Crossword Help Forum
Forum Rules

thanks for the hint. I'm still baffled after staring at it all week. I had written down all the clues I thought were thematic and seen nothing. Then I saw from recent posts that some of the unaltered answers were part of it which I hadn't considered but I still think I'm beaten. Great crossword though.
Thanks to all the contributors. Think it's over 10 years since I last posted.
Stephen

Am I alone in thinking the Guardian is being very slow in announcing the outcome of the May 2026 bonus Genius that marked the 30,000th Guardian Cryptic (closing date 30 May)? The message in the trail of breadcrumbs over 18 months described it as "a cerebral race" with "a wonderful prize."
The Guardian Crossword Editor's blog of 2 June (https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/crossword-blog/2026/jun/02/crossword-editors-desk-celebrating-30000-cryptics-with-a-treasure-hunt) explained the breadcrumb trail and promised "winner details to follow", before going on to discuss the solution to the regular May Genius (No. 275), but not of the bonus one. The winner of No. 275 has been announced.
The next Editor's blog of 6 July (https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/crossword-blog/2026/jul/06/crossword-editors-desk-farewell-to-eddie) discussed the solution to the June Genius 276 (winner not yet announced), but was also silent on the May bonus one.
What's going on? I think we should be told.

Twit, You are not alone.

I keep coming back to this.

There's something afoot.

So much effort went into the preamble, and so little into the podium and the post-match.

It was so clearly a race, but, like you, I'm waiting for the chequered flag and champagne shower.

Somebody must have got there first...

Ahem.... Insider trading? Shenanigans?? Or is the saga ongoing???