One criterion I have had for many years is “would this puzzle sit well in an anthology?”, looked at 10, 15 maybe 20 years hence; and with little context other than category, number, title, and setter (maybe also date of appearance, if this has some ex post connection with thematic material, e.g. a notable anniversary).

But as I intimated, it’s a question of personal taste …

Don’t see why references in clues have to be timeless. If they’re well-known at the time of publication, isn’t that good enough?

Anyone know anything more about different editions of this apparently regular tomelet?

I enjoyed this a lot, though it took me much more than an hour.

Isn’t there an implicit reference to the radio programme ‘I’m sorry, I’ll read that again’, under the chairmanship of Humphrey Lyttleton? And the related publication ‘Uxbridge English Dictionary? There was another not long ago – I can’t remember who set it – with a more explicit reference to that programme , and to ‘Humph’.

Pete – Greek myths have stood the test of time (whatever that means) as have some TV & radio programmes, and I have no objection to those.
Also, I recall “Haunted House” by Hugo First, “Cliff Tragedy” by Eileen Dover, and my personal favourite from a New Statesman comp.: “Parrots as Pets” by Hugh Zapritti-Boyden.

Agreed – I don’t see why clues shouldn’t refer to TV shows when it’s OK to refer to Greek myth and the like. There’s been some similar fuss about football references at Times for the Times recently, which at least suggests some kind of intellectual snobbery.

Thinking back, the puzzle reminds me of the Zander (i.e. Custos, i.e. Alec Robins) punny book title puzzles in the Listener – “Justyn Print” I think they were called. The sample clue was, IIRC, “The Broken Window” – answer EVA BRICK. My favourite (i.e. the one I can remember) was “Teach Yourself Psychiatry” by Beatrix I Klist. Like this puzzle, not really thematic in the modern style, but fun.

You don’t have to be Jewish (or even live in North London) to support Spurs, but if you do, you’re a Yid (if I may use such a non-PC term), by football fandom’s definition!