Newsroom
The Observer Puzzle Centenary
Invited experts
Caitlin O'Kane
Caitlin O'Kane
Join us in The Observer newsroom for a very special evening marking 100 years of puzzling - a century since the first crossword appeared in our pages.
Caitlin O’Kane, The Observer's first dedicated Puzzles Editor, and Jonathan Crowther (Azed), the paper’s legendary crossword setter, will be joined by a panel of fellow setters, word-lovers and long-time readers to explore the peculiar joys, shifting styles and enduring fascination of Britain’s favourite word game.
From the invention of the cryptic to the rise of the modern brainteaser, they’ll unpack the secrets of their craft - what makes a clue sing, how setters think, and why a good puzzle keeps us hooked. Expect lively chat, unexpected revelations, and at least one enigma that demands to be cracked.
Raise a glass, meet other aficionados, and celebrate a century of wit, wordplay and ingenuity with the people keeping The Observer’s puzzling spirit alive.
Invited experts
Caitlin O'Kane
Caitlin O'Kane
Join us in The Observer newsroom for a very special evening marking 100 years of puzzling - a century since the first crossword appeared in our pages.
Caitlin O’Kane, The Observer's first dedicated Puzzles Editor, and Jonathan Crowther (Azed), the paper’s legendary crossword setter, will be joined by a panel of fellow setters, word-lovers and long-time readers to explore the peculiar joys, shifting styles and enduring fascination of Britain’s favourite word game.
From the invention of the cryptic to the rise of the modern brainteaser, they’ll unpack the secrets of their craft - what makes a clue sing, how setters think, and why a good puzzle keeps us hooked. Expect lively chat, unexpected revelations, and at least one enigma that demands to be cracked.
Raise a glass, meet other aficionados, and celebrate a century of wit, wordplay and ingenuity with the people keeping The Observer’s puzzling spirit alive.