Charlie Methven
@charliemethven.bsky.social
I set cryptic crosswords as Methuselah and Chameleon and write questions for Only Connect • charliemethven.com • he/him
Reposted by Charlie Methven
To be clear it was the people who *didn't* get a copy that were disappointed.
The ‘DON’T MISS OUT’ part is very real!
Issue 1 actually did sell out and some folk ended up disappointed…
Issue 1 actually did sell out and some folk ended up disappointed…
Thanks to everyone who's pre-ordered a copy of Issue 2 (out in January) - we've raised enough money to cover printing already!
If you've not ordered yours yet DON'T MISS OUT - go to unchcrosswords.com and secure a copy now.
#Cryptic #Crosswords #CrypticCrosswords
If you've not ordered yours yet DON'T MISS OUT - go to unchcrosswords.com and secure a copy now.
#Cryptic #Crosswords #CrypticCrosswords
December 1, 2025 at 7:01 PM
To be clear it was the people who *didn't* get a copy that were disappointed.
From a May 25 Methuselah:
The first day of advent’s flipping cold (4)
🥶❄🌨
The first day of advent’s flipping cold (4)
🥶❄🌨
December 1, 2025 at 7:04 PM
From a May 25 Methuselah:
The first day of advent’s flipping cold (4)
🥶❄🌨
The first day of advent’s flipping cold (4)
🥶❄🌨
Reposted by Charlie Methven
Who would've thought a pseudonym could lead to Sunday poem?
November 30, 2025 at 10:37 PM
Who would've thought a pseudonym could lead to Sunday poem?
Reposted by Charlie Methven
I'm very excited about the excellent puzzles we've got lined up for Issue 2, coming out in January.
Setters this time will be:
ALP
Gennaro
Catnip
The Void
Heron
Ruskin
Umpire
Crenditi
Bard
Henri
That's 8 standard cryptics, an alphabetical jigsaw, and a barred thematic. Fun!
unchcrosswords.com
Setters this time will be:
ALP
Gennaro
Catnip
The Void
Heron
Ruskin
Umpire
Crenditi
Bard
Henri
That's 8 standard cryptics, an alphabetical jigsaw, and a barred thematic. Fun!
unchcrosswords.com
Unch Crossword Magazine
Unch, the clued-up crossword magazine
unchcrosswords.com
November 29, 2025 at 4:31 PM
I'm very excited about the excellent puzzles we've got lined up for Issue 2, coming out in January.
Setters this time will be:
ALP
Gennaro
Catnip
The Void
Heron
Ruskin
Umpire
Crenditi
Bard
Henri
That's 8 standard cryptics, an alphabetical jigsaw, and a barred thematic. Fun!
unchcrosswords.com
Setters this time will be:
ALP
Gennaro
Catnip
The Void
Heron
Ruskin
Umpire
Crenditi
Bard
Henri
That's 8 standard cryptics, an alphabetical jigsaw, and a barred thematic. Fun!
unchcrosswords.com
Reposted by Charlie Methven
Here's the latest vintage Methuselah to be brought up from the cellar to MyCrossword mycrossword.co.uk/cryptic/2893
🦜Parrot not quite as dead as a dodo? (7)
🥇Olympians possibly left out of medals (4)
🐞Insect to go slowly and then go quickly (9)
🏥Trouble with flies? A&E fixed up nether region (4,6)
🦜Parrot not quite as dead as a dodo? (7)
🥇Olympians possibly left out of medals (4)
🐞Insect to go slowly and then go quickly (9)
🏥Trouble with flies? A&E fixed up nether region (4,6)
November 26, 2025 at 9:45 PM
Here's the latest vintage Methuselah to be brought up from the cellar to MyCrossword mycrossword.co.uk/cryptic/2893
🦜Parrot not quite as dead as a dodo? (7)
🥇Olympians possibly left out of medals (4)
🐞Insect to go slowly and then go quickly (9)
🏥Trouble with flies? A&E fixed up nether region (4,6)
🦜Parrot not quite as dead as a dodo? (7)
🥇Olympians possibly left out of medals (4)
🐞Insect to go slowly and then go quickly (9)
🏥Trouble with flies? A&E fixed up nether region (4,6)
A great spot in Wednesday's FT puzzle by Io (which I found a bit less tough than normal):
Old President Trump cultivating a smaller behind (4)
Old President Trump cultivating a smaller behind (4)
November 27, 2025 at 12:13 AM
A great spot in Wednesday's FT puzzle by Io (which I found a bit less tough than normal):
Old President Trump cultivating a smaller behind (4)
Old President Trump cultivating a smaller behind (4)
Here's the latest vintage Methuselah to be brought up from the cellar to MyCrossword mycrossword.co.uk/cryptic/2893
🦜Parrot not quite as dead as a dodo? (7)
🥇Olympians possibly left out of medals (4)
🐞Insect to go slowly and then go quickly (9)
🏥Trouble with flies? A&E fixed up nether region (4,6)
🦜Parrot not quite as dead as a dodo? (7)
🥇Olympians possibly left out of medals (4)
🐞Insect to go slowly and then go quickly (9)
🏥Trouble with flies? A&E fixed up nether region (4,6)
November 26, 2025 at 9:45 PM
Here's the latest vintage Methuselah to be brought up from the cellar to MyCrossword mycrossword.co.uk/cryptic/2893
🦜Parrot not quite as dead as a dodo? (7)
🥇Olympians possibly left out of medals (4)
🐞Insect to go slowly and then go quickly (9)
🏥Trouble with flies? A&E fixed up nether region (4,6)
🦜Parrot not quite as dead as a dodo? (7)
🥇Olympians possibly left out of medals (4)
🐞Insect to go slowly and then go quickly (9)
🏥Trouble with flies? A&E fixed up nether region (4,6)
Reposted by Charlie Methven
Issue 2 available for (pre)sale now: unchcrosswords.com
November 26, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Issue 2 available for (pre)sale now: unchcrosswords.com
Marcel Proust's favourite football fixture: Swans (A)
November 25, 2025 at 12:45 PM
Marcel Proust's favourite football fixture: Swans (A)
Reposted by Charlie Methven
Dice is back - hope you enjoy!
Common ‘addiction’ somewhat symbolic of feeble-mindedness (6)
King Edward’s one dropping packaging rubbish (6)
Make time for first sighting of shark, maybe capturing it (3,2)
#cryptic #crossword
www.theguardian.com/crosswords/q...
Common ‘addiction’ somewhat symbolic of feeble-mindedness (6)
King Edward’s one dropping packaging rubbish (6)
Make time for first sighting of shark, maybe capturing it (3,2)
#cryptic #crossword
www.theguardian.com/crosswords/q...
Quick cryptic crossword No 86
Quick cryptic crossword No 86
www.theguardian.com
November 22, 2025 at 8:38 AM
Dice is back - hope you enjoy!
Common ‘addiction’ somewhat symbolic of feeble-mindedness (6)
King Edward’s one dropping packaging rubbish (6)
Make time for first sighting of shark, maybe capturing it (3,2)
#cryptic #crossword
www.theguardian.com/crosswords/q...
Common ‘addiction’ somewhat symbolic of feeble-mindedness (6)
King Edward’s one dropping packaging rubbish (6)
Make time for first sighting of shark, maybe capturing it (3,2)
#cryptic #crossword
www.theguardian.com/crosswords/q...
Reposted by Charlie Methven
For those who missed it yesterday (and who give a damn, obvs.) here's the link to my November #cryptic #crossword:
crossword.info/skirwingle/p...
Sample clue: Run through what traffic lights do (5)
crossword.info/skirwingle/p...
Sample clue: Run through what traffic lights do (5)
Crossword #80
crossword.info
November 22, 2025 at 7:35 AM
For those who missed it yesterday (and who give a damn, obvs.) here's the link to my November #cryptic #crossword:
crossword.info/skirwingle/p...
Sample clue: Run through what traffic lights do (5)
crossword.info/skirwingle/p...
Sample clue: Run through what traffic lights do (5)
Reposted by Charlie Methven
Cryptic crossword No 29,858
Cryptic crossword No 29,858
www.theguardian.com
November 21, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Lovely clue here... I love how it's almost Schrodinger's catty
Minute Cryptic - 21 November, 2025
"Small diamond rings upset love... you've done it now!" (6)
🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣
🏆 0 hints – 2 under the community par (9,800 solvers so far).
www.minutecryptic.com?utm_source=s...
Minute Cryptic - 21 November, 2025
"Small diamond rings upset love... you've done it now!" (6)
🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣
🏆 0 hints – 2 under the community par (9,800 solvers so far).
www.minutecryptic.com?utm_source=s...
Minute Cryptic
Solve a clue with a hidden meaning
www.minutecryptic.com
November 21, 2025 at 12:10 AM
Lovely clue here... I love how it's almost Schrodinger's catty
Minute Cryptic - 21 November, 2025
"Small diamond rings upset love... you've done it now!" (6)
🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣
🏆 0 hints – 2 under the community par (9,800 solvers so far).
www.minutecryptic.com?utm_source=s...
Minute Cryptic - 21 November, 2025
"Small diamond rings upset love... you've done it now!" (6)
🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣
🏆 0 hints – 2 under the community par (9,800 solvers so far).
www.minutecryptic.com?utm_source=s...
From the first Methuselah puzzle:
🚨Police leader probing strange deaths (3,8)
🚨Beaming traitor keeps lead from DI Fleming? (7)
🚨Superintendent sets example, arresting sucker (6)
🚨Bent coppers i.e. people in deep may be shown up by this (9)
mycrossword.co.uk/cryptic/487
🚨Police leader probing strange deaths (3,8)
🚨Beaming traitor keeps lead from DI Fleming? (7)
🚨Superintendent sets example, arresting sucker (6)
🚨Bent coppers i.e. people in deep may be shown up by this (9)
mycrossword.co.uk/cryptic/487
November 18, 2025 at 8:49 PM
From the first Methuselah puzzle:
🚨Police leader probing strange deaths (3,8)
🚨Beaming traitor keeps lead from DI Fleming? (7)
🚨Superintendent sets example, arresting sucker (6)
🚨Bent coppers i.e. people in deep may be shown up by this (9)
mycrossword.co.uk/cryptic/487
🚨Police leader probing strange deaths (3,8)
🚨Beaming traitor keeps lead from DI Fleming? (7)
🚨Superintendent sets example, arresting sucker (6)
🚨Bent coppers i.e. people in deep may be shown up by this (9)
mycrossword.co.uk/cryptic/487
Reposted by Charlie Methven
Ruby Wax has appeared in every episode of Taskmaster
May 20, 2025 at 1:32 PM
Ruby Wax has appeared in every episode of Taskmaster
It's funny that these are a) abbreviations and b) some of the largest letters you'll ever meet
November 17, 2025 at 9:54 PM
It's funny that these are a) abbreviations and b) some of the largest letters you'll ever meet
I've put together this list of crossword abbreviations including explanations. I'd love to correct any errors/gaps (it'd be nice if the first explanation on the list wasn't "no idea").
2- and 3-letter abbreviations coming at some point
charliemethven.com/abbreviations
2- and 3-letter abbreviations coming at some point
charliemethven.com/abbreviations
Crosswords by Charlie Methven
charliemethven.com
November 15, 2025 at 12:47 PM
I've put together this list of crossword abbreviations including explanations. I'd love to correct any errors/gaps (it'd be nice if the first explanation on the list wasn't "no idea").
2- and 3-letter abbreviations coming at some point
charliemethven.com/abbreviations
2- and 3-letter abbreviations coming at some point
charliemethven.com/abbreviations
Another old Methuselah is reborn at MyCrossword mycrossword.co.uk/cryptic/2851
Featuring:
Charlie more or less gets through drunken toast without slurring (8)
Solver repeatedly excoriated Methuselah cryptic (6)
as well as clues with no autobiographal component
Featuring:
Charlie more or less gets through drunken toast without slurring (8)
Solver repeatedly excoriated Methuselah cryptic (6)
as well as clues with no autobiographal component
Cryptic crossword No 2,851 · MyCrossword
Solve Cryptic crossword No 2,851 on MyCrossword. 15x15 grid with 29 clues by Methuselah. Published Fri 14 Nov 2025. Features annotated solutions and special instructions. Free to solve online.
mycrossword.co.uk
November 14, 2025 at 11:11 AM
Another old Methuselah is reborn at MyCrossword mycrossword.co.uk/cryptic/2851
Featuring:
Charlie more or less gets through drunken toast without slurring (8)
Solver repeatedly excoriated Methuselah cryptic (6)
as well as clues with no autobiographal component
Featuring:
Charlie more or less gets through drunken toast without slurring (8)
Solver repeatedly excoriated Methuselah cryptic (6)
as well as clues with no autobiographal component
Reposted by Charlie Methven
I wrote a blog post for @mycrossword.co.uk about how setters can identify and calibrate how difficult (or otherwise) their own puzzles are:
www.mycrossword.co.uk/blog/the-dif...
If you’re a setter, an aspiring setter or just curious as to how these things work - give it 4 minutes of your time! 😊
www.mycrossword.co.uk/blog/the-dif...
If you’re a setter, an aspiring setter or just curious as to how these things work - give it 4 minutes of your time! 😊
The Difficulty Dial · MyCrossword
As a cryptic crossword setter you don't always know exactly how difficult or otherwise your own puzzle is - they're all easy when you know the answers! And e...
www.mycrossword.co.uk
November 11, 2025 at 5:11 PM
I wrote a blog post for @mycrossword.co.uk about how setters can identify and calibrate how difficult (or otherwise) their own puzzles are:
www.mycrossword.co.uk/blog/the-dif...
If you’re a setter, an aspiring setter or just curious as to how these things work - give it 4 minutes of your time! 😊
www.mycrossword.co.uk/blog/the-dif...
If you’re a setter, an aspiring setter or just curious as to how these things work - give it 4 minutes of your time! 😊
Reposted by Charlie Methven
ADAM AND EVE (Anagrammed Lines)
Adam and Eve in God's garden:
So ragged and damned naïve.
Gave a song, minded an adder,
and envisaged Armageddon.
(Dogma and sin ravaged Eden
and God — and gave Man desire.)
Adam and Eve in God's garden:
So ragged and damned naïve.
Gave a song, minded an adder,
and envisaged Armageddon.
(Dogma and sin ravaged Eden
and God — and gave Man desire.)
November 2, 2025 at 9:02 AM
ADAM AND EVE (Anagrammed Lines)
Adam and Eve in God's garden:
So ragged and damned naïve.
Gave a song, minded an adder,
and envisaged Armageddon.
(Dogma and sin ravaged Eden
and God — and gave Man desire.)
Adam and Eve in God's garden:
So ragged and damned naïve.
Gave a song, minded an adder,
and envisaged Armageddon.
(Dogma and sin ravaged Eden
and God — and gave Man desire.)
I'd told myself I wouldn't flog the(un)dead horse of my 2021 Halloween cryptic this year, but The i Paper have only gone and reprinted it. But will it be a 24 or a 24?
October 31, 2025 at 4:31 PM
I'd told myself I wouldn't flog the(un)dead horse of my 2021 Halloween cryptic this year, but The i Paper have only gone and reprinted it. But will it be a 24 or a 24?
Back to my old tricks in the Indy puzzles.independent.co.uk/games/crypti...
🤖 Chatbot plugged by social media site exposed home truth (5)
🧲 Villages beginning to hoard lucky charms, but not horseshoe (7)
👨🌾 Half-cut gardener wearing his wife’s skirt (5)
🤢 Quite sour converts like Reform rosettes (9)
🤖 Chatbot plugged by social media site exposed home truth (5)
🧲 Villages beginning to hoard lucky charms, but not horseshoe (7)
👨🌾 Half-cut gardener wearing his wife’s skirt (5)
🤢 Quite sour converts like Reform rosettes (9)
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.
puzzles.independent.co.uk
October 30, 2025 at 8:57 AM
Back to my old tricks in the Indy puzzles.independent.co.uk/games/crypti...
🤖 Chatbot plugged by social media site exposed home truth (5)
🧲 Villages beginning to hoard lucky charms, but not horseshoe (7)
👨🌾 Half-cut gardener wearing his wife’s skirt (5)
🤢 Quite sour converts like Reform rosettes (9)
🤖 Chatbot plugged by social media site exposed home truth (5)
🧲 Villages beginning to hoard lucky charms, but not horseshoe (7)
👨🌾 Half-cut gardener wearing his wife’s skirt (5)
🤢 Quite sour converts like Reform rosettes (9)
Here's a new Mini crossword from me mycrossword.co.uk/mini/159
Featuring:
See very last supporter behaving thus? (7)
Crosswording authority sadly nixes me (7)
Hue and cry? (6)
Featuring:
See very last supporter behaving thus? (7)
Crosswording authority sadly nixes me (7)
Hue and cry? (6)
Mini crossword No 159 · MyCrossword
Solve Mini crossword No 159 on MyCrossword. 7x7 grid with 8 clues by Chameleon. Published Wed 29 Oct 2025. Features annotated solutions. Free to solve online.
mycrossword.co.uk
October 29, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Here's a new Mini crossword from me mycrossword.co.uk/mini/159
Featuring:
See very last supporter behaving thus? (7)
Crosswording authority sadly nixes me (7)
Hue and cry? (6)
Featuring:
See very last supporter behaving thus? (7)
Crosswording authority sadly nixes me (7)
Hue and cry? (6)