Our daily entertainment is provided by Grecian today.
I found this mostly straightforward, particularly because it includes many familiar crossword tricks – among them BRA for supporter, U for posh, HAM for an actor, and the deadly reversal of the horse at 24d. But there are a few neat new ideas too, particularly “junk yard” and “Fairy Liquid” where half of the phrase needs to be read as an anagram indicator for the other half.
Grecian’s puzzles generally contain a theme and appear on Tuesdays; this being Thursday, I wasn’t particularly looking out for one – though I did notice quite a lot of sporting references (mostly football). However, it turns out there’s a good reason why this puzzle has appeared on a Thursday, suggested by 27a. We’re looking at Richard Osman’s novel The THURSDAY MURDER CLUB, which features characters called ELIZABETH, JOYCE, RON and IBRAHIM living in a retirement village called COOPER’S CHASE. There’s a hint to the two sequels too: the second novel in the series is The Man Who DIED Twice, and the third is The Bullet That Missed (the bullet is used for the definition in 6d but it’s a PROJECTILE in the grid, and we also have a NEAR MISS). Thanks Grecian for the fun.
Definitions are underlined; BOLD UPPERCASE indicates letters used in the wordplay; square brackets [ ] indicate omitted letters.
| ACROSS | ||
| 9 | DONNA |
Some gambled on Napoli for Italian title (5)
|
| Hidden answer (some . . .) in [gamble]D ON NA[poli].
The Italian version of the title “Lady”. |
||
| 10 | SCLEROTIC |
Celtic and Rangers wingers supply entertaining Old Firm (9)
|
| Anagram (supply = in a supple way) of CELTIC + outside letters (wingers) of R[anger]S, containing (entertaining) O (abbreviation for old). For the surface, “the Old Firm” refers to the rivalry between the Glasgow football clubs Celtic and Rangers.
Medical term describing body cells that have become hard (firm). |
||
| 11 | ELIZABETH |
Taylor possibly damaged the baize pocketing ball at last (9)
|
| Anagram (damaged) of THE BAIZE, containing (pocketing) the last letter of [bal]L.
The actress Elizabeth Taylor – though the surface presumably refers to the former snooker player Dennis Taylor. |
||
| 12 | JOYCE |
Writer‘s in church following rapture (5)
|
| CE (abbreviation for Church of England) following JOY (rapture).
The Irish writer James Joyce. |
||
| 13 | COOPERS |
Beer drinking exercise for artisans (7)
|
| COORS (a US beer brand) containing (drinking) PE (physical education = exercise).
Artisans = people working in traditional crafts, in this case barrel-making. |
||
| 15 | MACADAM |
Stones on the road in California entertained by pimp (7)
|
| CA (abbreviation for California) contained in (entertained by) MADAM (a brothel manager = pimp).
Road surface made of compacted crushed stone. |
||
| 17 | PRYER |
Snoop‘s more nimble topless (5)
|
| [s]PRYER (more spry = more nimble) without the first letter (topless).
Snoop = pry = to spy on someone. |
||
| 18 | RON |
Moody actor‘s comeback in Casino Royale (3)
|
| Hidden answer, reversed (comeback in . . .) in [casi]NO R[oyale].
The actor Ron Moody. |
||
| 20 | INTER |
Bury playmaker doesn’t start (5)
|
| [p]INTER (the playwright Harold Pinter = play-maker) without the first letter (doesn’t start).
Inter, as a verb = to bury in the ground. |
||
| 22 | IBRAHIM |
India supporter chanted song for Muslim prophet (7)
|
| I (abbreviation for India) + BRA (supporter) + homophone (chanted = spoken or sung) of HYMN (song).
Arabic form of Abraham, regarded in Islam as a prophet. |
||
| 25 | AVENUES |
Roads bulletin on the radio following hail (7)
|
| Homophone (on the radio) of NEWS, after AVE (hail! = a salutation, from the Latin). | ||
| 26 | CUMIN |
Conservative member at home welcoming Posh Spice (5)
|
| C (abbreviation for Conservative) + M (abbreviation for member) + IN (at home), containing (welcoming) U (as in “U and non-U” = short for upper-class = posh). | ||
| 27 | ROMANISED |
At first, Richard Osman’s confused about one edition translated into Latin (9)
|
| First letter of R[ichard], then an anagram (confused) of OSMAN around (about) I (one in Roman numerals), then ED (abbreviation for edition). | ||
| 30 | UNFASTENS |
Unorthodox nun’s feast opens (9)
|
| Anagram (unorthodox) of NUN’S FEAST. The idea of an “unorthodox nun” reminds me of a thematic entry in an enjoyable puzzle I blogged last week, but no spoilers . . . | ||
| 31 | CHASE |
Dave’s partner getting introduction to Ethan Hunt (5)
|
| CHAS (Dave’s partner in the Cockney singing duo Chas & Dave) + first letter (introduction) of E[than]. | ||
| DOWN | ||
| 1 | EDGE |
Creep in golf club abandoning wife (4)
|
| [w]EDGE (a type of golf club) without the W (abbreviation for wife).
Edge, as a verb = creep = move slowly and cautiously. |
||
| 2 | ANTIBODY |
Six footer beginning to improve physique is a natural defender (8)
|
| ANT (a six-footed insect) + beginning letter of I[mprove] + BODY (physique). | ||
| 3 | SAGA |
Soprano has range that’s epic (4)
|
| S (abbreviation for soprano voice) + AGA (brand name for a large cooker = range). | ||
| 4 | ASSESSOR |
Judge idiots like this Romeo (8)
|
| ASSES (idiots) + SO (like this) + R (Romeo in the radio alphabet). | ||
| 5 | OLDHAM |
Luvvie goes after antique in northern town (6)
|
| HAM (luvvie = slang for an actor) after OLD (antique).
Town in Greater Manchester, nothern England. |
||
| 6 | PROJECTILE |
Joe Exotic finally let rip about getting bullet perhaps (10)
|
| Anagram (about) of JOE + final letter of [exoti]C + LET RIP. | ||
| 7 | STAYED |
Remained sober in audition (6)
|
| Homophone (in audition) of STAID (sober = sensible but perhaps a bit boring). | ||
| 8 | ACHE |
Long introduction for hole in one (4)
|
| First letter (introduction) of H[ole], inserted into ACE (one in playing cards). | ||
| 13 | CAPRI |
Island goat with no ears (5)
|
| CAPRI[corn] (star sign symbolised by a goat) without CORN (ears of corn).
Italian island. |
||
| 14 | EARTHINESS |
Theresa’s in trouble for vulgarity (10)
|
| Anagram (trouble) of THERESA’S IN. | ||
| 16 | MORES |
Customs inspector moving down south (5)
|
| MORSE (Inspector Morse, in the books by Colin Dexter) with the letter S (south) moved to the end (downwards in a down clue).
Mores = customs = social norms. |
||
| 19 | NEAR MISS |
Messi ran amok close to goal (4,4)
|
| Anagram (amok) of MESSI RAN. | ||
| 21 | THURSDAY |
Junk yard shut for 24 hours (8)
|
| Anagram (junk) of YARD SHUT. | ||
| 23 | RAMIFY |
Branch of supermarket essentially drowning in Fairy Liquid (6)
|
| Middle letter (essentially) of [super]M[arket], inserted into (drowning in) an anagram (liquid) of FAIRY.
Ramify = branch = to split into separate branches. Perhaps better known in its noun form “ramifications” = complicated consequences. |
||
| 24 | MURDER |
Back horse to make a killing (6)
|
| RED RUM (Grand National winning racehorse) reversed (back). | ||
| 26 | CLUB |
Baby clothes left in nightspot (4)
|
| CUB (a baby animal) around (. . . clothes) L (abbreviation for left). | ||
| 28 | NICE |
Sweet start for Neil Diamond (4)
|
| Starting letter of N[eil], then ICE (slang for diamonds). | ||
| 29 | DIED |
Passed the German degree (4)
|
| DIE (a form of “the” in German) + D (abbreviation for degree). |
[There’s a couple of up-sides in this and in another place today]
I think there’s a DONNA De Freitas in the mix as well. Never realised MURDER was RED RUM backwards till today.
Thank you Grecian and Quirister.
Flea@2 The Shining!!
If you’re not from here you’d be forgiven for not knowing that Coopers Sparkling Ale is THE best beer in the world. (from SA, not NSW).
It never ceases to amaze me that the bloggers and solvers include so many people who are able to spot what are (to me anyway) comparatively obscure themes. Maybe I should get out more, or one day there’ll be a theme that only I can spot – like the walking trails of London or Barnet Football Club! Many thanks Grecian and Quirister.
So for me 13a is a double def/double duty.
Thanks both. Got held up only right at the end, having been aided by knowing the various real names e.g. Morse, Coors, Pinter, JOYCE, Chas & Dave, ELIZABETH (Taylor), arguably as they are all fairly mainstream. I am with Tatrasman@5 when it comes to spotting mini-themes particularly, where today it appears just over a quarter of the answers were related
Read the book.. didn’t find it that memorable!
Enjoyable nonetheless..
Thanks Grecian n Quirister
Thanks Quirister and Grecian.
Very much enjoyed this…had no idea about theme, though.
What ilippu said.
Only 8 comments! This certainly deserved a wider audience, for me a masterclass in the art of clue construction.
I had to laugh at the old Bury/Inter connection, a great variation on it but increasingly hard to justify these days as to my knowledge Bury doesn’t even have a professional player let alone a playmaker!
I have ticks galore, SCLEROTIC (great spot) MACADAM (Stones in the road lol…and topical as they’ve just released some new music), ROMANISED, ANTIBODY and OLDHAM (about the only context in which that place would ever get a tick!) being foremost amongst them. Great stuff.
Many thanks Grecian and Quirister for a top puzzle and blog.
Stephen L @11 – I totally agree with your first paragraph.
I was busy with my Guardian blog this morning and then had to go out – but had to solve the puzzle by one of my favourite setters before I went.
I too had ticks galore: 10ac SCLEROTIC, 11ac ELIZABETH, 22ac IBRAHIM, 27ac ROMANISED, 7dn STAYED, 16dn MORES, 19dn NEAR MISS, 21dn THURSDAY, 23dn RAMIFY and 26dn CLUB – all great constructions and super surfaces.
I still haven’t got round to reading any of the books, so I’m afraid the names were lost on me, although I do know that Grecian usually has a theme.
Many thanks to Grecian for an excellent puzzle and to Quirister for a blog to match.
Too many chestnuts in this for it to be considered a really good crossword. Stephen L. @17 feels that a crossword is the only venue in which Oldham would get a tick. Personally, I think that it’s a town with lots to commend it and it’s certainly a favourite, it seems, amongst Independent crossword setters as it was a solution on 29th August.
Like the hugely overused ‘Bury’ other northern towns are available.
Thanks Grecian. After Fed and Guy nearly drained my brain today this was a write-in for me. The clues were great nonetheless with PRYER, CAPRI, and NEAR MISS being my top picks. My only failure was my complete ignorance of the theme. Thanks Quirister for the blog.
Belated thanks to Quirister for the blog and to others for commenting on the puzzle. I did think Richard Osman might pop in, but… ?. G