Spy chiefs set fiendish festive quiz for all budding Bonds… however can YOU crack the cryptic code of their Christmas card?

For James Bond, it would be child’s play.

But do you have what it takes to crack the code in GCHQ‘s fiendish Christmas card puzzle?

GCHQ’s in-house puzzlers set to work on seven fiendish brainteasers for aspiring sleuths to crack.

And this year’s brainteaser comes with a twist with the intelligence agency using the imagination of children to set the challenge for the first time.

Director Anne Keast-Butler, who is the first woman to lead GCHQ, held a competition for over 500 schoolchildren to design the cover of the spy chief’s Christmas card.

Pupils were asked, ‘What do you think GCHQ looks like on Christmas Day?’ and told to include hidden codes, puzzles in their designs.

Three were chosen with designs aimed at key stages 3, 4 and 5, including one featuring a ginger cat at a ‘top secret’ computer, surrounded by Christmas lights and morse code by year 10 pupil, Mariia, at The Henry Beaufort School, Winchester. 

A year eight pupil called Haoran at Wilson’s School, London, whose ‘art and puzzle skills stood out’ was selected as another and the third winner is by Amelie in year 12 at South Wilts Grammar School, Salisbury, was described as ‘chock-full of puzzles! ‘

Pupils were told to include extra hidden codes and puzzles in their Christmas card designs to accompany the puzzles. This card by Year 10 pupil Mariia from The Henry Beaufort School, Winchester, was praised for its ‘equally impressive’ artistic and puzzle elements 

Seven fiendish brainteasers sit alongside the pupils’ winning Christmas card designs

The entrants were asked to include additional puzzles and hidden codes in their designs 

This design by Year 8 pupil Haoran from Wilson’s School, London, was described as ‘charming’ 

Year 10 pupil Amelie, from South Wilts Grammar School, Salisbury, was praised for her ‘striking, digitally designed card’ which was ‘chock-full of puzzles’

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.

‘I’m delighted that this year’s Christmas Challenge combines puzzles created by our own experts with brilliant designs from schoolchildren across the country.

‘It was a pleasure to judge the competition alongside Colin, GCHQ’s Chief Puzzler. The winning designs beautifully captured what they thought GCHQ looks like on Christmas Day and incorporated some clever codes and ciphers.

‘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.’

Since the challenge was launched ten years ago, tens of thousands of people around the world have downloaded the puzzles, with last year’s downloaded 143,166 times by schools and members of the public.

Each card is designed to test codebreaking, maths and analysis, and skills such as lateral thinking, ingenuity and perseverance.

This year, schoolchildren are being encouraged to take the puzzles home to challenge family and friends, working together to reveal each card’s final festive message.

For the first time entrants can share their progress, ask for help or boast about their triumph by joining the Top Secret Puzzle Club on GCHQ’s Instagram, where you can get bonus puzzles and handy hints to solving them.

GCHQ’s Chief Puzzler Colin, 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.

‘We’ve designed the puzzles to suit different skill sets. Some will suit analytical minds; others require creative leaps of perseverance. That’s entirely intentional – we want groups of classmates, families and friends working together, combining their different strengths to reveal the final festive message.

‘With over 140,000 downloads last year, we know these puzzles bring people together over the festive period. All ages are encouraged to give them a go and remember puzzle-solving is often better as a team effort and more fun too!

‘We’d love to see how you get on with the Challenge, so please share your progress by tagging us @GCHQ on Instagram, X or LinkedIn. Happy puzzle-solving!’

The answers will be revealed later on Wednesday.