Lots of anagrams this time with one interesting reverse anagram. That probably contributed to the feeling that nothing that was particularly difficult. I suspect I would have recorded a fast solve time if I had looked. A few chuckles along the way e.g. 15A, 22A and 17D
I’ve just noticed that the Eye/Cyclops archive link on the left here is only one step from Tartarus. Kind of suitable really.
| Across | |
|---|---|
| 1 | CAMP M[usical] inside CAP (national player) |
| 4 | SAFE SEAT SAFE (Conservative) SEAT (arse) |
| 9 | VIRTUOSO (SUITOR)* AInd: screwed inside V[ery] O (ring) |
| 10 | GEISHA (IE)< inside (SHAG)* AInd: messy |
| 11/8 | CHANGE OF GOVERNMENT A reverse anagram clue. (MORG[a]N EVENT)* anagrams to GOVERNMENT so Change of Government “could result in” … Anyway, after a few crossing letters this one readily fell from the definition. |
| 12 | ATTLEE (LATTE)* AInd: frothy, then E[xpenses] |
| 15 | NORTH KOREA (HOOKER RAN T[odger])* AInd: out. I did like this: Hooker ran out holding tip of todger – what a state! (5,5) |
| 16 | CHANCELLOR CHANCE (opportunity) (ROLL)< (Shag in retirement) |
| 19 | NUMB NUMB[er] Brenda is The Queen thus E.R. removed from NUMBER (figure) |
| 21 | BREAST BR[own], (SEAT)* AInd: precarious |
| 22 | NO EXCUSE (SEX ON CUE)* AInd: flopping. Favourite clue award for the almost &lit surface reading if you have the kind of imagination that pictures the scene: Sex on cue: flopping is unpardonable (2,6) |
| 24 | OFFISH OF FISH The definition, “Maybe Loach’s”, made me think of Ken Loach’s oeuvre |
| 26 | TICK OVER TICK (parasite) [l]OVER (Darling lacking will ultimately) |
| 27 | ALLERGIC (GARLIC)* AInd: pisspoor, around LE |
| 28/13 | TURNCOAT TURN (variety act) COAT (film) |
| Down | |
| 2 | ATISHOO CD/DD |
| 3 | PUTIN PUT (lay) I (one) [brow]N |
| 4 | SCOFFER S[izeable] COFFER (chest) Last one in because I was unsure of the definition – surely scoffer is more of a jeerer than a teaser |
| 5/25 | FAG HAG FAG (puff) [s]HAG I will admit I thought this term referred to older women who smoke a lot, rather than having any relevance to the company they keep (cf. Lillian from The Archers). Anyway, I learnt something. |
| 6 | SAINT JOAN (AS)< J[ack] inside (NATION)* AInd: stricken |
| 7 | ATHLETE [he]ATH (Heath unmanned), LET (allowed), [maggi]E One of those answers that seems to appear often |
| 12 | ABHORRENCE (ARCHER ON BE)* AInd: prepared |
| 14 | TENTATIVE TEN (Number associated with Brown, i.e. No. 10), TAT (rubbish), I’VE (Cyclops has possession) |
| 17 | HARMFUL H[ard], ARMFUL “A pint! That’s very nearly an armful!” Tony Hancock in Hancock’s half-hour “The Blood donor” |
| 18 | LUNATIC (NAUTICAL – A)* AInd: mishap |
| 20 | MASSEUR MASS (pack), (RUE)< I’m sure I’ve seen a very similar clue somewhere recently: Rubber pack on Paris street upended (7) |
| 23 | CLOUT C[legg] L[eft] OUT |
Another great crossword – Cyclops is such a clever compiler, the clues are always excellent, and PI thematic.
Nick
Really enjoyed this crossword… starting to get used to the style now. I thought 21A was very clever, as was 17D. My solve time was not helped at all by entering the very first answer incorrectly… I had 28/13 as STAR TURN (Rat’s variety act put on film). 4A also took me longer to solve than it really should have done (failed to spot the Conservative = safe)