Goliath is today’s setter.
I thought I was going to struggle to finish this when my first pass at the across clues provided only three entries, but the down clues were a little easier, and the crossers gave me everything I needed until I was stuck with finding an anagram from RUSSIAN AT and the elusive (and possibly incorrect) FIFTEEN. AT SUNRISE actually hit me as I looked out the window and saw it was getting light, so that was coincidence.
Apologies for 13 across being missing below. The blogging software we used ran the clues for NEW LEASE OF LIFE and CARGO together, and I don’t have the requisite skills to correct it.
The parsing for CARGO at 13 across is C(aptain) [‘s first] + ARGO (“ship”).
A challenging puzzle, but everything was fair and above board, my favourites being END OF STORY and REALITY TV.
Thanks Goliath.
| ACROSS | ||
| 1 | RESIDE |
Mastermind’s last series mostly broadcast live (6)
|
| *(d serie) [anag:broadcast] where D is (mastermin)D [‘s last] and SERIE is SERIE(s) [mostly] | ||
| 4 | RECTUM |
Reportedly cause damage to one part of the alimentary canal or another (6)
|
| Homophone [reportedly] of WRECK + TUM (“one part of the alimentary canal”) | ||
| 8 | INFORMS |
Imparts knowledge to schoolchildren here (7)
|
| “schoolchildren” can be found IN FORMS | ||
| 9 | ADAMANT |
Character from the Old Testament and New Testament starts getting stubborn (7)
|
| ADAM (“character from the Old Testament”) + A(nd) N(ew) T(estament) [starts] | ||
| 11, 12 | NEW LEASE OF LIFE |
Fine fellow managed to take in relaxation and rejuvenation (3.5,2,4)
|
| *(fine fellow) [anag:managed] to take in EASE (“relaxation”) | ||
| 14 | LEAD ROLE |
Heavy metal intros to rock opera: loud explosions an important part (4,4)
|
| LEAD + [intros to] R(ock) O(pera) L(oud) E(xplosions) | ||
| 16 | BACCARAT |
Talked of retreat, a traitor’s game (8)
|
| Homophone [talked of] of BACK (“retreat”) + A + RAT (“traitor”) | ||
| 18 |
See 5
|
|
| 20, 21 | GOOD INTENTIONS |
Sticky stuff, 21 down, doesn’t make infernal paving? (4,10)
|
| GOO (“sticky stuff”) + *(doesn’t innit) [anag:make] where INNIT is the answer to “21 down”
The road to hell (“infernal paving”)is paved with GOOD INTENTIONS |
||
| 23 | CORVINE |
Like the crows and ravens to get my plant (7)
|
| COR (“my”) + VINE (“plant”) | ||
| 24 | FIFTEEN |
By itself, it’s the measure of the puzzle (7)
|
| I’m not 100% certain this is correct, but I can’t think of another word that fits here. The puzzle is FIFTEEN by fifteen, hence the name of the blog. | ||
| 25 | STRATA |
A piece of pastry is turned in layers (6)
|
| <=A TART’S (“a piece of pastry”) [is turned] | ||
| 26 | JERSEY |
Jeyes fluid around the top of Rhode Island (6)
|
| *(jeyes) [anag:fluid] around [the top of] R(hode) | ||
| DOWN | ||
| 1 | RANGE |
Variety of peeled oranges (5)
|
| [peeled] (o)RANGE(s) | ||
| 2 | SPOILER |
This may ruin the fun part of a sportscar (7)
|
| Double definition | ||
| 3 | DEMEANOUR |
Belittle the FT’s attitude (9)
|
| DEMEAN (“belittle”) + OUR (“the FT’s”) | ||
| 5, 18 | END OF STORY |
We hear why there’s no more to be said (3,2,5)
|
| “Why” is a homophone [we hear] of Y which is THE END OF (STOR)Y | ||
| 6 | TUMBLER |
Glass for Jill? (7)
|
| Double definition, the second referring to the nursery rhyme, Jack and Jill. | ||
| 7 | MINDFULLY |
Taking care of object throughout (9)
|
| MIND (“object” as in “I don’t mind”) + FULLY (“throughout”) | ||
| 10 | REALITY TV |
Awful tat, verily? (7,2)
|
| *(tat verily) [anag:awful] &lit. | ||
| 13 | CLAMOROUS |
Noisy and extremely casual loving (9)
|
| [extremely] C(asua)L + AMOROUS (“loving”) | ||
| 15 | AT SUNRISE |
Early Russian roulette’s 5th and 6th shot (2,7)
|
| *(russian et) [anag:shot] where ET is (roul)ET(te) [‘s 5th and 6th] | ||
| 17 | CADAVER |
Rogue state body (7)
|
| CAD (“rogue”) + AVER (“state”) | ||
| 19 | OPIATES |
As poet, I misused drugs (7)
|
| *(as poet i) [anag:misused] | ||
| 21 | INNIT |
Isn’t it commonly a feature of tinnitus? (5)
|
| Hidden in [a feature of] (T)INNIT(us) | ||
| 22 | NEEDY |
Born with disability, but not content to be poor (5)
|
| NEE (“born”) with D(isabilit)Y [but not (it’s) content] |
Goliath’s puzzles are always fun and this was no exception.
My sentiments exactly on both 2d (Compare the sleek 1950 Porsche 356 with the 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera) and 10d!
My favourite was the sticky path of 20a/21a but there were others (3, 16, 21d) and I liked the neat symmetry of the wordplay in 1a and 26 in the corners.
Thanks to Goliath and Loonapick.
Meant to add my thanks for the parsing of 6d; I wondered if it referred to a famous gymnast! And that was my thinking too for 24a.
Thanks loonapick and Goliath.
Another great puzzle, thoroughly enjoyed it.
GOOD INTENTIONS (top fav), FIFTEEN, END OF STORY, RECTUM, AT SUNRISE and REALITY TV (LOI) make my list.
It’s a while since I’ve seen a clue as easy as 1d. Except in puzzles in the Sydney Morning Herald on certain days. The latter puzzles are ridiculously easy — presumably for people cutting their teeth in the world of cryptics. Fortunately this one had some decent challenges too, and was an enjoyable divertissement.
MINDFULLY wasn’t hard to work out, but I found it difficult to pin down a definition. I liked RECTUM, despite the approximate nature of the homophone (don’t we all pronounce it with a schwa in its second syllable?). (Yes, I know, this is quite acceptable in crossword land!)
My favourite clue today was REALITY TV, which, incidentally, I fully endorse.
Just as well that I watch a lot of British TV shows or I would never have solved 21A. Although I was born and lived in England until I was sixteen, I don’t remember this contraction.
I totally agree with 10A: “reality” has nothing to do with those shows.
GDU@4 – apologies if my blog was unclear, but only the first half of RECTUM was indicated by the homophone.
FIFTEEN:
‘By itself’: FIFTEEN BY FIFTEEN
Have no problem with the parsing for 24a. 15 by itself, i.e., 15 by 15, is the measure of the puzzle. Failed to get the crossing RECTUM & MINDFULLY so thanks for that.
Nice not to be caught out, for once, by the homographs in 1a an 14a.
Sorry, Loonapick @6, my misunderstanding.
Thanks KVa that makes a lot of sense
The expected entertaining solve from Goliath made even better with GOOD INTENTIONS, the surface for CLAMOROUS and the excellent REALITY TV &lit – best clue of the week for me.
Thanks to Goliath and loonapick
Thanks Goliath. Like others I enjoyed GOOD INTENTIONS (infernal paving!), END OF STORY, and REALITY TV, so aptly described by its surface. I missed RECTUM (I didn’t go far enough with alimentary canal) as well as MINDFULLY. Thanks loonapick for the blog.