Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 28899
A full review by gnomethang
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
This puzzle was published on 17th November 2018
BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
Morning All! This puzzle was a slightly stiffer solver for a usual Saturday and all the better for it in my opinion.
Please leave a comment telling us what you thought.
Across
1a Magistrates push for weightlifting exercise (5,5)
BENCH PRESS – A charade of the BENCH (magistrates) and PRESS for push.
6a Could they be evens? Yes and no (4)
ODDS – The Starting Price that paradoxically might be evens.
9a One unearthing facts about brand used by singer/actress (10)
RESEARCHER – A charade of RE (about) , SEAR/brand and then CHER, the perennial singer/actress.
10a Dance needs bouncer, possibly (4)
BALL – Two definitions the bouncer being a delivery or ball in cricket.
12a Actor Stephen receiving East German with hostile demeanour (6)
FROSTY – Stephen FRY including/receiving OST (East in German).
13a Big party or, put another way, major bee (8)
JAMBOREE – An anagram (put another way, of MAJOR BEE.
15a Deem fit for work of some importance (12)
CONSIDERABLE – -A charade of CONSIDER/deem and ABLE/fit for work.
18a Worrying about son is what could make one even happier (12)
APPREHENSIVE – An anagram, indicated by ‘could make one’ of EVEN HAPPIER around S for son.
21a Speculate — that makes the euro finally increase in value (8)
THEORISE – THE from the clue then the final letter in (eur)O and then RISE for increase in value.
22a Fish both ways in sea (6)
MARLIN – Both ways, L(eft) and R(ight) inside the MAIN for sea.
24a A hospital rejected rocket scientists (4)
NASA – Reverse/reject A SAN (an abbreviation of Sanatorium/hospital.
25a High spirits belie uncle being distressed (10)
EBULLIENCE – A distressed anagram of BELIE UNCLE.
26a Stumble knocking back lager (4)
SLIP – A reversal (knocking back) of PILS or lager.
27a Know someone without a partner spurning the French area of London (10)
KENSINGTON – To know is to KEN. Add SING(le)TON or one without a partner but lose/spurn LE for ‘the’ in French.
Down
1d Wager about official having suffered loss (6)
BEREFT – Place a BET or wager around a REF(eree) or match official.
2d One’s failed to turn up with food — that hurts! (2-4)
NO-SHOW – NOSH for food and OW for that hurts split 2-4.
3d Frank talking with Heather excitedly about paintings etc nearby (5-2-5)
HEART-TO-HEART – Place an anagram (excitedly) of HEATHER around ART/Paintings and TO for ‘nearby’ or close.
4d Support act at Glastonbury may play this (4)
ROCK – The Glastonbury festival is located on the famous hill/rock so the ROCK is supporting the artists who may also play ROCK music.
5d Woman waiting up? (10)
STEWARDESS – A cryptic definition of the woman who serves food and drinks UP in the air in a plane.
7d Strong words help upcoming set of people (8)
DIATRIBE – Reverse AID (it is upcoming in a down clue) and then add a TRIBE for a set of people.
8d Was in the forces, losing heart, having joined up (8)
SOLDERED – Statrt with SOLDIERED (was in the forces) and then remove the middle letter (losing heart).
11d RAF perhaps flying around Belgium and Borneo occasionally (12)
ABBREVIATION – Place AVIATION or flying around B, the IVR code foe Belgium and the odd/occasional letters in BoRnEo.
14d Noise belts out that’s apparent (10)
OSTENSIBLE – An anagram, indicated by out, of NOISE BELTS.
16d Detective’s assistant has to capture cheat (8)
HASTINGS – The detective in question being Hercule Poirot. Place HAS from the clue around STING for cheat/con.
17d A smooth telemark, ultimately — one that’s found in Chamonix? (5-3)
APRES-SKI – A from the clue then PRESS for smooth/iron, the final letter in telemarK and then I for one. A nice consistent surface reading and my favourite clue here.
19d Space-traveller‘s aircraft on time (6)
PLANET – Simply put a ‘PLANE for aircraft on T for Time.
20d Trainee told where to find tea in Yorkshire? (6)
INTERN – A regional homophone (told) from Yorkshire where one might find t’tea IN T’URN.
23d Regularly applauds good point (4)
PLUS – The even/regular letters in aPpLaUdS .
Thanks to the setter – I enjoyed this one.
I agree that this was a bit stiffer than usual and, as Gnomey says, all the better for it.
20d had mixed reviews on the day but it made me laugh so was my favourite.
I took 4d to be a double definition with rock being a support or pillar of strength.
Thanks to Mr Ron and Gnomethang.
You are, as ever, correct gazza. I threw the answer in from the second part of the clue and checking letters but missed the Lady Di butler bit! Thanks!
Good puzzle, despite 20d. I read 4d same as Gazza. It really is about time someone thought of a new way to clue 7d.
Many thanks to setter and GT
Thanks to reviewer and setter. I thoroughly enjoyed this one, laughed at 20d, and can’t believe that my last in was 16d, I got fixated on Watson!
Thank you to the setter and to Gnomey.
Needless to say I can’t remember much about this one apart from a few clues, and I can’t find the crossword either but I remember laughing at 20d.