Solving Time: 23 minutes
An enjoyable Saturday romp from Nimrod with a topical theme given the recently announced departure of Des from Countdown. If the puzzle had a weakness, it was that Countdown per se wasn’t in the puzzle, we got “Countdowner”.
I like the little gimmick of the clue for 25/8 which meant that there was a countdown hidden in the puzzle.
29/18 RICHARD WHITELEY Why Charlie tried – anagram – made a change from seeing “Dirty Wheelchair”, the usual clever anagram of the late presenter.
5/2 DESMOND LYNAM Another nice anagram
25 CAROL – C + ORAL with vowels swapped! An unusual device that worked.
4 SUSIE (As in Susie Dent)
15/21 DICTIONARY CORNER where lurks Ms Dent. Another clever clue with a reference to 1 across and down forming a Dictionary Corner COLLINS ac & CHAMBERS dn.
16 CUP MARKED – a new phrase on me (CD holding UP MARK and E)
All in all, a pleasant way to spend a Saturday breakfast.