The i Paper’s new marriage bureau

For months, a small group of us at The i Paper have been hatching a conspiracy. Managing editor Will Gore, iWeekend executive editor Hanna Tavner, crossword setter Mike Hutchinson and I have been accomplices to an act of subterfuge. Ten weeks ago, Will received an email from Cardiff reader Chris Roberts. The query was, Chris conceded, “a slightly odd request” and “an incredible longshot”. His message was also charming. Chris explained that he was planning to propose marriage to his partner Claire. They both enjoy our crosswords in iweekend. So, Chris asked: might we create a crossword filled with clues that spelled out his proposal? Of course, these clues would also be printed and distributed to 200,000 other people. But what price love? A plan was hatched, a date agreed. Crossword Mike leapt at the chance to play Cupid. True, several obstacles stood in Chris’s path. The main one was persuading Claire that she would like to complete the crossword before doing anything else that morning. (By this point the tension was building.) You can read what happened next on our site. I’m afraid I insisted that we write up the story, whatever Claire’s response. Lastly, our managing editor Will would like me to point out that this was “very much a one-off” and he is unable to arrange marriages for other readers of The i Paper. Although… since this is your newspaper, feel free to test his resolve. @olyduff EXPLORE MORE ON THE TOPICS IN THIS STORY