*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic definition, dd=double definition.
I don't recall blogging a Punk for some time, though maybe that's for the best as I can rarely get to grips with them! This one, however, whilst characteristically inventive, seemed quite manageable once the interplay between 2dn and 6dn fell into place. I don't imagine there are a great many Madonna fans in the Fifteensquared audience, but the hits in question will be familiar to all, I would expect.
| Across | |
|---|---|
| 1 | BEHEST – HE in BEST. |
| 4 | FRUMPISH – RUMP in FISH. |
| 10 | UPTURNING – (INPUT + RUN)* + G[arden]. |
| 11 | DRAIN – D + RAIN &lit. |
| 12 | COHERE – CO + HERE. |
| 13 | SENSORY – NOSES + R + Y. |
| 15 | ERSATZ – TEARS* + Z. |
| 16 | CREAM TEA – (AM in CRETE) + A. |
| 19 | MIXED BAG – (MADE + BIG + [bo]X)*. |
| 21 | DAMASK – DAM + ASK. |
| 23 | TILLAGE – TILL + AGE. |
| 25 | GEIGER – G + EIGER. |
| 27 | ELGAR – LAGER*. Edward Elgar was famously associated with Malvern. |
| 28 | IRREGULAR – 1 + R + (A LUGER)< + R. |
| 29 | SCRAMBLE – dd. |
| 30 | ENTREE – E[specially] + N[ice] + TREE. |
| Down | |
| 2 | HIT FOR SIX – dd. |
| 3 | SERPENT – dd. A serpent is a rather uncommon woodwind instrument. |
| 5 | REGISTRY – RE + GIST + RY. |
| 6 | MADONNA – MAD ON Na. Nice – I’m surprised not to have seen this done before. |
| 7 | IMAGO – I’M A GO. |
| 8 | HANKY-PANKY – A hit for Madonna. |
| 9/22 | LIKE A VIRGIN – L + IKEA VIRGIN. |
| 14 | SEAMSTRESS – TERMS* “aboard” (SEA + SS). |
| 17 | TRAVELLER – (RAVEL + L) in [ams]TER[dam]. |
| 18/25 | MATERIAL GIRL – dd. Seamstress, hit for Madonna. |
| 20 | DIAGRAM – (DIG “snaring” A) + RAM. |
| 24 | LAGER – ELGAR*. |
| 26/1 | TRUE BLUE – another Madonna hit. “Right” being “blue” in the Tory sense. |
Thank you Simon,
Very clever idea, nicely done.
I loved 9/22 especially.
I think we’re being spoilt this week…
…at least I thought so until today’s Guardian…
Bucks Fizz and Madonna in one week – we should be so lucky (oops sorry – have I given away tomorrow’s themed artist?)
Excellent stuff – flatpack novice=IKEA virgin was inspired, and HIT FOR SIX a very nice way to construct the theme.
A very interesting solve for me. I got HIT FOR SIX early on, but couldn’t get 6D. Once I’d got TRUE BLUE and HANKY PANKY, I guessed that the 2 reference was possibly something to do with rhyming couplets. It was only when I got MATERIAL GIRL from the checking letters that I realised what was going on and went hunting for Madge! I still didn’t understand the wordplay for LIKE A VIRGIN until I came here, but that’s now the cherry on top. It has indeed been a rather good week.
Is today’s Guardian a beaut then too?
No Ali. I don’t think it is.
Clever theme, but took me a while to finish because I didn’t twig the connection between 2dn and 6dn till late on. Thanks for the blog, Simon.
Could someone explain why 12ac is COHERE? I got it, but don’t understand where it comes from.
CO (carbon monoxide) is something poisonous, and ‘here’ is for ‘in the Independent’. HTH.
CO = Carbon monoxide, which is poisonous; HERE = in the Independent.
Sorry Simon,
Just noticed.
24d. is Regal “upturning”.
Thank you both. It was the CO bit I didn’t understand, but having got the Na for Madonna, I should have kept my chemist’s hat on. One to log away for future use, thanks again – this blog is really helpful.
Another great puzzle from this talented setter. nmsindy’s detailed familiarity with the works of Madonna is slight so the penny-dropping moment took a while to arrive coming when I saw how 2 dn, 6 dn and 8 dn were linked. Some great clueing eg FRUMPISH, COHERE, SCRAMBLE with LIKE A VIRGIN as mentioned by others being the best of all (great fun). Thanks, Punk.
I just can’t stop laughing over the IKEA VIRGIN! I enjoyed this puzzle no end.
7dn is very like Paul’s MAYORAL clue in The Guardian on Tuesday, which some found ‘outrageous’ – but people tend to be less picky over on this side. [I liked them both.]
[I can’t see the significance of ‘on this earth’ in 23 ac. The clue makes sense without it but I’m obviously missing something.]
Hi Eileen.
Re 23ac.
I don’t think the three extra words are that necessary for the clue, but I just think “years on this earth” is a slightly nicer definition of “age” than simply “years”, and actually adds to the surface reading.
Nothing to add but my compliments — I had a working day during which I needed to fill a few otherwise idle gaps, and this was ideal. The clue for LIKE A VIRGIN is wonderful.
Great puzzle which perfectly embodies the Indy ethos of crosswords being fun. 9/22 (an instant classic clue) was released 25 years ago today. I remember it well.
I don’t quite see 13 ac (sensory); does why = y in crosswordese: I can’t see an indicator to use the last letter of “y”.
Hi Pennes
It’s Y as a homophone of ‘Why’. We sometimes also get IC from ‘I see’.
I’m all in favour of Y=why, U=you and C=see, all instantly comprehensible to all via textspeak. The dictionaries will eventually catch up on these usages. But then, what do people think about R=are? B=be?
It’s funny, Mick,
But, having teenage kids who text all the time, I agree about Y, U and C (especially as that one’s in Chambers), but would object to R and B (as I assume you R suggesting yourself?)
Y would that B, do U think?
A strange one…
I think C = see and U = you are pretty standard as exact homophones. Y = why is a little more borderline, but I’ve seen it often esp towards the libertarian end of the spectrum. Not sure about the textspeak tho – maybe some such indication would have to be given to avoid ambiguity – also then ‘are’ could be either a or r.