Superb current affairs themed puzzle from Guy. Find it to solve online or download and print at ft.com/crossword
Once again, it has been a pretty depressing month for news headlines, but this puzzle managed to put a smile on my face with some first-rate clueing, packed with witty wordplay and an impressive number of topical references. Great stuff. Thanks, Guy!
Definitions are underlined in the clues below.
| ACROSS | ||
| 1 | MIRACULOUSLY |
Usual McIlroy wobbles, with incredible outcome (12)
|
| Anagam (wobbles) of USUAL MCILROY
Irish golfer Rory McIlroy won the Masters tournament at Augusta after overcoming some wobbles on the final day. Great opening clue! |
||
| 8 | DOCTOR |
Flipping rubbish, fake Jesus-like figure? (6)
|
| Reversal (flipping) of ROT (rubbish) + COD (fake)
The US president posted on social media a picture depicting him as a Jesus-like figure, which he claimed was meant to be showing him as a doctor. Some have suggested his advisors had actually told him to say the picture was doctored. Believe what you wish… |
||
| 9 | CHEQUERS |
‘Vetters’ heard in PM’s address occasionally (8)
|
| Sounds like ‘CHECKERS’ (vetters)
The PM has spoken a lot lately about the vetting process that saw Peter Mandelson appointed as ambassador to the US |
||
| 10 | BLOCKADE |
Barrier proposed, restricting where boats go up and down (8)
|
| BADE (proposed) containing (restricting) LOCK (where boats go up and down)
The US want to impose a blockade on the Strait of Hormuz to stop boats going up and down it |
||
| 12 | ORGAN |
Newspaper article on Olly Robbins’ grilling, primarily (5)
|
| AN (article) on the first letters (primarily) of Olly Robbins Grillilng
Olly Robbins was the senior civil servant responsible for vetting Mandelson and has now lost his job over the scandal |
||
| 13 | COUP |
Constant pressure on Oxford University’s stroke (4)
|
| C (speed of light – a constant) + P (pressure) on OU (Oxford University)
The annual Varsity boat race took place in early April, with Cambridge winning the men’s race, Oxford the women’s |
||
| 14 | DISABUSED |
Unemployed holding top grades shown how things really are (9)
|
| DISUSED (unemployed) containing (holding) A + B (top grades) | ||
| 15 | ORANGEMAN |
Anti-Catholic, Trump? (9)
|
| Two definitions, referring to the Irish protestants and the president’s complexion
Although Pope Leo has been carefully diplomatic in his recent pronouncements, Trump has taken his anti-war stance personally and made a number of retaliatory comments |
||
| 18 | PRIG |
Naked Ape doctor easily offended sanctimonious type (4)
|
| [a]P[e] with the outer letters removed (naked) + RIG (doctor)
Desmond Morris, zoologist, author, artist, television presenter, best known for his 1967 book, The Naked Ape, has died aged 98 |
||
| 19 | SATIN |
Cook isn’t head of Apple — smooth finish (5)
|
| Anagram (cook) of ISNT + the first letter (head) of Apple
Tim Cook is stepping down as head of Apple after 15 years, to be replaced by John Ternus |
||
| 20 | LIFE PEER |
Story with fine received by fellow taking a leak — Mandelson? (4,4)
|
| LIE (story) with F (fine) inserted (received) + PEER (fellow taking a leak, ie pee-er)
Another reference to the Mandelson scandal and another clue with a great surface reading |
||
| 22 | WORMWOOD |
Row about MoD stocks without cause for bitterness (8)
|
| ROW reversed (about) + MOD containing (stocks) WO (without)
Presumably a reference to the argument over whether or not the UK should send military resources to the Gulf to support the US and Israel’s campaign |
||
| 24 | CHAFFS |
Charles bored by very loud kids (6)
|
| CHAS (Charles) containing (bored by) FF (fortissimo – very loud) | ||
| 26 | ASYLUM SEEKER |
Professed gay annoying Farage sees yarmulke dislodged (6,6)
|
| Anagram (dislodged) of SEES YARMULKE
The BBC reported that official advisors have been helping refugees fake being gay to make it more likely they will be granted asylum |
||
| DOWN | ||
| 1 | MOO |
Low object in orbit whose back is invisible (3)
|
| MOO[n] (object in orbit) less the final letter (whose back is invisible)
Presumably a reference to the Artemis mission |
||
| 2 | RATE-CAP |
Speed sailor capsized is local limit (4-3)
|
| PACE (speed) + TAR (sailor) reversed (capsized)
The UK government has introduced a cap on interest rates for some mortgages |
||
| 3 | CIRCA |
US agency shepherding King Charles around roughly (5)
|
| CIA (US agency) containing (shepherding) CR (King Charles) reversed (around)
Charles is making a State visit to the US. Let’s hope he doesn’t fall foul of ICE, eh? |
||
| 4 | LYCHEES |
Chinese produce pork pie and cheddar, you hear (7)
|
| Sounds like (you hear) LIE (pork pie) + CHEESE (cheddar) | ||
| 5 | USE |
Taking part in pious Easter service (3)
|
| Hidden (taking part) in pioUS Easter
The biggest date in the Christian calendar was this month |
||
| 6 | LOUNGES |
Glue son spread does nothing (7)
|
| Anagram (spread) of GLUE SON | ||
| 7 | DRINK-DRIVE |
Gently hit tee shot across river — which Tiger didn’t do? (5-5)
|
| DINK (gently hit) + DRIVE (tee shot) containing (across) R (river)
Tiger Woods was involved in a car crash recently, but contrary to some early reports he wasn’t found to be drunk at the time |
||
| 11 | LEO TOLSTOY |
Pope briefly gave account scorning Republican, guy putting Peace second to War (3,7)
|
| LEO (pope) + TOL[d] (gave) with last letter removed (briefly) + STO[r]Y (account) removing (scorning) R (Republican)
Great clue referring to the Pope Leo’s recent anti-war comments |
||
| 12 | ORBAN |
Troublesome Baron who lost top job abroad (5)
|
| Anagram (troublesome) of BARON
Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban was comprehensively voted out after 16 years in the post |
||
| 14 | DIG IN |
To enjoy batting, ensure your defence is solid (3,2)
|
| DIG (to enjoy) + IN (batting) | ||
| 16 | ARTEMIS |
Space program’s craft is crossing space (7)
|
| ART (craft) + IS containing (crossing) EM (space measure in printing)
Artemis II has now returned to Earth after visiting the far side of the Moon |
||
| 17 | MILLDAM |
Pond’s embankment initially made badly — dear me, even bits missing (7)
|
| First letter (initially) of Made + ILL (badly) + odd letters (even bits missing) of DeArMe | ||
| 18 | PEP TALK |
Motivational speech that made Arsenal lose 2-1? (3,4)
|
| Cryptic definition
Pep Guardiola is manager of Man City, who last week beat Premier League title rivals Arsenal to go top of the table |
||
| 21 | FICHE |
Flimsy data store worried chief (5)
|
| Anagram (worried) of CHIEF
It has been reported that personal health data of 500,000 UK residents is for sale on a Chinese website |
||
| 23 | OIL |
Commodity subject to insider trading raising some billions (3)
|
| Reversal (raising) of some bilLIOns
Some people are getting very rich off the back of wildly fluctuating oil prices with inexplicably well timed moves in the market |
||
| 25 | FOR |
Lobby to have Ye excluded, because… (3)
|
| FO[ye]R (lobby) with YE removed
This year’s Wireless festival was cancelled following public protests and withdrawal of sponsors when organisers announced Kanye West would be headlining |
Excellent puzzle. Superb blog.
Thanks Guy and Widdersbel.
My faves: DOCTOR, PRIG, SATIN, LIFE PEER, MOO (To the Artemis crew, the back side of the moon was ‘visible’), CIRCA (the blogger’s comment: ha ha ha), LEO TOLSTOY and PEP TALK.
LEO T
Would it be better if you take ‘gave account’ as ‘TOLD STORY’ (without splitting)?
KVa – no, because ‘briefly’ applies specifically to TOL[d]. The grammar is sound – it’s a transitive verb+object phrase in both clue and solution, with accurately matching definitions
Thanks Widdersbel. I stand corrected.