Crossword Help Forum
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Malone, thanks for the confirmation. I'm in awe of the ingenuity that goes into these complexed barred puzzles. The grid-fill and clueing require skill enough, but the hidden messages and patterns, and substituting words that still make sense... incredible.

Kirky, thanks for the prize info.

Deslyxic, have you tried the Inquisitor, another themed crossword? It used to be in the Independent (on a Saturday) and is now in the 'i' (on a Saturday). It's often tough, but it's usually ingenious. I don't always finish it, but I always enjoy the struggle. Last Saturday's was terrific - a bit of a challenge, but great fun and, ultimately, very rewarding.

The 'i' costs only 60 pence, so maybe worth a try?

Will try it some time - maybe not this weekend because there's an Azed competition puzzle coming up that might be a time-consumer - thanks for the recommendation. I think that's the only barred one I haven't done now, having finished a Listener puzzle a few weeks ago (the relatively easy Bohemian Rhapsody one, admittedly!).
I think the i is missing a trick by continuing to print old Independent crosswords, especially as The Inquisitor move seems to have been a success. Why not print the ones that are currently online on The Independent's site? It wouldn't cost that much more in setters' fees, and I think it would definitely boost sales. (The fact that the Saturday i puzzle has a DAB radio as a prize, yet the answers can easily be found by googling a clue that will lead you to an old blog at fifteensquared.net with all the answers is ridiculous.) I don't 'alf go on, don't I? :-D