Independent Cryptic #12295

2026-03-05

Solve on Independent →

Across

1a

Politicians in London broadcast across German city (7)

Generating...

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

GLA (Greater London Authority; politicians in London) + ( SOW [broadcast] containing [across] G [German])

5a

Money taken from country club certainly not brought back (7)

Generating...

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

( EU [European Union, a club of countries; country club] + NEVER [certainly not]) all reversed (brought back)

9a

Cabinet fought over housing many times (5)

flowerflowerflower
10a

Years after one who might be [Educating Rita Betrayal] 's lead features in (9)

Generating...

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

( R [f irst letter of {head of} R ita] contained in [features in] TEACHER [one who might be educating]) + Y (year)

11a

Artist occupying lodgings following old lady runs carnival (9)

Generating...

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

( MA (mother; old lady) + R (runs) + RA (Royal Academician; artist) contained in (occupying) DIGS (lodgings)

12a

Eggs prepared - that is always lacking in English dish (5)

Generating...

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

RO e S (masses of fish eggs) + I e (id est; that is) excluding all occurrences of (always lacking) the letter E (English) – I think ‘prepared’ is just a link word to ensure that ‘is’ is the appropriate verb in the clue

13a

Play guitar tense pale and close to crying (5)

flowerflowerflower
15a

A new singer avoiding current presenter (9)

Generating...

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

A + N (new) + CHO i RMAN (singer) excluding (avoiding) I (electric current)

18a

American recalled a woman's love for comic character (9)

Generating...

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

US (United States; American) reversed (recalled) + PER (each, a) + HERO (in Greek mythology, HERO was a female priestess loved by Leander) – I would have thought that HERO was Leander’s love [a man’s love] while Leander would have been HERO ‘s love [the woman’s love] but no doubt I am missing something.

19a

Slightly damage second part of shirt (5)

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21a

Left with novel proposition (5)

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23a

Notwithstanding fines I opt to get wrecked (9)

flowerflowerflower
25a

One's scored highly against test upon leaving institute (9)

flowerflowerflower
26a

Gloomy song for one free to return (5)

Generating...

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

( E.G. [for example; for one] + RID [free]) all reversed (to return)

27a

Area chief stopping New York's state of lawlessness (7)

Generating...

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

A (area) + ( NY [New York] containing [stopping] ARCH [chief])

28a

Expressionless and very plain oddly (7)

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Down

1d

Ring woman in Paris entertained by filth (7)

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2d

Cruelly fed tramp a choking hazard (9)

Generating...

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

Anagram of (cruelly) FED TRAMP A

3d

Greens periodically supported by two brilliant people (5)

flowerflowerflower
4d

Washington police finally arresting target involved in scandal (9)

Generating...

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

( WA [abbreviation for Washington State in the USA] + E [ last letter of {finally} polic E ]) containing (arresting) an anagram of (involved) TARGET

5d

Once river has risen catches flightless birds (5)

Generating...

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

HEA R S (catches) with R (river) rising to the top of this down entry to form R HEAS

6d

I start to cry overwhelmed by thrashing saviour suffered for another (9)

Generating...

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

( I + C [ first letter of [start to] C ry]) contained in (overwhelmed by) an anagram of (thrashing) SAVIOUR

7d

Note European drug detective's obligations (5)

flowerflowerflower
8d

In literature delightful cathedral city's giant's content (7)

Generating...

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

ELY’S ( ELY is a Cathedral City in England; cathedral city’s) + IAN ( central letters of [content] g IAN t)

14d

Spice Girl and Irishman barely aged (9)

flowerflowerflower
16d

What are you doing about promise broken by Rachel's on-off partner? (9)

Generating...

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

( C [circa [about] + WORD [promise]) containing (broken by) ROSS (Rachel’s on-off partner in the US sitcom Friends)

17d

Unremarkable cheese matures drunk with port when half-cut (9)

flowerflowerflower
18d

Groups obsessed with ChatGPT perhaps set up country (7)

Generating...

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

AI CULTS (groups of people with an obsession relating to artificial intelligence) all reversed (set up; down entry)

20d

Rugby union team provided support after France beaten at last (7)

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22d

Group of intelligence analysts discontented about being subordinate to soldiers (5)

Generating...

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

MEN (soldiers) + AS (l etters remaining in A nalyst S a fter the central letters nalyst are removed [dis-contented]) reversed (about) and positioned under MEN in this down entry [subordinate to soldiers])

23d

Left captivated by my part of Scotland (5)

Generating...

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

L (left) contained in (captivated by) ( I SAY ! [gosh!; my!])

24d

In the military I help part of this country after revolution (5)

Generating...

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

( AID [help] + NI [Northern Ireland – part of the United Kingdom [this country]) all reversed (after revolution_