Financial Times 17,408 by Gozo

10 comments on “Financial Times 17,408 by Gozo”

1. I agree, we’re getting rather spoilt with all these jumbo crosswords and no, that’s not a complaint! We’re certainly in good hands with Gozo.
   REAGAN was my way into the theme. For the most part, the grid was a steady solve though I had a few tussles in the NW section.
   I took a long time to fathom 4 and 17 (very good) but it was BREMENHAVEN which caught me out. I kept trying to make Broadstairs (using tars) work here even though it wouldn’t fit with ELLS.
   Favourites included BREATHALYSE, NUANCE, ST ELMO’S FIRE and CEDILLA.
   Wonderful!
   Thanks to Gozo and Pete.

2. Thanks, Gozo and Pete Maclean!
   EPISODE

   EPODE (collinsdictionary.com)
   a type of lyric poem composed of couplets in which a long line is followed by a shorter one, invented by Archilochus.
   IS in EPODE.

3. Pete goes beyond the call of duty again, and doubles up. Many thanks

   I also found this steady going, and on the easy side, but enjoyable

   I too could not parse EPISODE, and thanks to KVa for solving it.

   I must admit I loved some of the clues relating to politicians – REAGAN for starters. I did feel VELT as a homophone for felt was a bit of a stretch in 35, and I am astounded anyone would think of Cilla Black reading Ms Black. Well done all that got that remote reference.

   Thanks Pete and thanks Gozo

4. Thanks for the blog, you are doing overtime this week. Good set of clues with a friendly theme. ROOSEVELT a bit questionable, Theodore yes, FDR emphatically no.
   ANTHILL could have had a Wacky Races reference.
   Martyn@3 Cilla was pretty famous over a long time period in the UK , first as a singer then as a general TV presenter , mainly Blind Date, for many Ms Black would makes us think Cilla.

5. For some of us, “Ms Black” is Pauline first and foremost but I didn’t think that would be who we were after here – Cilla seemed far more likely.

   Very enjoyable puzzle, not too challenging but fun. Also appreciated the cheekiness of having a theme of republicans on the coronation weekend.

   Thanks, Gozo and Pete.

   Roz, I don’t think there’s anything questionable about ROOSEVELT being a Republican, as long as you do specify Theodore.

6. It is annoying that when we get a printed Jumbo we do not also get the normal crossword. I do not do on line.

   Agree with Roz on Cilla. One of my favourite performers. Who is Pauline Black?

   Small typo Pete in 37 ac. It is “AN Ingle”

7. Malcom I get annoyed as well, I had to go to the IT office to get the normal crossword printed. The FT is just trying to promote online puzzles so it can collect data from people.
   Pauline Black was a singer for The Selecter if that is who Widdersbel means, one of my favourites as well , not as famous as Cilla unfortunately.

8. KVa, Thank you for the explanation of EPISODE.

9. Thanks Gozo for an entertaining Jumbo. I would add HOOVER(ED) to the list of Republicans though he wasn’t specifically referenced in 7ac. Also impressive was the lack of snark in a crossword with political figures as a theme — Tories certainly are the recipient of such hostility and many Republicans are cut from the same cloth. I did notice LUNATIC as “fringe member” and SARAH PALIN in the very center of the grid — I thought that was funny. I began ticking favourite clues but in a Gozo jumbo the number grew too large to list them all. Thank Pete for the blog.

10. [Pete: I just noticed that HOOVER was clued as one of the 7ac, my oversight.]

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