The Telegraph and GCHQ will release a new cryptic crossword this week to mark the centenary of the first ever Telegraph crossword being published
Those able to solve this new cryptic crossword will be in with an opportunity to win an exclusive tour of Bletchley Park – GCHQ’s wartime home – for them and a guest as their prize. The crossword will be published on Saturday 2 August and the winners will be announced on Monday 11 August.
The most famous code-breaking exercise of them all was the cracking of the Enigma cipher by the team at Bletchley Park during the Second World War — a team which included members of the public, some of whom were recruited by virtue of being the quickest and most accurate solvers of the Daily Telegraph’s Crossword.
In 1941, a reader claimed in the paper’s letter column that they were able to solve the crossword in under 12 minutes. A challenge was then issued and in January 1942, 25 contestants met at The Telegraph’s offices to attempt to solve a previously unseen crossword within this time limit. Five contestants succeeded, and afterwards the War Office contacted competitors with a view to training them for code-breaking work at Bletchley Park.
As part of the Puzzles centenary celebration, The Telegraph will open its Puzzles vault and publish 30 of its best crosswords online from the last 100 years, including those from the time of the Moon landing, JFK’s assassination, the Wall Street financial crash and England’s World Cup win.
Between 28 July and 2 August, The Telegraph will also publish six vintage crosswords from its archive each day in the newspaper, each with an accompanying article explaining their historical significance.
New Puzzles subscribers will be able to sign up and play all the Telegraph’s collection of Puzzles free for 100 days as part of the celebrations to mark the centenary.
On 30th July, commuters at Waterloo station in London will be able to experience Telegraph Puzzles in action with members of the Puzzles team and the wider Telegraph newsroom.
Commenting, Chris Lancaster, puzzles editor at The Telegraph said: “Code-breaking and puzzles have been at the heart of British society for centuries and The Telegraph has a long and proud history of pioneering new and innovative formats — to amuse and inform.
“These days, you are as likely to be sitting next to someone on the train tackling the crossword on a phone as you are with a solver staring at the puzzle on the back page of the newspaper — but the challenge, and moment of satisfaction when everything becomes clear, remain the same.
“I am delighted that we have been able to collaborate on a new cryptic crossword with GCHQ to celebrate our centenary and as a tribute to our shared history.”
Colin, GCHQ’s chief puzzler said: “At GCHQ, puzzles are woven into our history – from the famous 1942 Daily Telegraph challenge that helped recruit brilliant minds to Bletchley Park, to the puzzle books and Christmas challenges we produce today which engage a whole new generation.
“The same creative thinking and pattern recognition skills that helped codebreakers during wartime remain essential to our modern mission, countering threats from nation states, criminal groups and terrorists, not least through the complex problems we solve today. Our success has always depended on having a mix of minds working together, bringing diverse perspectives to tackle challenges.
“I hope this crossword, with its GCHQ theme, offers both a challenge and a glimpse into the puzzle-solving mindset that remains essential to our work in keeping the nation safe. I also hope people enjoy it!”
