Big sudoku -- bigger blunder
Sky's giant embarrassment
A publicity stunt to announce Sky TV's new sudoku game show resulted in red faces all round, when it was discovered that a giant sudoku carved into a hillside is invalid.
Overnight a team of Sky TV people cut what was meant to be a giant sudoku into a chalk hillside at Chipping Sodbury near Bristol, England. But their efforts turned into a nightmare for the show's producers when it was discovered that the sudoku is invalid and has 1,905 solutions.
Sky have offered a prize of £5,000 for solving the puzzle, but now have to judge a competition where there are numerous solutions, all of which will be correct.
 Described as "a significant piece of public art", the non-sudoku measures 275 ft by 275 ft and has been cut into the turf of a chalk hillside. The ancient artform is typified in the nearby 180ft Cerne Abbas Giant that was probably created during the reign of the Emperor Commodus between 180-193AD. There will be no way of hiding the embarrassing blunder, as up to a million cars are expected to pass by the giant puzzle each week.
Sky have claimed a world record for the world's biggest sudoku with Guinness World Records, but this may now have to be revised to be the world's largest blunder.
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Sudoku - the holiday companion It's the book to make a plane journey last half the time and to keep you occupied during your quiet moments on the beach. The Daily Telegraph Sudoku is packed with 132 new puzzles compiled by Mike Mepham. Orders for The Daily Telegraph Sudoku and The Daily Telegraph Sudoku 2 at £5.99 each (plus 99p P&P per order) can be taken at Telegraph Books Direct on 0870 155 7222 (UK only).
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