It’s an all-Scottish menu in our pick of the best of the broadsheets’ cryptic clues
In the sample clues below, the links take you to explainers from our beginners’ series. The setter’s name often links to an interview with him or her, in case you feel like getting to know these people better.
2d Tie French plaits up originally (2,3,5,5)
[ definition: originally ]
[ wordplay: anagram (‘up’ meaning excited) of TIEFRENCHPLAITS ]
10aIt ensures well-rounded character votes for Boris? (9)
[ definition: what a writer creates for characters ]
[ wordplay: synonym for ‘supports Conservative’ (‘votes for Boris’) ]
8d Bizarre ban – all I must eat’s a Scotch egg, some claimed (11,4)
[ definition: what some claimed a Scotch egg was example of ]
[ wordplay: anagram of (‘bizarre’) BANALLIMUSTEATS ]
2d Six-footer humming middle of sestet in key’s first error (5,3)
[ definition: six-footed creature that hums ]
[ central letters (‘middle’) of SESTET + IN (‘in’) + first letter of KEY + synonym for ‘error’ ]
[ ST + IN + K + BUG ]