Independent 7718 by Scorpion

by

A nice puzzle from Scorpion, took me slightly longer than usual as I got held up by 1d and the SE corner.

 

Yes it’s themed – lots of references to dead parrots and Norwegian Blues…

Across:

6 CINEMA (M[ichael] CAINE)* and nicely &lit
7 See 9dn  
10 U BEND (p)UB + END (scotch)
11 RIGGING  UP [Diana] RIGG + IN (hot) + PUG rev
12 HAIRCUTTER CUT (canal) in (I RATHER)*
14 LATE L + TEA* – first DEAD reference
16 NEW AGER NÉ + WAGER
18 PLUMAGE MU rev in PLAGE
20 UNDO [engage]D in Fiat car UNO
22 JOHN CLEESE JOHN = loo = can + EEL in ESC rev The complainer in the 2 3 sketch
25 TOOK IN TOW TOO + KIN + TWO*
26 NOT ON NO. + TON
27 EXPIRED RIP rev in EXE + D
28 NO MORE ROM in EON all rev
Down:    
1 SIDE VIEW DE VIE (of life in French) in WIs rev
2 DEAD Hidden in maDE ADvice
3 PARROT PAR + ROT
4 RIGID RI + DIG rev another death reference
5 VIAGRA VIA + R in GA for a different kind of stiff….
7 DIG DEEP G[randstan]D in DIE + E.P.
8 SUPREME BEING SUP + REM + E + BINGE*
9+7ac PUSHING UP THE DAISIES [hippies sustained hug]*
13 CAGE CAGNEY less NY
15 BULL Double definition. Seems a bit weak
17 ROOSTED TOES* in ROD
19 APERTURE APE + R[oos]T  + gUaRdEd
21 DROOPY POO rev in DRY. Perhaps needing 5 which is symmetrically placed
23 NEWENT EWE in NN (news) + T[arget]. A place in Gloucestershire
24 FIORD 1 in FORD
25 NUMB NB (number) around UM

 

8 comments on “Independent 7718 by Scorpion”

  1. Thanks, flashling – and Scorpion, for an amusing and entertaining puzzle, with lots of excellent clues.

    I took 26dn as NUMB[er]

  4. Thanks, flashling.

    I thought this was going to be a bit sombre when I solved the gateway clue (which was straightforward, thank you Mr Setter), but then when the PARROT appeared next to it, all became clear, and it was a giggle.

    VIAGRA was funny, and I like SIDE VIEW now it’s been explained to me (I got the VIE but couldn’t see the DE). And I so wanted to put DUMP for 26dn.

    Top Tuesday puzzle, thank you.

  5. I thought that, for a Scorpion, this was very easy. The thematic material and the relatively easy starter clues in 2 and 14 meant I could get going quickly. I fell down a bit on 1 down, where I was convinced the answer must be wide view, even though it didn’t quite make sense. There’s another slight Python reference in Supreme Being, who appears in Terry Gilliam’s Time Bandits (which had cameos for John Cleese and Michael Palin).

  6. I got LATE straightaway then DEAD but I was pretty sure the puzzle would not be a sombre reflection on that theme. Tho not personally v familiar with the sketch tho I had heard of it and of 22’s connection with it, I was able to finish the puzzle, thanks to the clear wordplay esp for NEWENT which I’d not heard of. Tough enough, tho not as hard as some by Scorpion. Thanks, Scorpion, for the puzzle and flashling for the blog. I thought the clue for BULL was OK, with two separate meanings ie double definition. VIAGRA was quite amusing with the placing of 4 down next to it (which I guess was intentional) quite good too.

  7. And I meant to say that there’s an appropriate completion message in the online version: ‘This is an ex-crossword! Congratulations!’

Comments are closed.