Meet the setter – Hectence
The latest in our series where we turn the tables on the torturers. Under the spotlight this time is Wendy Law, AKA Hectence
March 2021
Crossword blog: meet the Setter – Tees
The latest in our series where we turn the tables on the torturers. Under the spotlight this time is Paul Bringloe, AKA Tees
December 2020
Crossword blog: Meet the setter – Vulcan
The latest in our series where we turn the tables on the torturers. Under the spotlight this time is Richard Browne, AKA Vulcan (and others)
August 2020
Crossword blog: Meet the setter – Vlad
The latest in our series where we turn the tables on the torturers. Under the spotlight this time is Jim Toal, AKA Vlad
June 2020
Crossword blog: meet the setter – Encota
The latest in our series where we turn the tables on the torturers. Under the spotlight this time is Encota, AKA Tim King
February 2019
Meet the setter: Cullen/Smurf
The latest in our series where we turn the tables on the torturers. Under the spotlight this time is Cullen, AKA Bob Gregory
November 2018
Crossword blog: Meet the Setter – Navy
The latest in our series where we turn the tables on the torturers. Under the spotlight this time is Navy, AKA Lucy Evans
September 2018
Crossword blog: Meet the Setter – Azed
The latest in our series where we turn the tables on the torturers. Under the spotlight this time is Jonathan Crowther, AKA Azed
June 2018
Crossword blog: Meet the Setter – Marc Breman
Here, we usually look at puzzles from the broadsheets. There is of course another world of newspaper crosswords, and the tabloids’ cryptics tend to be looser in their wordplay. Marc Breman has set for papers including the Mirror and the Express
