In every word with a double unch in this puzzle, the effect of the double unch is that you get a checked letter for both the first and last letters of the word, which I’d count as a benefit in the 6- and 8-letter words where all the double unches happen – I can’t see that G?A??E is any worse for GOALIE than G?A?I? or ?O?L?E, for example, and the combination of rotational symmetry with the usual X?X?X? pattern means that half of the 6s must have their first letter unchecked. As well as double unches, the grid for 2511 also has generous checking for four of the 4-letter words (3 of 4 letters) and all the 12s (7 of 12).

I’m far more bothered by sub-50% checking in grids than double unches, and some Telegraph grids still seem to have this. Finding the right word for a vague cryptic def and ?A?E? is one of my xwd solving pet hates – with something like W?T?R (or W??ER or WA??R) there’s far less of a problem. Double unches for the first two or last two letters are poor, but I’ll guarantee that Sunsetter will never do that to you – and when you get them in other Telegraph grids, you’ll often have something like 2 checked letters in a 6-letter word, so it’s the amount of checking that’s the real problem – even ?XX?X? is much better than ??X?X?. Double unches are a no-no in most barred grid cryptics, but these have an average of about 80% checking rather than the 60% or so in good blocked grid puzzles.

Yes you have – I meant to make the same point.

I didn’t used to do the Sunday puzzle but with brilliant puzzles like these I will certainly be a Sunday cryptic regular from now on.

Having seen Toby’s and your explanation on 15a, I see the alternative reading and withdraw my niggle!

There will usually be as many in the down clues as there are in the across. The main problem is when the clues which include the double unchecked letters are imprecise. Here all the clues are fair which is why you didn’t notice the problem. The problem becomes exacerbated when certain setters use them with grids that have most initial letters unchecked and then use poor cluing as well. I’d be put to the sword if I mentioned any names !!

On 15 across, the intended reading is Toby’s, that is to say the subsidiary indication is a phrase defining the answer split as (3,3). That’s ok in my book.

I wondered if anyone noticed the thematic element explicit in 27 across and to be found unheralded in four other answers? I don’t intend to do this in general (except for special occasions such as Christmas), it just emerged as I was constructing the grid.

… and the first seven letters put it into the correct tense! Then add the E(uropian). The definition is “play, in practice” – very clever.