This is the second time that it has fallen to me to blog a puzzle by Bluth, and once again I found it challenging and entertaining in equal measure.
As with my first attempt, Bluth has had the last laugh once again, as I cannot parse 6, which I am not even sure that I have solved correctly! Thanks to other solvers for the explanation, now added to the blog.
Today is Tuesday or theme day, so once I had completed most of the puzzle, I started to look for the theme. As 24 was a particularly long clue with some rather specific names, I took a closer look and I was reminded of the 1980s BBC alternative comedy show “The Young Ones”, which I then saw was spelt out by the entries at 16 and 26.
Having looked up the programme on Google, my eye was caught by the list of episodes from the two series that were made, and I could see that a good few of the episode titles are entries in the grid at 5, 8, 9, 14, 17, 22D/11, 27, 28, 29 … I may well have overlooked others.
I have numerous favourite clues today: 3, for smoothness of surface; 7, for making me smirk when the penny dropped; 8, for humour and topicality; 17, for the clever use of “grease”; 21 and 28, both for concision, and the list goes on. I was wondering about “hovel” for “slum” at 2, since for me a slum would be a large set of hovels, rather than a single one, but that is the very tiniest of niggles.
*(…) indicates an anagram; definitions are italicised; // separates definitions in multiple-definition clues
| Across | ||
| 09 | NASTY | Essentially, tenanting a pigpen’s offensive
<tena>N<ting> (“essentially” means middle letter only) + A + STY (=pigpen) |
| 10 | AMERICANO | No ordinary version of Beethoven’s 3rd – certainly not on morning coffee
AM (=morning) + ER<o>ICA (=Beethoven’s 3rd (symphony); “no ordinary (=O) version” means letter “o” is dropped) + NO (=certainly not) |
| 12 | ORIGAMI | Partly to rig a migrant craft
Hidden (“partly”) in “tO RIG AMIgrant” |
| 13 | DEMOB | Curtains for Depeche Mode, after half the characters leave – book describes break up
D<epech>E (“curtains” means first and last letters only) + MO<de> (“after half the characters leave” means two of four letters are dropped) + B (=book); to demob is to disband, hence “break up” |
| 15 | FAIRY RING | Reasonably clear line to call grass – revealing the presence of some low life?
FAIR<l>Y (=reasonably; “clear line (=L)” means letter “l” is dropped) + RING (=to call, phone); a fairy ring is a ring of darker-coloured grass due to an outward spread of a fungus, attributed to the dancing of fairies |
| 17 | OIL | Grease’s Newton-John, not through with work
OLI<via> (=Newton-John); “no through (=via)” means letters “via” are dropped from anagram, indicated by “with work” |
| 19 | MON DIEU | In returning communiqué, I’d nominate French, my lord
Hidden (“in”) and reversed (“returning”) in “communiqUE I’D NOMinate” |
| 20 | EAT | Every now and then, penalty causes upset
<p>E<n>A<l>T<y>; “every now and then” means alternate letters only; to eat is to worry, irritate, upset |
| 22 | SINKING IN | Trap crime family first – it’s becoming known
SIN (=crime) + KIN (=family) + GIN (=trap) |
| 23 | GIVEN | Bearing in mind, four will get into dope
IV (=four, in Roman numerals) in GEN (=dope, info) |
| 25 | MARCONI | Rejected pound coin is forged, reveals inventor
MAR (RAM=pound, strike; “rejected” indicates reversal) + *(COIN); “forged” is anagram indicator; the reference is Italian inventor Guglielmo Marconi (1874-1937) |
| 27 | SATIRIC | Mocking cast air sitcom out of order
*(AIR SITC<om>); “out of order (=OM, i.e. Order of Merit)” means letters “om” are dropped from anagram, indicated by “cast”, thrown |
| 30 | EPILEPTIC | Extremely influential, breaking records, with bits of truly iconic comedy – one might convulse
{I<nfluentia>L in [EP + EP (=records, i.e. 2 x EP (=extended play)]} + T<ruly> I<conic> C<omedy>; “extremely” means first and last letters only; “bits of” means first letter only |
| 31 | MAIDS | Mother identifies servant
MA (=mother) + IDs (=identifies) |
| Down | ||
| 01 | INCH | Cockney to steal half this
To “half-inch” is Cockney rhyming slang for “pinch” |
| 02 | ASYLUM | Retreat from term of university living in a hovel
<universit>Y (“term of” means last letter only) in [A + SLUM (=hovel)] |
| 03 | EYED | Spotted dog’s beginning to following detective
EYE (=detective, as in private eye) + D<og> (“beginning” means first letter only) |
| 04 | VARY | Change in yard after assistant referee
VAR (=assistant referee, i.e. video assistant referee) + Y (=yard, as a unit) |
| 05 | DEMOLITION | Spilling 17 under rolling sea, into liquid annihilation
DEM (MED=sea, i.e. the Mediterranean; “rolling” indicates reversal) + *(OIL (=entry at 17) + *(INTO); “spilling” and “rolling” are both anagram indicators |
| 06 | MINI | Small minded institute removes qualified teacher
MIN<ded> (“removes qualified teacher (=DEd., for Doctor of Education) means letters “ded” are dropped) + I (=institute) |
| 07 | LAXATIVE | An airport show’s over – this might open up a channel?
LAX (=airport, in Los Angeles) + ATIVE (EVITA=show, musical; “over” indicates reversal); the “channel” in question is part of the digestive system! |
| 08 | BORING | Uninspiring Prime Minister, changing direction on government
BORI<N (=north) for S<outh>, hence “changing direction, in name of UK PM) + G (=government) |
| 13 | DUO | Couple united in party
U (=united, as in UK) in DO (=party, function) |
| 14 | BAMBI | Initially, brilliant animators make book into movie
B<rilliant> A<nimators> M<ake> B<ook> I<nto> “initially” means first letters only; the reference is to the 1942 Disney film |
| 15 | FIND GUILTY | Convict arranged filing duty
*(FILING DUTY); “arranged” is anagram indicator |
| 16 | YOUNG | Juvenile wildebeest boys discovered when climbing
GNU (=wildebeest) + <b>OY<s> (“discovered” means first and last letters are dropped); “when climbing” indicates vertical reversal |
| 18 | LANDRAIL | Both sides trouble winger
L AND R (=both sides, i.e. left and right) + AIL (=trouble); a landrail is a corncrake, hence “winger”, i.e. bird |
| 21 | TAN | Brown // belt
Double definition: tan is a shade of brown AND to tan is to belt, thrash someone |
| 22/11 | SUMMER HOLIDAY | Empty apology after firm takes her mum travelling to see a musical
[*(HER MUM) in SOLID (=firm)] + A<polog>Y; “empty” means all but first and last letters are dropped; “travelling” is anagram indicator; the reference is to the 1963 musical film starring Cliff Richard |
| 24 | VERMIN | With leading parts of Mike, Rick, Vyvyan and Neil plus Alexei Sayle, ultimately playing scumbags
*(M<ike> + R<ick> + V<yvyan> + N<eil> + <alexe>I + <sayl>E); “leading parts of” means first letters only, and “ultimately” last letters only, are needed in anagram, indicated by “playing”; this is the gateway clue to the theme of “(The) Young Ones” (=entries at 16 and 26) |
| 26 | ONE’S | According to the Queen, my Frank’s naked …
<h>ONES<t> (=frank, sincere); “naked” means first and last letters are dropped; when the Queen uses the formal “one” instead of “I”, then “my” becomes “one’s” |
| 27 | SICK | … thus King’s mortified
SIC (=thus) + K (=king, in cards) |
| 28 | TIME | Season // porridge
Double definition: a season is a time of year AND time is a stint in prison, hence porridge |
| 29 | CASH | Accountant’s on top of hush money
CA (=accountant, i.e. Chartered Accountant) + SH (=hush, keep quiet) |
Having very much enjoyed all of Bluth’s previous Indy puzzles, I found this one slightly disappointing, lacking in his usual sparkle with a few strange surface readings too.
In addition, 17a is an indirect anagram, and 4d seemed rather clunky with two of the three words making up VAR included in the clue.
On the plus side, I really liked MON DIEU, MARCONI, MAIDS, BORING, BAMBI and ONES.
Thanks to Bluth. I’m optimistic that I will like your next one more. Thanks too to RR; I parsed 6d as MINDED + I(nstitute) minus DED (Doctor of Education).
Easy to spot theme for me this time. Also googled to get episode list. Not sure about 6d, but I parsed as MINDED – DED (Doctor of EDucation) + I(nstitute). Thanks to Bluth and RatkojaRiku.
Slightly more challenging than previous Bluth crosswords. Shame about the indirect anagram
Thanks to Bluth and RR
My inner schoolboy has been waiting all day to post that LAXATIVE was my undoing this morning. Faced with four vowels as crossers I ended up with the unparsed CANALISE which, enticingly, was defined as “opening up a channel” in the first dictionary I consulted.
That was my only failure in a fairly challenging puzzle that delivered some good clues including OIL, SINKING IN, INCH, FIND HUILTY, LANDRAIL, DEMOLITION, SICK and the delightfully surfaced VERMIN. Not always a fan of initial letter clues, I also thought BAMBI was very nicely done. I’m not yet used to looking for the Tuesday theme and wasn’t a huge fan of the Young Ones at the time it first broadcast. I’ve watched some repeats and certainly enjoyed some of what I saw, though not all, but not enough for any titles to stick. So, beyond the vermin clue, I was oblivious to the theme.
Thanks to Bluth, RR and our first two posters for parsing MINI.
I don’t understand why criticisms of indirect anagrams are made as if there’s been some mistake by the setter. Oops, I didn’t realise I’d used an indirect anagram there, sorry. They’re only bad if they’re unfair. As they tend to be unfair, they’re usually bad, but if anyone didn’t get this one on first reading I’ll eat my cat.
I’m afraid to say I missed the Young Ones, my mum thought it was inappropriate.
Nevertheless, thanks Bluth, RR
I found this one rather easier than Bluth’s previous offerings but needless to say I didn’t care for 7d.
Didn’t watch the series involved with the theme, so that was lost on me – I’d have been OK on Summer Holiday!
21,28&29d earned ticks and my favourite was BAMBI.
Thanks to Bluth and to RR for the review.
Forgot to mention a big tick for 18d – nicely done!
Struggled quite a bit in the NE corner (am irritated that LAX airport code drifted into my head and drifted out again). Spotted the theme early on but couldn’t bring the episode titles to mind.
An additional one or two for the theme: in an attention-seeking stunt, Rick eats handfuls of pills in a melodramatic suicide bid in front of the others, unaware they are in fact laxatives (7d, 20a).
In the far distant reaches of my mind, Mike was wont to say “Mon dieu”
(19a) I think… Or am I blurring with Del Boy?! I was well under 10 when I first saw The Young Ones (liberal parents) so I have an excuse for the uncertainty!
Many thanks Bluth and RR
Ah, there we are:
https://youtu.be/wcKd6IFawns
Oh, me again (last one I promise), the name of their college was Scumbag College, making the clue for 24d even neater than at first glance.
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/yhXQdwLi5s4/hqdefault.jpg
Wow. Thanks to EggCustard for the extra erudition and RatkojaRiku for a truly excellent blog. I’m enjoying Bluth, but wondering where he is today? Usually posts here. Great themed crossword, not that I saw it, and I’m exactly the right demographic. Sigh.
Too tough for me, failing on LAXATIVE and ONES. Totally misled by the surface on the short one, so chapeau to Bluth for that; and then (like PostMark @4) unable to think of a small enough channel to be cleared and kept on having recurrent images of dredgers.
I was surprised by the indirect anagram and while I accept what James says @5 in this instance – a three letter word with definition grease takes quite a bit more misdirection than this to be at all difficult to solve – I would hate to see it become the thin end of the wedge.
Wouldn’t have spotted the theme if I’d looked for one, though of course I recognised the protagonists in VERMIN’s clue readily.
I’d never heard of a Doctor of Education. Googling it I see that they do exist, but seem to be abbreviated to EdD. D. Ed stands for Diploma in Education I see. No wonder I found 6dn difficult. You can become a qualified teacher without being a D. Ed. and I wouldn’t have thought many teachers are D. Eds since it is apparently the highest degree in the field of education. The qualified teacher is usually a B. Ed in crosswords, but it’s not mandatory for a teacher to be one.
Plus what James said about indirect anagrams
10a 18d faves here. I did like the theme and familiar with some of the episodes that helped. I did like the Cliff Richard and Rick link in 22/11. I missed the PM in 8d too but like 6d the answer was easier than the parsing. but the bird at 18d is my COTD today
Thanks to Bluth and RR
I agree with James@5 on 17a. It’s all about fairness and this clue was fair. I’ve never understood the “but where will it stop” argument – obviously the answer is when it becomes unfair.
Many thanks to RR and Bluth.
Thanks RatkojaRiku for the blog.
Rabbit Dave and Hovis @1 & 2 respectively, have the correct parsing for 6D. Chambers gives D.Ed = Doctor of Education.
I’m with James @5 all the way when it comes to indirect anagrams. The clue that’s normally used to explain what’s wrong with indirect anagrams is:
Tough form of monster (5) for HARDY where the solver is asked to take the monster as HYDRA and then ‘form’ it. The reason this seems unfair is that there are a lot of monsters. And many of them are 5 letter words. So, by what process is one supposed to arrive at hydra?
I really don’t think the leap from ‘Newton-John’ to Olivia is comparable. In that it’s not really a leap at all.
I personally wouldn’t want to think about cryptic crosswords as a set of rules. It’s certainly not how I learned about them. I think a great deal about whether things are fair. I agree with the general idea that indirect anagrams are a bad idea… but only because, generally they are unfair. When that’s not the case, I can’t think of a good argument against their use and but-it’s-a-rule doesn’t seem to be any kind of argument at all. I suppose that if you’ve never heard of Olivia Newton-John the clue is harder, but I don’t think anyone grumbling about it falls into that category.
Thanks to EggCustard for the references to the theme. In all honesty, I wasn’t clueing Laxative with that in mind. Perhaps I was guided there subliminally? More likely I was doing it for Jane’s benefit as her protestations about my use of such tame words as zit and poo have been so comical to me that I try to make sure I give her an excuse to get into character. (Just be thankful it was laxative and not the canalise, that PostMark plumped for, Jane)
Thanks all.
Very enjoyable. Easy to get started with 1D but some tricky corners where I got slowed down. Absolutely masterful thematic work and initially, plodding through on a smartphone without having seen all the clues I wondered if it might be Cliff Richard until 24D made it quite clear where it was headed and why Bambi had been included (ref Bamber Gascoigne sand the memorable University Challenge episode).
Thanks to RatkojaRiku for looking up the other episode titles in the grid, many of which I didn’t know and to Bluth for the tougher than usual challenge, which was ultimately rewarding as ever.
Thanks Wrynose!
As a fan of the show I found this extra enjoyable. I’d never heard of the Landrail so that required a bit of guesswork but I found most of the clues just the right level of tricky to be satisfying. First I’ve heard of the ‘indirect anagram’ debate but the clue was completely fair from my perspective. And I do love it when the theme requires no knowledge of the subject but when you see it you get a happy frisson!
Thanks to RatkojaRiku abs Bluth, who is becoming one of my favourite setters!
Ta Lab
In case it’s of interest, I’ve just discovered that the chaps at Cracking The Cryptics have done this one too:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLq8J8TQxo8&feature=emb_logo
I watched the Cracking The Cryptic thing, thanks Dave, very enjoyable. Simon parsed CASH differently from RatkojaRiku (and also me), as CA’s h{ush}. Both work, but I wonder what was intended.
I was in my 30s when The Young Ones appeared and I have to admit I didn’t find it really very funny. But before people say yes, that’s just you, I have found many other sitcoms of a much later date, like The Office, or The Royle Family, or Ab Fab, wonderful.
Wil @23 – I noticed Simon’s parsing of CASH. Like you say, it works, but the intention was as RatkojaRiku has it in the blog. He was also just a little vague on the definition for FAIRY RING – the clue ends with “revealing the presence of low life” which isn’t a reference to the notion of fairies but the fungus that it actually reveals the presence of – “a plant of one of the lowest groups”
I would have been 11 when The Young Ones came out and I remember it feeling wildly exciting. I haven’t watched it for many a year so I don’t know if it stands the test of time. But then I don’t really think ‘standing the test of time’ is an important benchmark for anything to have. What it definitely did is change the landscape. It made other things possible. Ab Fab – for sure – wouldn’t have existed without it. And not just because of the obvious personal connections between the cast.
Apologies for the incoming name-drop. I once had a very small part in Ab Fab. (In which I was pretty awful, but there you go)
I was rather nervous to be in the company of such an incredible and well-established cast. They were a close knit bunch. We were filming in a train carriage, with all the Js (Jennifer, Joanna, Julia and Jane) sitting around one 4 seat table and me sitting across the aisle from them. Timid. Not saying anything. In between takes, one of them would pull out a newspaper and they’d fill the time while the crew reset things by doing a cryptic together. At one point a clue was read out and I was the one who unscrambled the anagram so I spoke up. And all of a sudden, I was one of the gang.
fwiw, while I object to the idea that ‘indirect anagram = mistake’, I think they generally don’t make good clues for two reasons: a) they have to be obvious, and obvious is not good in my book, and b) there’s a disconnect between the solution and the clue which I always find takes the wind out of the clue. The only one I can remember that was worth its salt and didn’t fail on either of those grounds was this one:
Cheese cut & grated (8)
by Quaiteaux, Independent 9793
James @25 I obviously think this indirect anagram works – otherwise I wouldn’t have put it in there.
To me, the clue would be almost identical – but without any indirect anagram – if the words ‘Newton-John’ were changed to ‘Olivia’. The clue would still work technically but the surface would, I think, feel clunky. What – to me – makes the clue feel satisfying – is that the natural assumption is that the phrase ‘Grease’s Newton John’ should be taken as a piece.
Bluth, all agreed. My second gratuitous comment was only because I didn’t want to seem like I was advocating more of the same (I’m with sheffieldhatter, really), but that’s only a matter of taste (v dry).
quizzydan also did this puzzle on his twitch stream and it went down a storm. Interestingly Dan always saves 7d for a lame pun with an upturned can of 7up. By this time the commenters were all well aware of the theme and had made the connection that the setter only did subliminally
I didn’t know about Quizzydan, thanks for the information, John.
This happens to me quite a lot – I only managed about 50% of this on Wednesday. But I finished the rest relatively quickly today. The NE corner put up the most resistance with LAXATIVE last in.
AMERICANO, FAIRY RING and LAXATIVE were my favourites.
An enjoyable solve and it was definitely worth coming back to finish it off.
Thanks to Bluth and RR