New £50 note: Alan Turing banknote unveiled along with fiendishly tough puzzle

25 March 2021, 08:22 | Updated: 25 March 2021, 17:58

The Bank of England has revealed the design of the new £50 note featuring code-breaker and national hero Alan Turing.

GCHQ has created its toughest puzzle ever in honour of Enigma machine maker, which is printed on each of the £50 notes.

The Bank of England revealed the note's design featuring the scientist and mathematician on Thursday, as GCHQ officials unveiled the new treasure hunt involving 12 puzzles which they say"might even have left him scratching his head".

Experts have said it will take even the most experienced puzzlers at least 7 hours.

For all the clues if you fancy giving it a go, visit the GCHQ website HERE, or scroll to the bottom of this page.

The note will go into circulation for the first time on 23 June 2021, which coincides with Mr Turing's 99th birthday.

Mr Turing was a pioneer of modern computing and hugely instrumental in breaking the German Naval Enigma cipher in 1942, at Bletchley Park - GCHQ's wartime home.

But despite all he did for the war effort and the countless lives he would have saved by his genius, he was persecuted by the Government in the years after the war because he was gay.

In January 1952, Mr Turing was prosecuted for "indecency" over his relationship with another man in Manchester, and was given a choice between imprisonment and probation on condition of undergoing hormone treatment.

In 1954, Mr Turing took his own life.

Director of the cyber and intelligence agency Jeremy Fleming described him becoming the first gay man to appear on a banknote as confirming his status as "one of the most iconic LGBT+ figures in the world".

Mr Fleming said: "Alan Turing's appearance on the £50 note is a landmark moment in our history.

"Not only is it a celebration of his scientific genius, which helped to shorten the war and influence the technology we still use today, it also confirms his status as one of the most iconic LGBT+ figures in the world.

"Turing was embraced for his brilliance and persecuted for being gay.

"His legacy is a reminder of the value of embracing all aspects of diversity, but also the work we still need to do to become truly inclusive."

The puzzles are based on the unique design elements of the new banknote, such as the technical drawings for the British Bombe, the machine designed by Mr Turing to break Enigma-enciphered messages.

GCHQ officials said the full challenge could take an experienced puzzler seven hours to complete.

Colin, a GCHQ analyst and its chief puzzler, said: "Alan Turing has inspired many recruits over the years to join GCHQ, eager to use their own problem-solving skills to help to keep the country safe.

"So it seemed only fitting to gather a mix of minds from across our missions to devise a seriously tough puzzle to honour his commemoration on the new £50 note.

"It might even have left him scratching his head - although we very much doubt it."

Mr Turing joined the Government Code & Cypher School - GCHQ's wartime name - in 1938 to help with the code-breaking effort during the Second World War, working alongside Gordon Welchman.

In January 1940, Mr Turing had a meeting in Paris with Polish counterparts, who gave him the insights he needed to design the Bombe.

The combination of the Bombe and the brilliant minds and perseverance of those working at Bletchley Park led to the breaking of Enigma.

Can you crack the code? Clues to the 12-step puzzle

For the final challenge, cash in your answers and see if you can decipher the enigma!

Visit the Enigma machine HERE.