Daily Express £1000 Crossword

[Bowlswidow]

I have just noticed that the Daily Express are no longer accepting postal entries for the £1000 crossword. The answer has to be telephoned or texted in at a cost of £1.50. I shall be giving this crossword a miss in future and I am wondering if this will apply to the Sunday Express in future also.

[Buenchico]

Express Newspaper's revenues keep falling due to lower sales and (importantly) lower advertising revenue as advertisers move to other platforms, such as social media. They fell by 12% in the most-recently reported financial year and it's likely that they'll keep on falling for several years at least.

The company made up for those losses by cutting 200 jobs and closing a printing plant but they've still got plenty of problems (including a hole in their pension fund). It simply looks as if they're now trying to find every possible way of boosting their finances.

[kawanabe]

What a joke!...more like concocting ways to alienate more readers!

[Bordeaux]

It's a great shame there are few crosswords by post and when they are duel phone post guess
Only phone picked the sat I paper now is just by
Post was phone text. The sales will go down on a
Sunday if main crossword goes phone the squire
One is phone post they want bother with post also the P O box number same for there

[petal54]

This will also effect P/O

[Caran]

I have been entering this crossword for years, such a shame. I will not be spending money on this. The postage stamp was enough.
It changed my attitude when completing this, this morning. I wasn't as careful, thinking it doesn't matter if I made a mistake. Spoiled my enjoyment of it.

[chilliman]

They will be losing more customers now. Mail on Sunday crosswords cost £1 per text so better value.
Bye Bye Sunday Express

[Celtigra3]

I only bought it on a Monday for the crossword, so that's another copy they won't sell as I strongly object to phoning or texting. They have shot themselves in the foot

[JandyAF]

This came as a shock to me too, in fact I only just found out about the change when I accessed this site and read the above. I think it's a kick in the teeth to all its faithful readers (it's not just the crosswords I get it for). Unlike my children and grandchildren, I'm not a great texter, and regular phone costs are prohibitively expensive for a lot of people these days. I am also unwilling to send in my entry this way, which is a shame, as I am a volunteer working with a community library set up by local people after the council closed ours, and have always said that if I won I would split the prize 50/50 between me and the library to help with their costs. Alas so far it hasn't happened!

[Buenchico]

I find it interesting that people seem to only be doing crosswords for the chance of winning a prize. Our little crossword group (of three) do the Saturday Times 2 Jumbo crossword every Sunday evening in the pub ('cos we're all far too thick to do the cryptic clues) and always end up with a completed grid (even if we've had to resort to Google for the last two or three answers!).

Just like the cryptic version, there's a prize offered but we would never think to send an entry in; it's purely the challenge of doing the thing which interests us, not the chance of winning something.

[Mamyalynne]

I do crosswords for the challenge too, do about 15 over the weekend, keeps the brain ticking over.

I also do quizzes, as they are mostly for charities it's a way of donating and a hobby I love - an occasional win is a bonus.

[beastra]

I have sent a message on Twitter with no reply. I have also emailed the editor. I often hear newspaper reviewers on TV laughing at the Express for their front pages, often only one of 4 subjects, brexit, health, money, weather. They should bring the post back in house. I'd happily spend days picking winners who deserve it for their entry. I think the postman would go mad at me if sent to my address. So so sad

[JandyAF]

I don't do the crosswords just to try and win money, Buenchico, I really enjoy it - and if I did I would have probably given up in despair eons ago. It's a challenge, and as my favourites are general knowledge crosswords, I am always learning new things. (I also enjoy TV quizzes, specially Eggheads, The Chase and Mastermind.) And as I mentioned, I have a good cause to try for. Our library has a lease to pay for and overheads, heating, etc.

[JandyAF]

One more thing - if the Express is doing this to boost its finances (they are always claiming to be the best-selling daily!) how come answers to the Crusader Prize Crossword can still be sent by post? Is this facility to be doomed as well?

[chriscase]

I also do crosswords to challenge myself and keep my brain ticking over but always send in the Express crosswords in the hope that I may win. Was very saddened yesterday to find you can only enter by text or phone so won't be buying the Monday express again. Feel it's just a case of them making money and not considering their loyal readers. If the Sunday ones go the same way, will buy the Mail instead as you can still send theirs in by post on a Sunday.

[aelmpvw]

annoyed that i can't enter by post but on the other hand, after many years of no win, i'll be saving about 30 quid a year in postage :-)

[aelmpvw]

ps the telegraph are showing the way with free email entries

[Bubster]

If anyone remembers the you magazine went the same way but obviously the entries dropped because about 6 weeks after they reinstated postal entries. I vote we boycott the Monday Express. I have cancelled my Express and feel most strongly about it. I only like to do crosswords with a prize I just find it more rewarding don't win much but just like the challenge.

[goodgoalie]

Funnily enough, The Sunday Times has recently introduced the possibility of entering its Prize Crossword by email, as with Private Eye. The Telegraph Saturday crosswords can also be scanned and emailed, though have never won them by entering that way. I think The Express will regret it - is it just the Monday one, or also the Sunday Magazine? Didn't see anything about it in the most recent Sunday mag. Have won the Monday one, so don't mind never buying it again; it's a truly terrible paper, though the crossword was satisfyingly tricky.

[Elspeth]

Perhaps we should start a petition to re-instate postal entries? It's simply a way of making more money for the Express and sad that many older people (including me) are being denied the small pleasure of hoping for a win. Other means of entering are simply extortion. Shame on you Daily Express.

[ADMIRALHILL]

This is disgusting.I expect The Sunday Express will follow suit.Every competition in the paper or the enclosed magazine is a premium rate number to enter.Not surprised about this as attached to the dreadful Channel 5 company and that says all.Will not buy the paper any more.