GCHQ challenges Britons to solve Christmas puzzle - Can you crack the code?

GCHQ's chief puzzler, identified only as Colin, invites family and friends to test their mettle by using the same skills used by Britain's top intelligence agency to solve the 10th iteration of the annual challenge.

He said: "This year's Christmas Challenge features seven puzzles designed to test everything from codebreaking and mathematical analysis to lateral thinking and creativity - the same blend of skills our teams use every day to keep the country safe."

He said: "We've designed the puzzles to suit different skill sets.

"Some will suit analytical minds; others require creative leaps of perseverance."

The Cheltenham-based agency wants groups of classmates, families and friends to collaborate on the challenge and combine their various strengths to uncover a final festive message.

The cyber spy agency is encouraging puzzle-solvers to download the challenge from the GCHQ website and share their progress on social media platforms.

Last year's challenge proved popular, with 143,166 downloads by schools and members of the public.

Colin said: "With over 140,000 downloads last year, we know these puzzles bring people together over the festive period."

He added: "All ages are encouraged to give them a go and remember puzzle-solving is often better as a team effort and more fun, too!"

KEEP READING TO SEE THE ANSWERS BELOW

This year's puzzle also marks the first time the intelligence agency has featured schoolchildren's designs on its Christmas card covers.

The competition asked pupils to imagine what GCHQ looks like on Christmas Day and had more than 500 schoolchildren participate in the design contest.

Entrants were instructed to incorporate hidden codes and puzzles into their artwork.

Director Anne Keast-Butler, who judged the entries alongside Colin, selected three students as winners of the design competition.

Haoran, a Year 8 pupil at Wilson's School in London, created one of the chosen designs.

His art and puzzle skills were noted as standing out during the selection process.

Mariia, who attends the Henry Beaufort School in Winchester and is in Year 10, submitted another winning entry.

Her design featured a ginger cat at a computer marked 'top secret', with Christmas lights and morse code elements.

The third winner was Amelie, a Year 12 student from South Wilts Grammar School in Salisbury.

Her design was described as being packed full of puzzles.

Anne Keast-Butler said: "The winning designs beautifully captured what they thought GCHQ looks like on Christmas Day and incorporated some clever codes and ciphers."

The intelligence agency hopes the challenge will encourage young people to explore Stem subjects and wants them to consider careers in cybersecurity and intelligence work.

Ms Keast-Butler said: "Puzzles are at the heart of GCHQ's work to keep the country safe from hostile states, terrorists and criminals; challenging our teams to think creatively and analytically every day."

She said: "I hope this challenge inspires the next generation to explore Stem subjects and consider the rewarding careers available in cybersecurity and intelligence.

"Who knows - some of these talented schoolchildren might be solving our own puzzles in the future."

​Answers:

Question 1: The clue is written into the rubrik here, giving the answer: Special

Question 2: The puzzle's unique shape is that of a famous river, giving a clue to the seven-letter word it hides.

The answer: Thames

Question 3: You are looking for a phrase (2,3,5) traced out by letters on the floor, so the first two letters must make a word.

If you try I as the first letter, the next letter must be N, and the next B as these are the only doors you can go through, which gives a start.

The answer: In Bad Faith

Question 4: Each row contains names of two similar gifts, but in each row there is one letter missing from one of the two gifts.

The missing letters read downwards to spell the answer. The answer: Socks

Question 5: From the two sums, you know that V=1 as VAR and VOW must be less than 200.

This then gives R=3, and you can proceed from there to work out the other values.

You also now know that the word you are seeking is V?R????. Keeping an eye on this word as it forms will speed up the solving process.

The answer: Various

Question 6: The red letters (and the fact that the letter pattern matches) suggest that “four-letter” is encoded by UITL-FMQQML.

Use these letters to deduce the others. The answer: Rosamund

Question 7: Identifying the letters from each of the flag codes gives you the tools to work out the seven-letter word.

That gives us C???TRY.

The answer: Country

Final answer: You have to write the answers into the boxes.

Then using only the letters from the front of the card, work out the final message: Round the country, round the clock.

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