Toughie No 1084 by Shamus
Hints and tips by Bufo
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty ***/**** – Enjoyment ***
I think this is a puzzle of average difficulty but I made heavier weather of it than I should have done and so I have added half a star to the difficulty rating. It was a pleasant enough puzzle.
Please leave a comment telling us what you thought. You can also add your assessment by selecting from one to five stars at the bottom of the post.
Across
1a A sign of emptiness largely in conspirator in film (10)
{CASABLANCA} A + a sign of emptiness (a space) with the last letter removed inside a conspirator in Julius Caesar gives the title of a classic film from 1942
6a Was treating journalist high up in NY Times? (4)
{USED} An American head of a newspaper would be a ** **
9a Peer having produced nothing, we hear (5)
{BARON} A peer is a homophone of ‘produced nothing’ or ‘infertile’
10a Protest by drivers in Mediterranean island — expression of popular will? (9)
{DEMOCRACY} A protest + an organisation providing services for motorists inside the IVR of a Mediterranean island nation
12a I discern trust that’s collapsed in care provider (8,5)
{DISTRICT NURSE} An anagram (collapsed) of I DISCERN TRUST
14a Unlucky backing for store around flat that’s demolished (3-5)
{ILL-FATED} A reversal of a food store goes round an anagram (demolished) of FLAT
15a Fluster / conductor (6)
{RATTLE} 2 meanings: to fluster/the surname of an English conductor
17a Stick that is right for weapon (6)
{RAPIER} Stick (blame) + ‘that is’ + R (right) = a type of sword
19a Wee payment put back for transport (5,3)
{WATER BUS} Wee (urine) + a reversal of a payment (e.g. a loan) = a passenger-carrying boat
21a Operatic style devised in keeping with stock character (13)
{STEREOTYPICAL} An anagram (devised) of OPERATIC STYLE
24a Study image in computing that’s formulaic (9)
{IDENTIKIT} A study and an image in Polynesia go inside the 2-letter abbreviation denoting ‘computing’ to give ‘formulaic’ and a composite portrait used by the police
25a Piece for group denied web access? (5)
{NONET} A musical piece for a certain number of players. When split (2,3) it would suggest that you have no web access
26a Make for audience flier (4)
{ERNE} A homophone of ‘to make money by working’ gives the sea-eagle
27a How one might describe a decathlete’s skill no matter what? (2,3,5)
{IN ANY EVENT} One would expect that a decathlete would show skill ** *** ***** of the ten
Down
1d 8 possibly supplying tip about book (4)
{CUBE} The number 8 is an example of this. A tip goes round B (book)
2d Patron, perhaps lacking manners, left pastry (7)
{STRUDEL} An abbreviation for a patron such as George, Andrew, David or Patrick + ‘lacking manners’ + L (left)
3d Rely on say number in police showing an indication of interest? (4,9)
{BANK STATEMENT} ‘To rely’ + ‘to say’ + an abbreviation for London’s police force round N (number) = something that will show how much interest has been added to your account
4d Early end to trip in island (8)
{ALDERNEY} An anagram (to trip) of EARLY END
5d Victor once, say, getting firm aid for speaker (5)
{COMIC} From 1961 to 1992 Victor was an example of this. An abbreviation denoting ‘firm’ + an abbreviated form of an aid for a speaker which intensifies sounds
7d Unusual fear among group in phenomenon coming inland? (3,4)
{SEA FRET} An anagram (unusual) of FEAR inside a group
8d Get ready to change rental agreement and arrangement at work? (3,7)
{DAY RELEASE} An anagram (to change) of READY + a rental agreement
11d Period for peacefulness following disorder? (13)
{CONVALESCENCE} A cryptic definition for the period of gradual recovery of health and strength after an illness
13d Fancy European ship in waterway almost straying from point (10)
{DIGRESSIVE} ‘To fancy’ + E (European) SS (ship) inside a waterway with the last letter removed
16d Sinister adviser limiting reckless Russian leader? (8)
{RASPUTIN} An adviser to the Romanov’s = ‘reckless’ with the last letter removed + the surname of the current president of Russia
18d Type of minor claim largely blocked by term in insurance (3-4)
{PRE-TEEN} Someone aged 12 or under = ‘a claim’ with the last letter removed round E (the last letter or term of insurance)
20d Principally, brilliant astronauts Armstrong perhaps and the remainder? (7)
{BALANCE} The first letters of Brilliant and Astronauts + the first name of the cyclist Armstrong
22d Sign / voucher (5)
{TOKEN} A sign/a voucher
23d Medical device not new? Restorative direction needed (4)
{STET} Remove N (new) from a device used as a temporary splint inside a bodily vessel to keep it open. This gives a written direction to restore something in a proof that has been marked for deletion
Anyone who did yesterday’s puzzle should have breezed through this one.
Straightforward fare on offer today thanks to Shamus and to Bufo for the comments.
Enjoyable toughie and excellent review, thanks to Shamus and Bufo.
A few to think about, and a nice balance of clues. Many thanks to Shamus, and to Bufo for the review.
Exactly what Jezza said, including the thank yous
Exactly what CSue said including the thank yous
Notabilis tomorrow
Somewhat better surface reading than is usual for Shamus but I can’t say I enjoyed solving the puzzle. Not even a tiny chuckle in any of the clues
SW corner was last in for us as we tried ‘ion’ and ‘ing’ endings for 13d before finding the correct one. Agree that a bit easier than yesterday’s but still a very satisfying challenge with some clever misdirection. Kept looking for what 1d had to do with 8d for instance.
Thanks Shamus and Bufo.
I enjoyed this and did finally finish it with a bit of help from husband ( quite unusual for him to be able to add much to a crossword so three cheers for him).
I (we) ended up being unable to get the first word of 19a.
There are still a couple that I don’t understand but after yesterday it still feels like light relief.
I thought there were lots of clever anagrams and other good clues.
I liked 25a. My favourite was 15a – in the days when husband was still trying to persuade me that I liked opera we went to something (can’t remember what now) that he was conducting – I didn’t see any of the stuff going on on the stage because he is absolutely mesmerising – I just couldn’t take my eyes off him.
With thanks to Shamus and bufo.
Well done Kath. Good to see that you are getting a taste of the team solving experience. Perhaps we will soon see comments from 2Kaths.
Do you think Mr Kath would let us have more than one favourite?
I am sure that he would let us have as many favourites as we like.
He certainly wouldn’t let anyone have more than one favourite – I’ve convinced him about that – well, sort of!
Calling it team solving is probably going a bit too far!
Very enjoyable – thought the misdirection (Armstrong) in 20d was brilliant. Thanks to Bufo and Shamus.
Better late than never! I eventually finished this, having been trying to do it on and off for ages.
Like Kath (& Mr Kath), I simply couldn’t get the first word of 19a. Nor could I think of the three letter word for ‘fancy’ in 13d! 
As well as these, Bufo, I needed your excellent hints for four of the clues (1a, 14a, and 3a). I didn’t find this easy, but I did enjoy it, notably 15a, 25a, and 5d. 
Many thanks both to Shamus and to Bufo.