Where do setters begin?

We sit down with Azed and Gemelo to find out how they create their crosswords

The Observer sat down with Azed himself, Jonathan Crowther, for his first video interview with us. We visited Jonathan at his home, spending time in his study and garden, talking about 52 years of setting puzzles and what goes into creating the crossword that crossword compilers love most.

Jonathan is now 83, and after five decades of setting a puzzle every single week without missing a weekend, he’s brought on a fellow compiler to share the month with him. Meet Gemelo, our newest Observer setter.

In this video, Azed and Gemelo reveal something surprising: they both start building their crosswords in exactly the same place. Ever wondered where setters begin? Do they write clues first? Pick the answers? The truth might not be what you expect.

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