Are you as smart as a secret agent? Try to crack these GCHQ Christmas puzzles

If you're stuck for something to do over the festive period, why not see if you've got the smarts to be a secret agent? GCHQ (Government Communications Headquarters), the UK's intelligence, security and cyber agency, works alongside MI5 and MI6 to keep the country safe by gathering intelligence and conducting operations which protect national security. While staff can't share most of what they get up to in their day job, they are well-known for devising particularly tricky puzzles for the public to take a stab at. For many years the director of GCHQ has traditionally sent a Christmas card to national security colleagues and partners across the world, which have always included a brainteaser designed by staff members as a nod to their work solving the most complex of problems.

In 2021, this card evolved and became the GCHQ Christmas Challenge which anyone can have a go at. Pitted at 11-to-18-year-olds, the Christmas Challenge aims to support greater take up of STEM subjects in schools and colleges. However, while the puzzles are designed for students, GCHQ encourages the wider public to take on the challenge and test themselves against friends and family, with the latest set of puzzles landing on December 11.



Anne Keast-Butler, director of GCHQ, said: "Puzzles have always been at the heart of GCHQ, and the skills needed to solve them are just as relevant in 2024 as they were over 100 years ago." You can try out the GCHQ Christmas Challenge 2024 as well as all previous festive puzzles on the GCHQ website . We have rounded up five of the most puzzling questions from GCHQ Christmas Challenges over the years below to keep you busy over the festive season, with three multiple-choice answers to make things a little easier.

Can you solve them all? Have a go and let us know how you did!.