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Alan Connor

@alanconnor.bsky.social
457 followers 260 following 76 posts

www.alanconnor.com/log/ Author: 188 Words For Rain etc Screenwriter: Borat 2, The Rack Pack etc Compiler: Everyman, House of Games etc Jokes: HIGNFY, Brooker etc Editor: Guardian crossword

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Reposted by Alan Connor
Alys Cummings @alyseliza.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
If you listen to this latest episode of #OffGridPod you may well hear the familiar voice of a woman with a cryptic crime novel out soon…you’ll definitely hear chat about Bigfoot, soldiers, and Superman! @offgridpod.offgrid.tlmb.net.ap.brid.gy offgrid.tlmb.net/2026/09/27/c...
offgrid.tlmb.net
Chambers' Spin-off History - Ep. 081 - Off-Grid
We take a look at Chambers' Spin-off History, check the size of the footage, connect with a handshake before casting our capes to the wind.
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Susie Mesure @susiemesure.bsky.social · 18/09/2024
Cryptic fans might like this photo of my great-grandfather, Afrit, (A.F. Ritchie), the first of three early setters who helped to codify what became the golden rule of cryptic cluing: "I need not mean what I say, but I must say what I mean." (The dog is Caesar.)
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Nate Chinen @natechinen.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
Cassandra Wilson was one of our most gifted vocalists, just an unreal talent. Here is my obituary for NPR Music. (I believe I’ll also be on the broadcast later this evening.)
npr.org
Cassandra Wilson, Grammy-winning jazz vocalist, dies at 70
Wilson, who's deep, dark contralto was one of the most distinctive voices in jazz, died on Wednesday in her hometown of Jackson, Miss.
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ItIsStevenRhodes @400footghost.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
A fabulous book to lift off the shelf every so often and lose yourself in a bit of 80s time travel.
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PeterMF @petermoorefuller.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
My second Genius puzzle for @theguardian.com ⬛️⬜️⬛️⬜️⬛️⬜️ Thanks to @alanconnor.bsky.social for the slot. Lucy @henriwords.com and @mister-norm.bsky.social for testing. Looking forward to seeing what the solvers make of it… if that’s you - enjoy & good luck! 😁 www.theguardian.com/crosswords/2...
theguardian.com
Genius crossword No 278
Deadline for entries is 23:59 BST on Saturday 5 September
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Alan Connor @alanconnor.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
Q: Are you able to recover it from three dots or re-enable it in settings?
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Alan Connor @alanconnor.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
I will ask!
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Alan Connor @alanconnor.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
Cambazola. Cheese’s Asgard.
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Guinevere 🎲🎲 @guineverecryptic.bsky.social · 24/07/2026
Don’t miss this bundle of fun tomorrow! Excited! And there may be a little 🎲 in there too… 😁😁 #cryptic #crossword #puzzles
theguardian.com
Upgrade your downtime: the Guardian launches its Puzzles summer special
The Guardian announces its annual Puzzles summer special, a flagship 32-page print supplement designed to offer UK audiences a high-quality, engaging way to “upgrade their downtime” across the summer ...
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Alan Connor @alanconnor.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
www.theguardian.com/crosswords/2...
theguardian.com
Wendy Law obituary
Ingenious crossword setter who compiled the weekly quiptic in the Guardian under the pseudonym Hectence
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Charlie Methven @charliemethven.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
Cheer up, France, they save the really fun questions for the third-place play-off
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heroncrosswords.bsky.social @heroncrosswords.bsky.social · 12/07/2026
Turnstone is back in the Guardian Quiptic slot today! www.theguardian.com/crosswords/q...
theguardian.com
Quiptic crossword No 1,390
Quiptic crossword No 1,390
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Alys Cummings @alyseliza.bsky.social · 11/07/2026
Very pleased to be making my debut as Garson in the Guardian today 😊 www.theguardian.com/crosswords/q...
theguardian.com
Quick cryptic crossword No 119
Quick cryptic crossword No 119
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Raider @mycrossword.co.uk · 08/07/2026
No one did the "where does Noah keep his bees?" joke - smh. Anyway, here's the results... 🥇 @matthewcr.bsky.social 🥈 Osmanthus 🥉 @adamlp.bsky.social
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Alan Connor @alanconnor.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
I was hoping the six bulletin would explain what this means for Economy 7 meters controlled by long wave.
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Felicity Hannah @felicityhannah.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
Bittersweet to win Broadcast of the Year at Headlinemoney for Money Box Live tonight. Congratulations to the team, they are some of the best journalists I know.
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Dan Dickens @brockwellgrecian.bsky.social · 20/06/2026
I wrote today’s Guardian Prize crossword, for a best friend: 2x + x = y? (6,3) Pig bowl is her potty (9) Nameless casserole recipe for dog (7) www.theguardian.com/crosswords/p...
theguardian.com
Prize crossword No 30,038
Prize crossword No 30,038
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heroncrosswords.bsky.social @heroncrosswords.bsky.social · 06/06/2026
I’m back as Turnstone in the Guardian Quick Cryptic today. Anagrams, acrostics, hiddens and initial letter deletions. Do pop over and take a look!
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Alan Connor @alanconnor.bsky.social · 13/05/2026
www.theguardian.com/crosswords/c... has most of the links I think.
theguardian.com
Top 10 crosswords in fiction, no 1: The Simpsons
Top of our countdown of crosswords in film, TV, books and song: solvers of the New York Times puzzle get a surprise
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Alan Connor @alanconnor.bsky.social · 13/05/2026
I collect these and would love to know more.
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Groucho Merckx @grouchomerckx.eurosky.social · 09/05/2026
Anyway this is why cryptic crosswords are the highest art form yet devised by humanity, I will be accepting no dissenting opinions at this time
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Alan Connor @alanconnor.bsky.social · 09/05/2026
Wordle 1,785 2/6 ⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛ 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
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Alan Connor @alanconnor.bsky.social · 08/05/2026
It *is* live but the index takes a moment to refresh. Everyone will see it at the same time.
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Phil Gyford @phil.gyford.com · 07/05/2026
Betteridge's Law strikes again! But I always enjoy trying.
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Alan Connor @alanconnor.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
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Saganism @sagan.bsky.social · 11/04/2026
“Books are patient where we are slow to understand, allow us to go over the hard parts as many times as we wish, and are never critical of our lapses. Books are key to understanding the world and participating in a democratic society.” — Carl Sagan
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Steve @notadric.bsky.social · 11/04/2026
Nice Guardian Prize Crossword today from Kite - found this tricky at the start but enjoyed the theme www.theguardian.com/crosswords/p...
theguardian.com
Prize crossword No 29,978
Prize crossword No 29,978
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DJ Punctum @djpunctum.bsky.social · 06/04/2026
Laura bought it when it came out. Bit of a classic, esp. "Religious Persuasion" which should have been a monster hit.
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Chris Drew @mesnilman.bsky.social · 05/04/2026
What an absolute joy of an Easter Sunday Quiptic Cryptic crossword in The Grauniad by @guineverecryptic.bsky.social All done. And despite rumours to the contrary, I did it will no assistance from anyone I'm amicable with... www.theguardian.com/crosswords/q...
theguardian.com
Quiptic crossword No 1,376
Quiptic crossword No 1,376
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Alys Cummings @alyseliza.bsky.social · 31/03/2026
Very excited to be making my debut in the Indy today as Penelope 😊 puzzles.independent.co.uk/games/crypti...
puzzles.independent.co.uk
The Independent's Cryptic Crossword | Play Online for Free | Independent
Play The Independent's Cryptic Crossword instantly online. The Independent's Cryptic Crossword is a fun and engaging Online game from The Independent. Play it and other games from The Independent.
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Alan Connor @alanconnor.bsky.social · 30/03/2026
That's a bit eerie.
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Alan Connor @alanconnor.bsky.social · 29/03/2026
‘just’!?
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Alan Connor @alanconnor.bsky.social · 24/03/2026
*solver 👀
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Alan Connor @alanconnor.bsky.social · 24/03/2026
Ha ha! They’re genuinely my favourite type though as a silver I sometimes try to get them on definition alone, then check.
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Alan Connor @alanconnor.bsky.social · 23/03/2026
Quizzy Monday proposal. If production even suspects you have answered e.g. 'Smith' rather offering than a guess or a pass, a mandatory pickup. To replace 'Smith' you must say: 'I *know* this: the answer is Bo, the Portuguese Water Dog of the Obama White House'. That is what is broadcast.
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Alan Connor @alanconnor.bsky.social · 23/03/2026
Wordle 1,738 3/6 ⬛⬛🟩⬛🟨 🟩⬛⬛🟩⬛ 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
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Alan Connor @alanconnor.bsky.social · 22/03/2026
@theobserveruk.bsky.social
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Daniel Peake @quizzydan.bsky.social · 22/03/2026
Congrats! You don't look a day over 95. Long may the puzzles continue!
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Alan Connor @alanconnor.bsky.social · 22/03/2026
A bigger Everyman and 100 years of cryptic crosswords
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Dave Gorman @davegorman.bsky.social · 21/03/2026
I set today’s Guardian prize crossword: www.theguardian.com/crosswords/p... Clues include: Eco-friendly facts about drilling (5) Thrash a legal case for trial out - it’s iron-clad (10) Tense during drama initially directed like some soaps? (7) No spoilers, ta!
theguardian.com
Prize crossword No 29,960
Prize crossword No 29,960
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Alan Connor @alanconnor.bsky.social · 11/03/2026
The legal team has instructed me to save any further interaction for the courtroom.
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Alan Connor @alanconnor.bsky.social · 11/03/2026
Oho, what’s this then? Let’s have a wee solve…
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Alan Connor @alanconnor.bsky.social · 19/02/2026
youtu.be/yPyn7mu375I Prince Andrew piece from 2011:
youtu.be
17 10 O'Clock Live Charlie Brooker Segment 10th March 2011
YouTube video by Simon’s Warchest
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GPWigglesworth @gpwigglesworth.bsky.social · 17/02/2026
Packed out tonight at the Betsey Book Quiz. Great crowd, laughed at all the right bits & knew loads of answers. What more could I ask for? Next one is 17/03.
The betsey trotwood pub in Farringdon (upstairs room) full of people quizzing behind my big face.
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Giles Wilson @gillis49.bsky.social · 14/02/2026
Nice job from @alanconnor.bsky.social
theguardian.com
Rain, rain, go away: the peculiar British stoicism of ‘celebrating’ awful weather
Bizarre idioms for downpours are just one facet of how the UK uses dark humour and ritual to brave the wet
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Alan Connor @alanconnor.bsky.social · 12/02/2026
Someone doesn’t want to talk about it.
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Alan Connor @alanconnor.bsky.social · 25/01/2026
Haggis from Auchtertool Fife with roasted maple-agave neeps, whisky creme fraiche, parsley and caraway tattie scones and an orange, date, radish and rocket salad with an orange blossom dressing.
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Guinevere 🎲🎲 @guineverecryptic.bsky.social · 18/01/2026
Looking like another well-received debut in the Quiptic today from Budmo! Great to see newer solvers getting an accessible step up from the Quick Cryptics, I just love seeing people progressing on their cryptic journeys! #cryptic #crossword
theguardian.com
Quiptic crossword No 1,365
Quiptic crossword No 1,365
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I’m Dave Williams. You’re probably not @skirwingle.bsky.social · 17/01/2026
Security organization backing European nation's capital (4) #cryptic #crossword
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Alan Connor @alanconnor.bsky.social · 17/01/2026
Pick a vexillological lane, Google Featured Snippets.
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