Happy New Year from Raich, and from me – best wishes for 2026.
An enjoyable puzzle with nothing too awkward – certainly easier than the Boxing Day one I blogged last week. I liked 1d for its neatly simple construction; 25d is also very neat, although I don’t want to dwell on the recent UK news stories it brings to mind.
Raich is in anniversary mood for New Year’s Day, with a theme of events from 60 years ago in 1966. We have:
- The England football team’s World Cup win, managed by Alf RAMSEY and with HURST, BANKS, MOORE and two CHARLTONs in the team
- The release of the Beatles album REVOLVER
- The TV sitcom TILL DEATH US DO PART – actually the pilot show was broadcast in 1965, but the series proper started in 1966
- The first broadcast of TV series STAR TREK
I think that’s all. If I’ve missed anything, I’ll point out that I was only 1 when it happened . . . Thanks Raich for the fun.
Definitions are underlined; BOLD UPPERCASE indicates letters used in the wordplay; square brackets [ ] indicate omitted letters.
| ACROSS | ||
| 1/12 | TILL DEATH US DO PART |
Unusual oldish adult patter in Alf’s vehicle on the box (4,5,2,2,4)
|
| Anagram (unusual) of OLDISH ADULT PATTER.
Extended definition: the TV sitcom Till Death Us Do Part was a vehicle for the character Alf Garnett, a middle-aged man who wasn’t afraid to express reactionary opinions. Probably not broadcastable now, even as satire. |
||
| 6 | HURST |
Geoff’s hat-trick, underlining rich sporting talent from the outset (5)
|
| First letters (from the outset) of H[at-trick] U[nderlining] R[ich] S[porting] T[alent].
Extended definition: England footballer Geoff Hurst was the first player ever to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final, in the 1966 win against West Germany. |
||
| 9 | BANKS |
One who saved lenders (5)
|
| Double definition. Former England goalkeeper Gordon Banks = a player who saved goals; or financial institutions that lend money. | ||
| 10 | BARCAROLE |
Song of Catalan club (part) (9)
|
| BARCA (Barça = short name for the Catalan football club FC Barcelona) + ROLE (a part in a play).
Also spelled barcarolle: a traditional folk song associated with Venetian gondoliers, or a piece of music in a similar “rocking” slow 6/8 tempo. |
||
| 11 | RAMSEY |
Alf’s magnificent success initially in year recalled (6)
|
| First letters (initially) of M[agnificent] S[uccess], inserted into YEAR reversed (recalled).
Extended definition: Sir Alf Ramsey started as England football manager in 1963 and was in charge for the 1966 World Cup victory. |
||
| 12 |
See 1
|
|
| 14 | BRUSH-OFF |
Hurry away after end of job, refusing to talk? (5-3)
|
| RUSH OFF (hurry away) after the end letter of [jo]B.
Brush-off = slang for a refusal to engage in conversation with someone. |
||
| 16 | FOCUS |
Centre of attention following firm’s return to America (5)
|
| F (abbreviation for following), then CO (short for company or corporation = firm = business organisation) reversed (return), then US (America). | ||
| 19 | NASAL |
Referring to hooter, space guys livid at first (5)
|
| NASA (abbreviation for the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration = space guys) + first letter of L[ivid].
Hooter = slang for nose; nasal = relating to the nose. |
||
| 21 | REVOLVER |
Weapon record of four (8)
|
| Double definition. A multiple-shot handgun; or the title of an album by the Beatles (the “Fab Four”). | ||
| 24 | STAR TREK |
Open in relation to king’s programme (4,4)
|
| START (open, as a verb = begin) + RE (in relation to) + K (abbreviation for king).
TV sci-fi programme. |
||
| 27 | STUCCO |
At first some take up commercial construction of building material (6)
|
| Initial letters (at first) of S[ome] T[ake] U[p] C[ommercial] C[onstruction] O[f].
Traditional building material, used either as a surface coating or between strips of timber in “lath and plaster” construction. |
||
| 29 | ROGUISHLY |
Hours entertained by girls you fancy in mischievously playful way (9)
|
| H (abbreviation for hours), contained in (entertained by) an anagram (fancy) of GIRLS YOU. | ||
| 30 | RANGE |
Moved fast, say, on return in large open area (5)
|
| RAN (moved fast), then EG (say = for example) reversed (on return).
A large area of land used for grazing livestock, as in the US folksong Home on the Range. |
||
| 31 | MOORE |
Captain producing extra, with repeated love (5)
|
| MORE (extra), with the O (zero = love in tennis scoring) repeated.
Bobby Moore, captain of the England football team who won the 1966 World Cup. |
||
| 32 | CHARLTONS |
Brothers in Athletic club succeeded (9)
|
| CHARLTON (the London football club Charlton Athletic) + S (abbreviation for succeeded).
The footballing brothers Jack and Bobby Charlton. |
||
| DOWN | ||
| 1 | TABARD |
Jacket cheers poet (6)
|
| TA (cheers = slang for thank you) + BARD (poet).
A short sleeveless coat. |
||
| 2 | LANDMARKS |
They’re easily noticed, birds with plumage in centre brought in (9)
|
| LARKS (birds), containing (. . . brought in) AND (with) + centre letter of [plu]M[age]. | ||
| 3 | DISPELS |
Gets rid of wretched spiels after reread in the end (7)
|
| Anagram (wretched) of SPIELS after the end letter of [rerea]D. | ||
| 4 | ABBE |
Priest seen in cab — bearded (4)
|
| Hidden answer (seen in) [c]AB BE[arded].
Abbé = French-derived word for a Catholic clergyman. |
||
| 5 | HORUS |
Singers missing start — God! (5)
|
| [c]HORUS (a group of singers) without the starting letter.
Ancient Egyptian god. |
||
| 6 | HEAD OFF |
Avoid Anne Boleyn’s fate (4,3)
|
| Double definition. To divert away from a collision course, either literally or metaphorically (for example to head off an argument by changing the subject); or the fate of Anne Boleyn who was beheaded. | ||
| 7 | RIOJA |
Perhaps red port city, German — yes (5)
|
| RIO (short for Rio de Janeiro = port city in Brazil) + JA (German word for yes).
Wine from the Rioja region of Spain: it’s best known for red wine (“red” for short) but also produces white wine, hence the “perhaps”. |
||
| 8 | TREATISE |
Pleasant surprise, one’s first to edit thoughtful work (8)
|
| TREAT (a pleasant surprise) + I’S (one’s) + first letter of E[dit].
A formal and systematic piece of writing about a particular topic, so a piece that the writer has to think hard about. |
||
| 13 | DOUR |
Gloomy party you’re texting (4)
|
| DO (slang for a party) + UR (abbreviation for “you are” = “you’re” in text messages). | ||
| 15 | FIVE |
Cardinal on rise provided volume after vacation (4)
|
| IF (provided = on the condition that) reversed (on the rise = upwards in a down clue), then V[olum]E (on vacation = after emptying = with the inner letters removed).
A cardinal number. |
||
| 17 | CRESCENDO |
Belief unfinished scene must be included in artistic passage (9)
|
| CREDO (a belief), including SCEN[e] without the last letter (unfinished).
A passage of music that gradually gets louder (from the Italian word for growing or increasing). |
||
| 18 | ANGSTROM |
Unit worry over resistance award (8)
|
| ANGST (worry) before (over, in a down clue) R (abbreviation for electrical resistance) + OM (abbreviation for Order of Merit = award).
Unit used to express the wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation (one ten thousand millionth of a metre), named after the Swedish physicist Anders Jonas Ångström. |
||
| 20 | LATTICE |
Type of window in small attic extension (7)
|
| Hidden answer (in . . .) [smal]L ATTIC E[xtension].
Lattice window = one made up of small panes of glass joined by a lattice of diagonal strips. |
||
| 22 | LITERAL |
Free, having time for book, not imaginative (7)
|
| LI[b]ERAL (free = generous or not restrictive), with T (abbreviation for time) instead of B (abbreviation for book). | ||
| 23 | BOREAS |
Wind blast, not final, arose at sea (6)
|
| B[last] without LAST (final), then an anagram (at sea = shaken up) of AROSE.
The Greek god of the north wind, or a personification of the north wind. |
||
| 25 | AGGRO |
Element of flag group is trouble (5)
|
| Hidden answer (element of . . .) in [fl]AG GRO[up].
Slang shortening of aggravation or aggression: difficulties encountered in achieving something, or troublesome behaviour. |
||
| 26 | ETHIC |
Turning up full of hubris in the beginning, refer to moral belief (5)
|
| CITE (refer to), containing (full of) the beginning letter of H[ubris], all reversed (turning up, in a down clue). | ||
| 28 | MYNA |
Flier many recollected (4)
|
| Anagram (re-collected = put together in a different way) of MANY.
Also spelled mynah: a bird = a creature that flies. |
Nice approachable puzzle for those of us enjoying a long lie in on NYD (I am actually up now!) I spotted the footballers but did not realise the other themers were all tied to the year. Only hiccup was LOI BOREAS – I am sure I have seen the word before in a crossword but nowhere else so, even with the likely -OREAS, I didn’t know what came first and failed to spot the cunning deletion. Chapeau to setter.
Thanks both and HNY to all
A hangover-friendly diamond of a puzzle to start New Year’s Day; straightforward, especially for those, like me, who are old enough to remember 1966. At first I overthought 28 and put SKUA, as its reverse is AUKS (many fliers) although ‘recollected’ doesn’t really mean ‘returned’. The anagram at 29 put me right. Thanks Raich and Quirister.
Thanks both. I too faltered only with BOREAS, where toreas was more appealing, impeded only by its non-existence. The impressively clued BANKS went in early, and once RAMSEY appeared, I wondered if we were to see the full eleven. Having visited the temple of HORUS a little over a week ago, it was nice to see its appearance. Very best wishes to all for 2026.
I managed to overcome the paradox of ” If you can remember the 60s, you weren’t really there.” Great fun, then and now. I was looking for (Nobby) Stiles, but that would have been a step too far.
I blame the NYE drinkies but struggled to get going, unusual for a Raich personally. Got there but missed the 1966 and all that theme. Thanks Raich and the Q lady, HNY to you both.
I was a lot older than 1 back then, so the 60s vibe stood out, perhaps a bit too much? I think that the theme somewhat kidnapped the puzzle, and held Raich to ransom. Some clues paid the price.
Still, I loved it; and I completed it, so it must be brilliant crossword.
May be, BOREAS, 23(d), was that, ” I need a word that fits”, situation?
STAR TREK, 24(ac): a nice idea , but the 60s surface was a bit lame. I’d have closed it with ” Kennedy’s first space programme” . But what do I know? I wanted Roger Hunt and Dr. No, in the mix !
A charming puzzle, and Ms.Q had all the smart gadgets, as usual. Cheers Raich.
And a happy 2026 to all setters, bloggers and solvers.
This was massively unfair on those of us who are neither English enough nor old enough nor footy-mad enough for it. But I do appreciate that I’m not in the target audience, and that y’all do have to run puzzles themed on the 1966 England squad periodically–at least until such time as England finally manage to repeat their feat. And as a general thing I’m not really in a position to gripe about a British crossword being too British.
I had to cheat on CHARLTONS, not knowing the brothers and having forgotten about the club, whose last stint in the Premier League ended right about when I started paying attention to the Premier League. Ah well. I also cheated on Star Trek, for which I have no excuses.
Thanks Raich and Quirister. Liked the puzzle a lot, and was happy to finish it, something which I rarely manage on the Independent. Missed the 1966 theme – congrats to all the Brits on the jubilee of your historic win, and may the strongest one win this year across the ocean!
I made a mistake entering 26dn – ETHOS, not ETHIC and didn’t get 32ac. A pity, as my father a lifelong supporter of Charlton Athletic. (The first football game I got taken to was at Charlton in the fifties, the last was Italy vs North Korea in the 1966 World Cup.)
Although STAR TREK started in the US in 1966, it wasn’t shown in the UK until 1969. These days people complain when a US is shown more than a day after the US showing.
[Dormouse: here in the US, we get Great British Bake-Off* two months after it airs in Britain. Really annoying, since it means that if you google anything related to the show, you get spoilers.
*known in North America as Great British Baking Show, because flour brand Pillsbury owns the trademark here for the word Bake-Off (they’ve sponsored an annual baking competition under that name for decades).]
[I was a big fan of Buffy 30 years ago. The trouble with that was the mid-season break. A new season would start in the US in the autumn but there were 22 episodes in season. So no new episodes were shown here until the new year so they could be shown without a break. Now people are getting used to the break. The coming Winter Olympics however are now messing things up.]
Quirister @ intro
The only thing you’ve missed out is “best” between “Beatles” and “album” 😉
Many thanks for the excellent blog, Quirister. You have indeed spotted everything intended as thematic.
Thanks also to all who commented,
Raich had a puzzle in the Independent on an anniversary of the England World Cup win with all the players’ names in the grid. Quite a grid-friendly collection of names which did help.