Never knowingly undersolved
Update: Eimi has added a link to the Independent obituary in comment #43.
A message from Mike Hutchinson (Eimi), the Independent’s crossword editor:
It is with great sadness that I have to pass on the news that the great Dac is no longer with us. He lost his battle with cancer at the weekend. I’m sure many people will have noticed that he hasn’t appeared in the Indy for the last two months, but he had asked me not to mention his illness here.
It seems that whoever gets me as a blogger also gets me the next time, since this has happened a bit recently, but so far as I’m concerned at any rate that’s no problem, for we have here the usual pleasant, not desperately demanding (as it so often is on Tuesdays, which was a relief), offering from Alchemi, themed around 11ac.
Definitions underlined, in maroon. Anagram indicators in italics.
A solid Tuesday offering with some notably smooth surfaces.
A themed offering from Qaos this fine Tuesday morning.