Monk is a setter whose puzzles I seek out, so Christmas came early to see that pseudonym in the Indy today. Almost every clue has something special. Solving time: 43 mins. There is a theme: in case anyone wants to look at the grid again, I’ll refer to it after the clue explanations.
* = anagram < = reversed
ACROSS
9 ANY OLD IRON Old London music hall song (London air y – yes primarily = 1st letter)*
11 HA(REBEL)L Hal = Henry rebel = mutiny (vb)
12 AUTO (car) TYPE I think this refers to the Jaguar E-type of the 60s ie its top off = take away the E.
16 TENG HSIAO-PING Better known perhaps as Deng Xiaoping – effective ruler of China in 80s, 90s. (going apeshit)* containing n = note
19 ST(R)EAM Great misleading surface, playing with’ ‘burn’
21 EMOTI(C) ON Another great clue. Definition is perhaps (the emoticon shown). C = caught (cricket) opening means put it in ecstasy = emotion
23 IMP LICIT
27 DOTTED LINE If you use Morse Code for sissies, you get a line of dots.
28 SPUR(s)
DOWN
1 FLOCCULENT (On c = cold fell cut)*
2 EVEN SONG Going for a song ie cheaply
3 Gordon RAM SAY A ram butts
4 M(one)Y TH(e)
5 ALFRE(d)’S CO Another classic Definition = outside d = Duke
6 TIMBRE cf timber
7 SOIL Lio(n)s< n = new
13 (Car M) ELITE
15 CONSORTIUM (monitors Cu = Copper)*
18 P (RIM) ROSE
20 EOLITH (hotel i = one)*
24 M (O) OT Tom<
25 TRIO First letters
Theme: Top and bottom rows spell Fermat’s Theorem. Fermat’s (last) Theorem is well known in pure mathematics. He left a note that he’d solved it in the 1600s, but had not time to write it down. I think it’s still not been solved, but if anyone knows more about it, please correct me. I saw it after about 19 mins, which did speed solving after that.
Fermat’s Theorem has indeed been solved – by Andrew Wiles, a British mathematician, in 1995. There’s a fascinating book for the non-mathematician (by Simon Singh) on the theorem itself and Wiles’ solution.
Totally missed the theme. I struggled with 28ac for ages – just couldn’t think of a 5-letter football team that fitted (though that could be a case of Gooner’s block).
As for 9 ac, was that meant to be a +lit? Any Old Iron is a fine part of London’s cultural heritage!
ANY OLD IRON Yes, I would have seen that as an &lit. Despite being a football lover did struggle with 28 ac till I’d crossing letters. Believe they have 3 opportunities in the near future to get that 1st 21st century win against those local rivals. I’m neutral in these matters, but like both those clubs as they like to play the game as it shd be played.