Toughie 1084

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.