DT 29097

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 29097

Miffypops returns

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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***

Due to the site being updated our guest reviewer Tarzan of the Apes has had to be stood down for this week as Miffypops returns to his rightful spot to review a jolly nice puzzle which wasn’t at all taxing but raised a few smiles along the way. The gutting of the new house is coming along at a great pace. The gas fires and gas cooker come out tomorrow. I wonder how long it will take me to fit the new kitchen. Watch this space.

These hints and tips have been created lovingly to help those of you who may need help to solve a couple of clues or to understand why an answer is what it is. Usually a clue consists of two parts. 1. A definition, which is usually at the beginning or end of a clue. 2. Wordplay which tells to what to do to solve the clue. The hints and tips help with the wordplay of the clues. Definitions are underlined.

Please leave a comment telling us what you thought.

Across

1a Produces hat after giving outstanding performance (4-7)
SHOWSTOPPER: Split 5,6 displays a hat favoured by those attending Royal Ascot.

7a English king about to join returning train (7)
RETINUE: A verb meaning to join together is surrounded by the abbreviations for English and Rex (king) the whole lot is then reversed (returning) quite a clever clue methinks

8a Lucky dip bishop organised, only with backing (4,3)
BRAN TUB: Begin with the abbreviation for Bishop. Add a verb meaning managed or organised. Now find a word meaning only and reverse it (backing) You should now have An attraction seen at your church, school or village fete where for 50 pence you can win a prize worth tuppence

10a A beginner in patisserie with very little desire for food (8)
APPETITE: Begin with the letter A which your setter has gifted to you. Add the initial letter of the word patisserie. Now add a word meaning very little. We are four clues in and our setter has given us this word. Will he do the decent thing and give us something to satisfy it?

11a Trouble on golf hole that bends sharply (6)
DOGLEG: A rather stretched synonym of trouble is followed by the word used in cricket to describe the half of the field (as divided lengthways through the pitch) away from which the batsman’s feet are pointed when standing to receive the ball. The result is type of hole on a golf course where the hole can’t be seen from the tee because it’s round a corner.

13a Centre for missionaries? (4)
IONA: An all in one clue where the answer lies hidden within the words of the clue. There are only three words in the clue so it shouldn’t trouble anybody too much to find the answer. The answer is an Inner Hebridean island which was a centre for Gaelic Monasticism for three centuries

14a A dreadful shock this time when everything goes wrong? (3,4,3)
BAD HAIR DAY: The shock in the clue is an unkempt or thick mass of the stuff that grows out of your head. I hope that helps

16a Memorial in Verona gets vandalised (10)
GRAVESTONE: Anagram (vandalised) of VERONA GETS.

18a Fine artist points to lady’s fingers (4)
OKRA: An exclamation used to express agreement or acceptance is followed by the initials used by an artist who has been made a member of the Royal Academy

21a In contact with team working towards the same goal (6)
ONSIDE: A two-letter word meaning to be placed in contact with is followed by a synonym of the word team

22a Right bother rolling in it (4-2-2)
WELL-TO-DO: A very stretched synonym of the word right is followed by two short words meaning a fuss or upset. The synonym of the word right is often used as an exclamation before considering what words to use next

24a Altar? I’m fearful of marriage (7)
MARITAL: Anagram (fearful) of ALTER IM

25a Possible problem with pipes in a lake running by edges of Grasmere (7)
LEAKAGE: An anagram (running) of A LAKE is followed by the outer letters of the word Grasmere. I have been to Grasmere and the edges are certainly more interesting than the centre

26a The eland ran nervously out of the ark (11)
NEANDERTHAL: Anagram (nervously) of THE ELAND RAN

Down

1d Determined attack (3,4)
SET UPON: A double definition. Not much more to say

2d Decorated knight coming in to make a speech (6)
ORNATE: The chess notation for the horsey thing (knight) sits comfortably inside a verb meaning to make a speech

3d Workout garments — father wearing set wasn’t relaxed (10)
SWEATPANTS: A two letter endearing word for your father sits inside an anagram (relaxed) of SET WASNT

4d Spherical objects in old Scottish bank (4)
ORBS: The abbreviation for Old is followed by the initials of one of Scotland’s biggest banks established in 1724

5d Extremely painful, drastic action, not physical (8)
PLATONIC: The outer letters of the word painful are followed by an anagram (drastic) of ACTION

6d Conductor on top of double-decker, flustered (7)
RATTLED: A former conductor of The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra is followed by the Initial letter of the word double decker

7d In Berkshire town, fell over in part of library (7-4)
READING ROOM: A Berkshire town which sits on the rivers Thames and Kennet is followed by the reversal (over) of a type of landscape also known as a fell

9d Film policeman saving good man holding on (5,6)
BUGSY MALONE: A word used for a policeman particularly on Merseyside contains the abbreviation for good. The ON from the clue inside a synonym for man. Sort that lot out and you have a film starring Jodi Foster as Tallulah

12d Chief minister given opportunity to turn up (10)
CHANCELLOR: An opportunity or possibility is followed by the reversal (up) of a word meaning to turn or revolve

15d Experienced soldier about to finish with TA causes feud (8)
VENDETTA: An abbreviation for an ex member of the armed forces sits around a word meaning to finish or terminate. This is topped off by the letters TA which the setters has given us. He is a generous fellow

17d One failing to gain a place in American orchestra carried on (4-3)
ALSO RAN: Begin with the abbreviation for America. Add the initials of an orchestra. Which orchestra I hear you shout. A British orchestra founded in 1904. Add a word meaning carried on or carried out

19d Part of criminal law on kidnap upset wise guy (4-3)
KNOW ALL: The answer is included within the words of the clue as indicated by the words part of. It is reversed as indicated by the word upset. A clever clue which had me making an anagram (criminal) of LAW ON and trying to find reasons for the K and the second L. IF ALL ELSE FAILS LOOK FOR A LURKER

20d Make pale ale somehow in British church (6)
BLEACH: An anagram (somehow) of ALE sits betwixt the abbreviations of British and Church

23d Pleased, statesman having lost weight (4)
GLAD: A former prime minister is relieved of 14 lbs of weight

Quickie pun. flaw+wrap+oast=Flora Poste, of Cold Comfort Farm We also have Stud Farm down the right-hand side.

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