“A monthly cryptic crossword relating to the month’s topical events”
FT regular Julius has produced a smashing puzzle to launch this new online-only addition to the Pink’un’s cryptic series. Solve it on paper by printing from the FT website or use the slick smartphone app.
No in-depth knowledge of current affairs is required – everything you need can be picked up from the headlines, and the topical references are worked into the clues and solutions in a wide variety of inventive ways.
As we expect from Julius, it’s all infused with a sense of fun, with 28a providing the biggest laugh for me. The dangers of a topical theme are highlighted by the very first clue here, but we won’t hold that against Julius. A week is a long time in politics, after all. (Edit: see comment #5 from Julius on this.)
Lovely puzzle for me to get for my debut as a Fifteensquared blogger. Hope everyone else enjoyed it as much as I did.
PS if anyone was wondering about kenmac’s “New FT – New Comment” post announcing this series, it’s a nifty pun on the FT’s long-running advertising slogan, “No FT, no comment” – nicely done, Ken!
N (new) inserted into (in) an anagram (breaking) of (JAN I A RED CARD).
It was a major shock when the world’s most likeable politician announced she was stepping down as New Zealand’s Prime Minister. She left the post on 25 January, making this clue ever-so-slightly out of date by the time it was published. Them’s the breaks.
Not-very-cryptic definition. São Paulo is the financial capital of Brazil, Brasília being the federal capital.
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva began his second stint as the country’s President on 1 January.
Cryptic definition – a parent might very wisely say to their son, “NO TATE!” referring to former kickboxer and self-styled misogynist social media “influencer” Andrew Tate.
Tate is still on remand in Romania charged with a string of appalling offences against women. Thoroughly awful person but an amusing clue.
E (English) plus CAP (international sportsperson) inserted (detained) between S (southern) and E (IVR code for Spain).
The key is one on a computer keyboard.
Anagram (threw) of (YEAH MARK).
The internet tells me a haymaker punch is so-called because it resembles the broad, sweeping action of scything grass, but the supporting evidence for this seems thin. Where’s Susie Dent when you need her?
Amusing cryptic definition for the increasingly popular custom of abstaining from animal produce for the duration of January.
“Jack Sprat would eat no fat, his wife would eat no lean,” according to the nursery rhyme. Their feelings on tofu, jackfruit and seitan are not a matter of public record but it seems safe to assume they wouldn’t have been fans.
ERA (time) in FL (US Postal Service abbreviation for the state of Florida).
An anagram (shaking) of V (a “dash” of Vodka) + SODA.
The Swiss mountain resort is best known these days for hosting the World Economic Forum, an annual meeting of global political and corporate leaders.
AIR (show, as in broadcast on TV) + LETTER (landlord, ie one who lets).
TAX (raise revenue from) + DODGE (Dodge City, once notorious Wild West frontier town, which is in Kansas).
Apparently, there’s nothing at all suspicious in “forgetting” to declare £27m of income on your tax return, and the Conservative party chairman’s tax affairs are all entirely above board.
Reversal of OH PAPAS, removing (ex) the first A (common abbreviation for American). Or the second A, depending on which way you look at it.
Not much is known about the ancient Greek poet, and only a few fragments of her work survive, but if you want to learn more, I highly recommend the relevant episode of the excellent Natalie Haynes Stands Up for the Classics, which is available on BBC iPlayer
Reversal (rejected) of ANNE IV (“the fourth” in Roman numerals).
The Habsburgs were from Switzerland originally but installed themselves as Dukes of Vienna in the 13th century and made the city the HQ of what went on to become a vast empire. Lovely clue that would have been even better if there had been a real Anne IV.
Cryptic definition, emperors being a variety of penguin, and “penguin suit” being a slang description of men’s formal evening wear.
NEEDLES (as in pine needles, which are “things to be cleared up on Jan 6”, the traditional date when you take down the Christmas tree) + an anagram (played with) of (AS TOYS).
Took me ages to work out what the hell was going on here but I laughed when the penny dropped. Great clue.
J (first [letter] of January) + an anagram (modelled) of SEAN.
CU (symbol for the chemical element copper) + first letters (starts) of Pursue Predatory Attacker.
U (common abbreviation for United) inserted (held) twice into an anagram (rubbish) of SEASON.
“Sick” would have been a valid definition by itself, but the longer phrase works nicely with the surface reading, being the standard clichéd response of a football manager after a disappointing result.
Cryptic double definition, referring to the famous catchphrase from Laurel & Hardy films (also the title of a 1930 film of theirs), and the fact that Rishi Sunak has recently received his second police fine.
Sunak’s first run-in with the law came while Chancellor for partying during lockdown, the second while Prime Minister after being filmed failing to use his seatbelt as a car passenger. To paraphrase Oscar Wilde, once is unfortunate…
R (run, cricket abbreviation) + ANDY (Murray, tennis player).
Murray did well in the recent Australian Open, so can be referred to by the popular press as Britain’s Andy Murray – when he does badly, he’s Scotland’s Andy Murray. There’s another Andy who’s also been in the news recently, who used to be known in the press as Randy Andy. He doesn’t sweat and he doesn’t misbehave in the bath. Anyone who says otherwise, join the queue for your £12m payoff.
EX (former) TT (times, ie Tx2, T being a common abbreviation for time) containing (entertained) RAVER (party animal).
In case anyone was thinking of complaining, both “extrovert” and “extravert” are listed by the usual sources as acceptable spellings.
Anagram (failed) of MONE containing (to bring in) an anagram (new) of TRADE.
Reference to bra saleswoman and purveyor of dodgy face masks Michelle “Baroness” Mone, the Del Boy Trotter of the House of Lords.
Edit: this is the version of the clue that was in my preview. The published version is rather more cutting: “Our Lady Mone got mixed up with dodgy trade” – see comment #5 from Julius.
CO (company, or firm) + last letter (finally) of firinG.
Last letter (the end of) PelE + MA (mother) + NATION (country).
Sadly topical because Pelé died on 29 December. The surface reading alludes to Brazil’s mourning, but his loss was felt by football fans across the world.
Anagram (poor) of (ADVICE ON A).
Avoiding paying tax by exploiting loopholes is a “dodge” – morally iffy but legal. As opposed to tax evasion, which is a criminal offence. Which of these categories does forgetting to declare £27m of income fall under?
FT (this paper) containing LE (the in French) + an anagram (awfully) of POSH.
Alternate letters (every now and again) of ThIs Pm
D (daughter) + L (left) containing RAW (inflamed).
I’m taking “in” as the containment indicator, though the word order feels a tad unnatural.
SPARE moving the first letter to the end (from top to bottom).
For anyone who has been living in a cave for the past month, SPARE is the title of the recently published memoirs of Henry Windsor.
A straightforward double definition to end on.
Congratulations Widdersbel on your first blog. I would be a great supporter of this if only they printed it in the Saturday paper. Sorry to be a killjoy but I refuse to support anything that is online only.
Great blog Widders I enjoyed your extra commentary on the story behind the clue. I can also recommend the entire canon of Julia Haynes Stands up for the Classics. Amusing and informative in equal measure.
NEEDLESS TO SAY was indeed excellent but my favourite has to be ANOTHER FINE MESS.
Congratulations to the FT on a sparkling new crossword let’s hope there’s many more, and to Julius and Widdersbel for the inaugural setting and blogging
Thanks all.
[Apologies to Natalie Haynes I have no idea where the name Julia came from – a senior moment perhaps]
It seems that it is not necessary to subscribe to the FT app to be able to gain access to a version of FT puzzles that can be solved online without the need to do any printing. Go to the FT crossword site (using the link provided on fifteensquared or by googling “FT crosswords”), click on the puzzle in question. The puzzle then appears on the screen. Scroll down to where there is a link which says “iOS and Android apps”, and click on that. A screen then appears which shows a reference to the latest FT puzzle in the centre. Click on that. A box displaying the number of the puzzle then appears on the screen, and the puzzle can be seen behind it. Click on the cross in the top RH corner of the box. Voilà!
Widdersbel! How nice to see you!
Thanks for the blog, and thanks to those who have commented. The new FT crossword ed had the idea for a monthly puzzle themed around topics in the news and he’s roped in a team of six compilers who’ll take turns. The puzzle will be published on the last Sunday of the month but since the FT doesn’t print a paper on Sunday it will only be available to solve from ft.com or on the FT app, where it can be solved interactively.
Just a couple of points re the blog:
1. It was the resignation announcement of Jacinda Ardern plus the realisation that Jan1 is contained in the letters of her name which kicked off the grid design and I don’t necessarily think that this means she’s no longer “news”.
2. The clue for 7D is different on the finished version to the one mentioned in the blog. It should read “Our Lady Mone got mixed up with dodgy trade (5,4)”. To cut a long story short, I wanted the clue to be quite waspish but it was toned down a bit (FT legal) then somehow toned back up again…
best wishes to all, Rob/Julius
Well done widders on your debut blog and a fun puzzle with which to do it. This felt very quiptic in style and I rather raced through it with only VEGANUARY requiring a second visit and AVOIDANCE/PARES waiting on the solution of the clues referenced therein. That’s not a criticism: the clues were all delightfully put together and there was topicality and wit aplenty. As there was in the blog: setters will need to be on their toes if they are not going to be outcompeted by the blogger at this rate!
Favourites include HAYMAKER, VIENNA, NEEDLESS TO SAY, AVOIDANCE, EMANATION, NOTRE DAME and, favourite, ANOTHER FINE MESS.
Thanks Julius/Rob and widders
Technical point on the interface. Although I didn’t need them, I discovered that none of the buttons worked at the top. Or, at least, they only worked if I first pressed ‘Clear Crossword’ and then declined to do so. Teething troubles with software? Or only me?
Thanks, Rob. I assumed the “Jan 1” spot was the main reason you’d included Jacinda Ardern. Given that she only announced her resignation on 19 Jan, that’s an impressively quick turn around for the puzzle! And yes, of course she’s still very much newsworthy. Thanks also for flagging up the change to 7d, which I’d missed.
For anyone who wants to read more about this new series, there’s a piece by the FT crossword ed.
Thanks to commenters too, appreciate your contributions.
Thanks, Julius for the lovely puzzle. Enjoyed solving it.
Congratulations Widdersbel! Your first blog-detailed and flawless.
The check and Reveal buttons were not working. However, when the puzzle was fully solved, there was a message of confirmation. This has been the case for the last several days (These features worked fine for a few days initially).
A great puzzle, as usual, from Julius and a fine blog.
May I comment on the tax issues raised. The well-known ones are evasion and avoidance but there is a third which is “Carelessness”, which is dealt with in the Governnment’s taxation website and was also referred to in an interview given in Parliament but not in direct relationship to Zahawi.
The reaction of HMRC ranges from “Tut, don’t do that again” to “Tut, tut here’s a 30% penalty”.
7D: Such a clever clue, and much better in its more waspish form.
I read the piece by the FT crossword editor but couldn’t remember a “dig at the police”?
Of course it’s in 2D which I managed to solve without noticing the surface.
Thanks J&W
Good puzzle which I thoroughly enjoyed. I got into a spot of bother by entering extrOvert for 6D and I took a while to realise that there is also a spelling extrAvert.
I thought the blog was excellent – congratulations- though I certainly don’t agree that the former New Zealand prime minister is the world’s most likeable politician.
She’s left the country in a terrible economic mess and stranded countless New Zealanders unnecessarily overseas for many many months. She was deeply unpopular at home, which is why she has resigned because she was about to lose an election.
A great idea from the Ed for a monthly topical cryptic and a superb start from Julius .
The Penny drop moment of 13across once the crossers were in gives it top prize for me but there was a host of superb topical clues.
Thanks Julius and congratulations to our new blogger.
Echoing Roz’s comment to some degree, I would have missed this treat entirely had I not been a regular visitor to Fifteen Squared. I do like the idea of a topical puzzle, however, and I’ll be eagerly anticipating next month’s. (Always enjoy a Cyclops for this reason but that setter’s puzzles are somewhat naughtier).
I enjoyed your blog, Widdersbel, almost as much as the puzzle
itself, which was a hoot.
I liked the clever wordplay for JACINDA, along with RANDY, SPARE and the wonderful NEEDLESS TO SAY.
Thanks for bringing your customary wit to this new puzzle, Julius, and great job, Widdersbel.
Fun puzzle and great blog. Thanks, both.
Great puzzle and entertaining blog. Thank you, Rob and Widdersbell, both of you made me laugh.
Splendid puzzle. Very entertaining and a welcome new addition.
I had never done an FT puzzle before today – I did it purely because I noticed Widdersbel was the blogger, a name I know from another website 🙂 – so feel honoured, Widders! I even printed it out and did it with a pencil! (but only because I somehow found the printable version but not the online one).
Anyway, I found this rather fun, and significantly more accessible than I expected, so thanks to Julius for easing me in gently. I like the topicality angle a lot and will happily do this each month. Favourites included NEEDLESS TO SAY, NOTATE, ANOTHER FINE MESS (even though it was a write-in, it raised a big smile), TAX DODGE and FERAL.
Big thanks to both setter and blogger – I’ll be back!
Like Diane and Roz, discovering this was a happy accident. Thanks to Julius for trying to avoid being too British and especially for several witty clues. Favourites have been mentioned above – TAX DODGE, PARES and NEEDLESS TO SAY (which also took me some time to parse).
Thanks Julius and Widderspel.
Echo veneza @ 16. Refreshing.
I have finally got round to doing this on a fine NZ morning and that had nothing to do with the red card for the former PM. Moly’s comment is accuracy restrained.
Great puzzle Julius and thanks for the blog Widdersbell. I look forward to more from both.
(way behind the wave here, but…) Happened on this by chance and loved it. Thanks Julius, may your waspishness continue to keep its sting. Nice blogging too, Widdersbell. Looking forward to a tasty monthly extra!