Independent Cryptic #12241

2026-01-01

Solve on Independent →

Across

1a
12a

(and 12 Across) Unusual oldish adult patter in Alf’s vehicle on the box (4,5,2,2,4)

Generating...
6a

Geoff’s hat-trick, underlining rich sporting talent from the outset (5)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

First letters (from the outset) of H [at-trick] U [nderlining] R [ich] S [porting] T [alent]. Extended definition: England footballer Geoff Hurst was the first player ever to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final, in the 1966 win against West Germany.

9a

One who saved lenders (5)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

Double definition. Former England goalkeeper Gordon Banks = a player who saved goals; or financial institutions that lend money.

10a

Song of Catalan club (part) (9)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

BARCA (Barça = short name for the Catalan football club FC Barcelona) + ROLE (a part in a play). Also spelled barcarolle: a traditional folk song associated with Venetian gondoliers, or a piece of music in a similar “rocking” slow 6/8 tempo.

11a

Alf’s magnificent success initially in year recalled (6)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

First letters (initially) of M [agnificent] S [uccess], inserted into YEAR reversed (recalled). Extended definition: Sir Alf Ramsey started as England football manager in 1963 and was in charge for the 1966 World Cup victory.

12a

See 1 Across

14a

Hurry away after end of job, refusing to talk? (5-3)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

RUSH OFF (hurry away) after the end letter of [jo] B . Brush-off = slang for a refusal to engage in conversation with someone.

16a

Centre of attention following firm’s return to America (5)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

F (abbreviation for following), then CO (short for company or corporation = firm = business organisation) reversed (return), then US (America).

19a

Referring to hooter, space guys livid at first (5)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

NASA (abbreviation for the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration = space guys) + first letter of L [ivid]. Hooter = slang for nose; nasal = relating to the nose.

21a

Weapon record of four (8)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

Double definition. A multiple-shot handgun; or the title of an album by the Beatles (the “Fab Four”).

24a

Open in relation to king’s programme (4,4)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

START (open, as a verb = begin) + RE (in relation to) + K (abbreviation for king). TV sci-fi programme.

27a

At first some take up commercial construction of building material (6)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

Initial letters (at first) of S [ome] T [ake] U [p] C [ommercial] C [onstruction] O [f]. Traditional building material, used either as a surface coating or between strips of timber in “lath and plaster” construction.

29a

Hours entertained by girls you fancy in mischievously playful way (9)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

H (abbreviation for hours), contained in (entertained by) an anagram (fancy) of GIRLS YOU .

30a

Moved fast, say, on return in large open area (5)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

RAN (moved fast), then EG (say = for example) reversed (on return). A large area of land used for grazing livestock, as in the US folksong Home on the Range .

31a

Captain producing extra, with repeated love (5)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

MORE (extra), with the O (zero = love in tennis scoring) repeated. Bobby Moore, captain of the England football team who won the 1966 World Cup.

32a

Brothers in Athletic club succeeded (9)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

CHARLTON (the London football club Charlton Athletic) + S (abbreviation for succeeded). The footballing brothers Jack and Bobby Charlton.

Down

1d

Jacket cheers poet (6)

flowerflowerflower
2d

They’re easily noticed, birds with plumage in centre brought in (9)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

LARKS (birds), containing (. . . brought in) AND (with) + centre letter of [plu] M [age].

3d

Gets rid of wretched spiels after reread in the end (7)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

Anagram (wretched) of SPIELS after the end letter of [rerea] D .

4d

Priest seen in cabbearded (4)

flowerflowerflower
5d

Singers missing startGod! (5)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

[c] HORUS (a group of singers) without the starting letter. Ancient Egyptian god.

6d

Avoid Anne Boleyn’s fate (4,3)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

Double definition. To divert away from a collision course, either literally or metaphorically (for example to head off an argument by changing the subject); or the fate of Anne Boleyn who was beheaded.

7d

Perhaps red port city, Germanyes (5)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

RIO (short for Rio de Janeiro = port city in Brazil) + JA (German word for yes). Wine from the Rioja region of Spain: it’s best known for red wine (“red” for short) but also produces white wine, hence the “perhaps”.

8d

Pleasant surprise, one’s first to edit thoughtful work (8)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

TREAT (a pleasant surprise) + I’S (one’s) + first letter of E [dit]. A formal and systematic piece of writing about a particular topic, so a piece that the writer has to think hard about.

13d

Gloomy party you’re texting (4)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

DO (slang for a party) + UR (abbreviation for “you are” = “you’re” in text messages).

15d

Cardinal on rise provided volume after vacation (4)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

IF (provided = on the condition that) reversed (on the rise = upwards in a down clue), then V [olum] E (on vacation = after emptying = with the inner letters removed). A cardinal number.

17d

Belief unfinished scene must be included in artistic passage (9)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

CREDO (a belief), including SCEN [e] without the last letter (unfinished). A passage of music that gradually gets louder (from the Italian word for growing or increasing).

18d

Unit worry over resistance award (8)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

ANGST (worry) before (over, in a down clue) R (abbreviation for electrical resistance) + OM (abbreviation for Order of Merit = award). Unit used to express the wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation (one ten thousand millionth of a metre), named after the Swedish physicist Anders Jonas Ångström.

20d

Type of window in small attic extension (7)

flowerflowerflower
22d

Free, having time for book, not imaginative (7)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

LI [b] ERAL (free = generous or not restrictive), with T (abbreviation for time) instead of B (abbreviation for book).

23d

Wind blast, not final, arose at sea (6)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

B [last] without LAST (final), then an anagram (at sea = shaken up) of AROSE . The Greek god of the north wind, or a personification of the north wind.

25d

Element of flag group is trouble (5)

flowerflowerflower
26d

Turning up full of hubris in the beginning, refer to moral belief (5)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

CITE (refer to), containing (full of) the beginning letter of H [ubris], all reversed (turning up, in a down clue).

28d

Flier many recollected (4)

flowerflowerflower