Can you crack the 'world's hardest crossword'?

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One of London's top crossword compilers says he has devised the world’s hardest ever – which he claims will take two years to solve.

Marc Breman, 56, believes his cryptic creation will leave the most hardcore crossword fans feeling extremely down and cross.

He says the puzzle is 100 times harder than any he has made in 30 years making them for titles including the Daily Mirror, Daily Express and Sunday Telegraph.

Marc Breman Credit: SWNS

It includes 64 clues that are apparently virtually impossible for a layman to crack - regardless of their command of the English language.

Even easier clues – such as ‘Fuss about a large bear (6)’ – are said to be “significantly harder” than those found in most newspapers.

The crossword has even defied attempts of fellow compilers who described it as “horrendously tricky” and “the world’s hardest”.

Breman and his peers believe it would take the normal crossword fan at least two years - and possibly even longer - to complete it.

Breman, writes an average of 13,500 clues per year and has constructed more than 30,000 puzzles since 1991.

But the unprecedented difficulty of his latest crossword – which he devised for “fun” – lies in its linguistic wordplay, codes and numerous hidden meanings.> Its hardest clue is said to be ‘4 down’ – Dishonest, short of getting further at King's Head – because it “relies on an uncommon usage of an obscure word”.> Unlike straight crosswords, which can be solved with the help of a thesaurus or internet program, cryptic puzzles like this one can only be completed with experience and an ability to think laterally.> The first 10 people who crack it will receive a signed copy of his new book, ‘The Foggiest Notion’, which is itself based on a crossword puzzle.> They will also lay claim to completing what those in the industry overwhelmingly agree is the hardest cryptic crossword ever created.> Breman, who lives in London, said the average enthusiast takes around a week to fully complete the hardest cryptic crosswords currently on offer.

Here are the clues! Good luck!

Across

  • 1 Leave after finding nothing in big rambling empty space (4,6)

  • 6 Tolerate swimming in sea that tastes of tarragon (9)

  • 13 Exterminator has drink within Denmark's borders (5)

  • 14 Round a great deal, turning out hit that's within hearing (7)

  • 15 Some heat to cook rice, getting address in Spain back (7)

  • 16 People fail to perform with that woman's leaderless energy (8)

  • 17 Tiny bit hard, production being broadcast (6)

  • 18 American uncle has left grand in Wimbledon (4)

  • 21 Endless call to finish measurement system in the tube (6)

  • 23 Tune has audible pause and it slows down (3,5)

  • 25 Virtuoso pianist makes record, capturing mezzo's heart (5)

  • 27 Car blockade has husband running from Bonn to Berlin (8)

  • 29 Head of casting is apparent during whole film (4)

  • 31 Force redhead to leave ales out for sugar supplier... (7)

  • 35 ... while two presidents take one for water (5)

  • 36 Borderless land with musical backing gets an F, say (9)

  • 38 Mention missing British swimmer (5)

  • 39 Lost message initially not appearing in court (7)

  • 41 One wrapped in bacon, informally, often after chicken (4)

  • 42 Lack of cover not applicable to holiday-making, old excepted (8)

  • 44 Refrain, having renounced Catholic god (5)

  • 46 Rarest natural thing in a situation outside (8)

  • 48 The same time out taken by royal chief (6)

  • 51 Yorkshire flower of zero application (4)

  • 52 Supermarket's first poster is a simple thing (6)

  • 54 Renaissance figure reaches endgame with US subject (8)

  • 58 Played role wearing top, wasting second getting seafood (7)

  • 59 Dance, taking drug, joining large set (7)

  • 60 Follower rejected conclusion and hit organised religion (5)

  • 61 Is transported and held inside devil's workshop (4,5)

  • 62 Jellyfish swallowed gem formation that's often crystallised (4,6)

Down

  • 1 Writer, say, coming back with papers (4)

  • 2 During dance, he'll deploy carrier (7)

  • 3 Old rallying point in old TV series with no middle or end (5)

  • 4 Dishonest, short of getting further at King's Head (6)

  • 5 Scholarship got one a lot of land, formerly (8)

  • 7 Antipodean took cover during deployment of cane (7)

  • 8 Tommy is no mod, getting work as leader (4,5)

  • 9 Rod in scrap to get Lombardy crown (4)

  • 10 Heard title more in Paris - too much (7)

  • 11 Platform has no space for student or new conciseness (4)

  • 12 The trouble with growth is protection (6)

  • 19 Exploit terrible initial take-off during flight (8)

  • 20 Flirt, visiting first beach in the Costa Blanca (4,6)

  • 22 Going by coach with island head for professional purposes (2,8)

  • 24 What Nietzsche wrote about rates and capital (9)

  • 26 Cook foremost cuisine with leading playboy (4)

  • 28 Artist occupies avian property (5)

  • 30 Work hard to remove rut developing out of chaos (4)

  • 32 Almost a return to Atari's ultimate computers (5)

  • 33 They're collected from border in record time (8)

  • 34 Night, without a current replacement weapon (4)

  • 37 English drink not registered as Dutch export (4)

  • 40 Pizza supplier finds time right to race round during song (9)

  • 43 Drinking group gets rest to set broken foot (8)

  • 44 Fuss about a large bear (6)

  • 45 Kane's last word to girlfriend (7)

  • 47 Number added to recipients of email that's stolen (7)

  • 49 Everyone in Italy needing extremes, audibly disapproving (7)

  • 50 Twisted descent, all so twisted, reaches bottom end (6)

  • 53 Clip ends off negative that's found on the floor (4)

  • 55 Elizabethan has to get irregular start, not uniform (5)

  • 56 Swelling school terms' starts by six months (4)

  • 57 24 having a drink (4)

The puzzle can be downloaded from Breman’s website. Anyone who thinks they have solved the crossword can also submit it to Marc at marcbreman.london