Solving time 14:30
This one slipped my mind in the run-up to Christmas so here it is about 5 days late. Lots more high-quality clue-writing from Nestor here. If you think I’m exaggerating, sit down with some squared paper, make yourself a grid and set of answers, and then try to write some clues that read as well as this. Lots of novel devices used, so a fairly tough puzzle, but I was never really badly stuck. I don’t think there are any hidden messages in the grid but I wouldn’t be very surprised to be corrected.
| Across | |
|---|---|
| 8 | AITCHBONE – I in (the bacon)* |
| 9 | A(L)LOF(t) |
| 12 | METALLICA – a heavy metal band – ((v)ACILLATE,M) |
| 15 | BYE – a simple example of great clue writing – somewhere in the list of synonyms a really good pair was identified |
| 16 | DESIGNER STUBBLE – (be(a)rd being (c)ut less)* – close to that old Azed comp favourite, the compound anag &lit |
| 19 | OW,L – L=learner driver is nice and easy, possibly deliberately, but also fits the surface. |
| 20 | CLOSET DRAMA – “a play for reading rather than acting”. “Types of queen” is a gem, especially when the fairly obvious “drag” is not one of the types. |
| 23 | HEAR,TACHE |
| 26 | ROUE,N |
| 27 | S(IGN)ALMAN – finding big words like “Salman” for use in “construction kits” is a sign of a good setter at work. (“Construction kit” is my mental category for charades, containers, subtractions, and letter moves/replacements.) |
| Down | |
| 1 | FAIRY GODMOTHER – (modify rag)*,OTHER |
| 2 | S(T)IGMA – Sigma being the Gk. S at the end of Naxos |
| 3 | WHITE MAGIC – ((game = part of set) |
| 4 | BO((N)apoleonis(M))OT |
| 5 | VERTICES – I in (Rev.,SECT) |
| 7 | PLA(I)N B,O.B. |
| 10 | FLA(MERE,TAR,DAN)T |
| 17 | SYLLABUS = (sub ally’s) |
| 21 | ENERGY = (green,y)* |
| 22 | A P(LOM)B |
No, there’s no Nina in this one, as far as I know.
I’m pleased to see that Peter’s headline is not an excuse to reenact the Dead Parrot sketch. I thought this crossword was brilliant.
Strange coincidence. As we’re at long last the owners of a DVD player, I bought some old favourites on a trip into London after writing this one. One was a set of the Secret Policeman’s Ball and other Amnesty International revues of the late 70s. No prizes for guessing the first sketch on Disc 1.