The Guardian has introduced a crossword compiler that stands out from the rest—he’s entirely fictional.
On a recent October morning, we discovered the intrigue surrounding the appearance of “Ludwig” in the grids of the Guardian’s cryptic crosswords. Was this simply a new name for a seasoned setter, or could it be a collaboration celebrating a musical milestone?
At the same time, David Mitchell’s character, John “Ludwig” Taylor, from BBC One, has been making more frequent appearances in social media and promotional clips. Known for his puzzle-solving skills and knack for unraveling mysteries, it raises the question: is this all just a coincidence?
However, it seems there’s more to the story. In the past year, while editing the Guardian’s crosswords, I’ve also taken on the quirky title of “puzzle consultant” for a whodunnit series. Initially, I thought this was a nod to my previous critiques of a puzzle featured in the film “Hot Fuzz,” which humorously showcased a crossword filled with more black squares than white!
As it turns out, the Ludwig team wanted their prop puzzles to be the real deal. If Ludwig was seen at his desk crafting a futoshiki, that puzzle had to be completely legitimate, with all numbers correctly positioned. This challenge prompted me to think like Ludwig, or at least give it my best shot.
Then I started to wonder: if Ludwig were indeed a Guardian setter, what kind of puzzles would he devise? I imagined one themed around astronomy, packed with some of the trickier clues commonly found in our crosswords. I shared this idea with Enigmatist, a fellow setter, and proposed we collaborate to give it Ludwig’s unique flair. He embraced the challenge effortlessly, channeling the thought processes of a brilliant yet unsuspecting detective.
I remain hopeful that Ludwig will appear in the Guardian again, perhaps even revealing a softer side. For now, though, he seems preoccupied with the unusually high homicide rate in the Cambridge area. And if you happen to spot the astronomy puzzle on screen, consider it a bonus!
During our recent clueing conference, I want to express my appreciation for your contributions to the clue for “SHANGHAI.” The runners-up included Dunnart’s clever cryptic definition, “Do this with a pinch of salt?” and Notgethithatonharry’s double definition, “City railroad.” However, the winner is Montano with the crafty clue, “Force Seaman to sign for City.”
We plan to post these challenges bi-weekly, so feel free to submit your entries for the next one: from Ludwig’s puzzle, how would you clue “STOKES”?
