A simple preamble – some theme words and connections and a little bit of highlighting to finish. Sounds like a very accessible EV, one for the first timer, even.
For those, just dipping their toes into these “advanced” cryptics, a Salamanca puzzle is a good starting point. And this puzzle, though not trivial by any means, was a good example at the easier end of the difficulty spectrum.
For those venturing into these puzzles, start with the clues and fill in as much as you can. The majority, here, are no more difficult than an average daily cryptic.
Then you need some inspiration either from one of the ‘Connections’ and then to the theme words. Peter and Peacock made me think of colours and albeit I misread the clue – I associated both with BLUE, whereas Peacock was clued with a different theme word WHITE. Something then White and Blue – a little bit patriotic – of course – Red, White and Blue.
Then it was just a case of completing the connections.
The final highlighting being UNION FLAG from commUNION and oFLAG.
Thanks Salamanca for a fun workout and my only quibble is that whilst there is a white peacock, peacock-blue is a more accessible coloured connection, though as all the others precede the connection, it makes sense.
Also when is the Telegraph going to return the closing date to normal.
Key:
Rev reverse; * Anagram, DD Double definition, underline = definition in the clue
ACROSS
1 Theme word A (3)
RED
3 Theme word B (5)
WHITE
8 Theme word C (4)
BLUE
12 At the exact moment at any time content’s acceptable (two words, 5)
Once (at any time) around u (acceptable) = ON CUE
14 Brilliant 1 set apart Scots miser (4)
Scarlet (Brilliant red) – Set = CARL
15 Connection A (7)
SNAPPER (Red Snapper)
16 Against malaria it’s uncertain (5)
V (against) + ague (malaria) = VAGUE
17 Connection A, C (6)
STREAK (Red Streak, Blue Streak)
20 Book one has shortly — short in religion (5)
B(book) + a (one) + ha (has shortly) + I (short in) = BAHAI
21 Kick hard market stall (5)
Boot (kick) + h (hard) + BOOTH
22 A log trail that’s mistaken for reptile (9)
(a log trail)* = ALLIGATOR
26 Varsity taken in by ordinary fellowship (9)
Uni (varsity) in common (ordinary) = COMMUNION
29 No stimuli are recognised here — in turn nothing gets round me (5)
Rev (nil (nothing)) around me = LIMEN
30 Fellow in gaol possibly prison camp (5)
(f + gaol)* = OFLAG
33 Queen with family left out forced to divide into branches (6)
(r(queen) + family – l)* = RAMIFY
36 Connection C (5) PETER (Blue Peter)
37 Connection B (7) PEACOCK (White Peacock)
38 Taxmen working can be inflexible (4)
Ir (taxmen as in Inland revene) + on (working) = IRON
39 They practised polyandry — no one’s right (5)
Nay (no) + a (one) + r (right) = NAYAR
40 Connection B, C (4) NILE (White Nile, Blue Nile)
41 Topless woman cheers most sacred places (5)
Lady (woman) – l (topless) + ta (cheers) = ADYTA
42 Connection B (3) FLY (White Fly)
DOWN
1 Connection A, B (4) ROSE (Red Rose, White Rose)
2 Elevate French nursemaid to rise against the French (7)
Rev (Bonne (French nursemaid)) + le (the French) = ENNOBLE
4 No hat-peg’s made into geometric shape (8)
(no hat peg)* = HEPTAGON
5 Cold part of NE Asia head off for warmer parts(6)
Siberia (Cold part of NE Asia) – s (head off) = IBERIA
6 Menace with hint of harm in early negotiation (6)
Treat (negotiation) around h (hint of harm) = THREAT
7 The King’s female counterpart displays volume in highest pitch (singing) (4)
V (volume) in Ela (highest pitch(singing) = ELVA (Female form of Elvis – never met anyone called Elva myself)
9 Connection C (6) LAGOON (Blue Lagoon)
10 Bison’s game in America (4)
Ru (game – rugby union) in us (America) = URUS
11 Connection B (8) ELEPHANT (White Elephant)
13 Hat — a caballero might wear it (4)
Cap (hat) + a = CAPA
18 King (or knight) has place in Papua (4)
K(king) + or + n (knoght) + KORN
19 Lacking oxygen a pilot’s in trouble — this might result in a crash (8)
(apilots in – o(oxygen))* = TAILSPIN
21 Bulging of fat bun? Could be (8)
(of fat bun)* = BOUFFANT
23 One holding a commission drops off decorator (4)
Officer (one holding a commission) – off = ICER
24 Following from events on record laic scribbled (7)
Log (record) + (laic)* = LOGICAL
25 There’s TNT in this mostly old match’s cavity — not HE (6)
Amate (match – old) – e (mostly) + hole (cavity) – he = AMATOL
27 Mother going to gym at end of road complained to Scots (6)
Mum (mother) + pe (gym) + d (end of road) = MUMPED
28 For wicked liar in old play that’s a small share for the Bard (6)
Morality (old play) – (liar)* including ie (that’s) = MOIETY
31 Call from one on singledecked boat (4)
A + hoy (single decked boat) = AHOY
32 Some rioter’s holding a club (4)
Hidden (soME Rioter’s) = MERI
34 Wheeled carriage, one needing support when going uphill (4)
Rev (a + bra (support) = ARBA
35 Gaze into crystal? That’s right in C (4)
R (right) in sky (blue) = SKRY