Independent Cryptic #12256

2026-01-19

Solve on Independent →

Across

1a

Chicken or fish sandwiches campaign (6)

flowerflowerflower
4a

Potentially exams for American agents learner passes to get headgear (7)

Generating...

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

ORA [L] S could be tests for FED s (American agents) without the L (learner passes)

9a

Locksmith who's valued for their trade? (9)

flowerflowerflower
10a

Bill loves talking about death among other things (5)

flowerflowerflower
11a

Sound setter makes with sympathetic exclamation (4)

Generating...

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

I think this is a double definition, though, if so, the second one is unfamiliar to me. I think Hovis @1 probably has it right – W (with) + OOF (a sympathetic exclamation, eg after someone has a fall)

12a

Reporter of latest music captivating hearts (9)

Generating...

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

NEW + SOUND around (captivating) H

14a

Face paying tribute to mind (9)

flowerflowerflower
16a

Journey uncovered groups of lions (4)

Generating...

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

Removal of first and last letters (uncovered) from [p] RIDE [s]

18a

Liberal following party line is plaything (4)

flowerflowerflower
20a

Release articles in Paris about small journalist (9)

Generating...

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

UN and LE (articles in French, so Paris) around S (small) HACK . Great clue!

23a

Start of transmission where ad's naughty? (9)

Generating...

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

Anagram (naughty) of T (start of transmission) WHERE ADS , solution referring to the 9pm ‘watershed’ in British broadcasting after which more adult content was permitted. Is this still a thing in the age of streaming? Either way, it’s an &lit

25a

Tight muscular arms twisting (4)

flowerflowerflower
27a

Capital where one is part of furniture (5)

Generating...

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

Insertion (is part of) of I (one) in SOFA

28a

Return of high temperature breaks my pool facing sudden pressure (9)

Generating...

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

Reversal (return) of HT (high temperature) inside (breaks) ONE’S POT (my pool)

29a

One's abusing no end of that dope? (7)

flowerflowerflower
30a

Retire from position at last occupying Italian city (6)

flowerflowerflower

Down

1d

Easy task to stir sealant for Spooner (8)

Generating...

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

Spoonerism of ‘wake’ (stir) ‘cork’ (sealant). Or, as DavidO @2 suggests, ‘caulk’ for the sealant. That’s sounds more likely to me than ‘cork’

2d

Good job to deliver step of cheese making process? (7)

Generating...

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

Soundalike (to deliver) of ‘Whey to go’, ie separation of curds from whey

3d

Topless husband soon finding place to stay for the night (4)

Generating...

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

[g] ROOM (topless husband soon)

4d

Dismiss Labour's angry outburst (9)

Generating...

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

FIRE + WORK’S

5d

Clean up the cat turd spread on everyone? (10)

flowerflowerflower
6d

Heart of crew stuck together in post break-up period (7)

flowerflowerflower
7d

Quiet eccentric loses it lacking quality (6)

Generating...

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

SH + ODD [it] Y (eccentric loses ‘it’)

8d

Hide task information in part (4)

flowerflowerflower
13d

Trouble crowding hill ahead of cheese rolling custom (10)

Generating...

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

Insertion (crowding) of AIL (trouble) into TOR (hill) + reversal (rolling) of EDAM

15d

Let's hope for good luck and skill with golf club (9)

flowerflowerflower
17d

Raise daughters essentially 8 and 10 sharing time between them (8)

Generating...

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

H (middle letter – essentially – of daughters) + EIGHT + TEN but with only one T (sharing time between them)

19d

Drunk head of organisation wears suit (7)

Generating...

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

Insertion (wears) of O (head of Organisation) in OUTFIT (suit)

21d

Family doctor at work's most important member of the team (7)

flowerflowerflower
22d

Now surprisingly son appearing in court comes clean (6)

flowerflowerflower
24d

Responsibility to pick up condensation with hot drink (4)

Generating...

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

Soundalike (to pick up) of ‘dew’ and ‘tea’

26d

Premier League team taking American out for English food at restaurant (4)

Generating...

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

M A N U (Manchester United, Premier League team) with the A (American) swapped for E (English)