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DT 29353

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 29353
The Saturday Crossword Club
Hosted by Tilsit

BD Rating – Difficulty***Enjoyment ****

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

Until the Telegraph resumes the award of prizes for the Saturday puzzles, this post, and tomorrow’s, will be just like the Monday to Friday posts, with hints for every clue and revealable answers.  BD


Good morning from Warrington, on one of those neither one thing or another days, where the weather can’t make its mind up what it wants to do.

I’m busy getting ready to return to work from Monday (from home, of course) and the last couple of days has been building and setting up my desktop computer and wrestling with installing all the ‘apps’ I need to work. Ho hum!

Back to today. My guess is that today’s puzzle is by our new kid on the block, the Naughty Canine, and very enjoyable it is too. I am resisting the temptation to use the phrase, much bandied around here each weekend, that it is quirky, but I think one of today’s clues defines quirkiness, rather than others often suggested on here as such. I printed off the puzzle just after midnight and did most of it, leaving a couple of clues uncracked. When I picked it up again this morning, I wrote the missing clues straight away.

All in all, an rather enjoyable challenge, and thanks to our probable setter for the workout.

Most of the terms used in these hints are explained in the Glossary and examples are available by clicking on the entry under “See also”. Where the hint describes a construct as “usual” this means that more help can be found in The Usual Suspects, which gives a number of the elements commonly used in the wordplay. Another useful page is Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing, which features words with meanings that are not always immediately obvious.

Some hints follow.

Across

7a Russian poet to practise nepotism? (7)
PUSHKIN: We start with the name of one of Russia’s most famous writers. His name is a two-word explanation of how you might practice nepotism, with the two words joined together.

8a & 10a Poet leaving document, one that’s equivalent to a picture, it’s said? (7,10)
WILLIAM WORDSWORTH: The full name of another poet, this time one of the most famous English ones. Something you normally leave when you shuffle off this mortal coil, plus how one might compare themselves they were if they were a picture. Today’s musical choice at the end should pint you in the right direction. A little bit convoluted, and almost a think-outside-the-box clue. Hopefully you will get it in the end.

11a Soldiers in street establish order (4)
SORT: What you do when you place things in order is found by taking the abbreviation for (basic) soldiers, i.e non-commissioned ones, and placing it inside the abbreviation for street.

12a More than one Trump enthusiast gets on (8)
FANFARES: This one feels a bit too clever for its own good, but it did make me smile. If you have a copy of the BRB (other dictionaries are available), you will see the second definition of the word for The Madman Across the Water, gives you the key to this clue. A word for an enthusiast plus one that means how you are getting on as in the expression ‘How do you do?’.

14a Old film star catches end of finger in mangle (6)
GARBLE: The surname of a film star who was nicknamed the King of Hollywood, and led to the famous quip from an ex-wife: ‘The King of Hollywood?’ If his pee-pee was one inch shorter, they’d be calling him the ‘Queen of Hollywood.’ Insert R (end of finger) and you get something meaning to mangle (your words).

15a Had an accident while jogging for sport in the Lake District? (4-7)
FELL-RUNNING: The name of a sport popular in Cumbria is how you might describe how you got that bruise while you were jogging.

19a Chat about following in taxi (6)
CONFAB: An abbreviated word for a chat (the full version has -ulation after it) can be found by taking a two-letter word meaning ‘about’, plus the abbreviation for ‘following’ and placing both inside a short word for a taxi.

20a Lower-class gentleman producing blower in car (8)
DEMISTER: One of the ways of describing the social status of someone of lower class rank (see here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NRS_social_grade ) plus the title associated with a gentleman gives you a blower found in your car.

22a Bustle can arouse (4)
STIR: A double definition. A way of saying both to bustle and to arouse.

23a Boxing film featuring a programme of music popular in rural USA (10)
ROCKABILLY: The name for the type of music (it’s a portmanteau word for two styles of American music) is found by taking the name associated with a series of boxing films starring Sylvester Stallone. Insert the indefinite article and a word for a programme in a theatre.

25a Church dignitary that could make power tell (7)
PRELATE: The name for a church official is found by taking the abbreviation for power (its first letter!) and adding a word meaning to tell.

26a Supporting British in competition (7)
BRACING: A way of saying fitting supports to something is found by taking an abbreviation for British and adding something that means in competition with others.

Down

1d Shropshire University College erected domes (7)
CUPOLAS: The architectural name for domes is found by taking the abbreviation for the county of Shropshire, adding U(niversity) and C(ollege) and reversing the lot (erected)

2d Get rid of outbuilding (4)
SHED: Two definitions To get rid of something and a word for an outbuilding.

3d One observes contrary directions in Mozart’s quartet (6)
VIEWER: Two opposite points of the compass go inside how Mozart said the word four to give you someone who observes something.

4d I’m aching running round lake (8)
MICHIGAN: One of only a small number of anagrams today. The name for a famous lake is and anagram (running round) of I’M ACHING

5d Show solidarity with no slackers about (5,5)
CLOSE RANKS: Another of the anagrams here. A expression meaning to show solidarity (often used against professionals) is an anagram (about) of NO SLACKERS.

6d Employees seek opinions about Scottish town (7)
PAYROLL: Something meaning to ask for something goes round a Scottish town to give the name for employees of a company.

9d She wrote horrid music, discordant (4,7)
IRIS MURDOCH: And a third anagram. The name for an award-winning writer is an anagram (discordant) of HORRID MUSIC.

13d Affray with no-one being charged (4-3-3)
FREE-FOR-ALL: An expression for a set-to or punch-up is also how you might describe than event that doesn’t cost anything.

16d Deliver one booze half-heartedly, taking too much time about it (8)
LIBERATE: The abbreviation for one, plus a four-letter word for some booze with one of its two middle letters missing ( it doesn’t matter which, they are the same!) has a word meaning take too much time around it. This leads to a word meaning deliver or free up.

17d Make better clothes available in Dior’s business? (7)
COUTURE: A word meaning to make better goes around (clothes) something meaning available to give you Christian Dior’s business

18d Became friends with independent film director (7)
FELLINI: The name of the famous Italian film director (such as L’Avventura!) is found by using an expression meaning became friends and then adding I(ndependent)

21d Spare silver collected in pool (6)
MEAGRE: The word for a pool or a lake goes around the chemical symbol for silver

24d Long sales talk with no pressure (4)
ITCH: The word for a sales patter loses the abbreviation for pressure to give something meaning to long for

The Crossword Club is now open!


If you are looking for something else to keep you amused, today’s free cryptics are here:

Guardian Puzzle by Paul (incidentally he is having another of his online chats this evening – there will be information on his website no doubt www.johnhalpern.co.uk )

https://crosswords-static.guim.co.uk/gdn.cryptic.20200502.pdf

The FT puzzle by Artexlen (our Toughie setter Proximal)

http://prod-upp-image-read.ft.com/99239ada-85f7-11ea-b872-8db45d5f6714

Independent Puzzle by Dalibor – click ‘PRINT’ on puzzle screen for a paper copy. You’ll need to watch an advert.

https://puzzles.independent.co.uk/games/cryptic-crossword-independent/?puzzleDate=20200502#!202005


Could new readers please read the Welcome post and the FAQ before posting comments or asking questions about the site.


The Quick Crossword pun: genie+allergy=genealogy


112 comments on “DT 29353

  1. An enjoyable solve if somewhat difficult for me. Living in Shropshire I loved 1d. This is my COTD but there were other good clues such as 15a.

    Grateful thanks to the setter and Tilsit for the great hints.

    Keep safe all.

  2. I finished this fairly quickly but took ages parsing 3d. 7a was my clear favourite, but I must give a nod to 1d for obvious reasons. I think quirky sums this up nicely, but still good fun and very enjoyable.

    Thanks to our Saturday setter and Tilsit.

  3. 2*/2*. Some of this puzzle struck me as a GK crossword with the inclusion of some cryptic elements rather than the other way round.

    I had to check 19a in my BRB as I have never come it before spelt without an L.

    Thanks to the setter and to Tilsit.

    1. Tilsit, in your preamble you mention a missing letter in 21a which doesn’t exist. Which clue are your referring to?

      1. The comment has been removed. Looking in the BRB it didn’t define Meagre as spare and I thought it was sparse that ruins the surface. A look under ‘spare’ reveals all.

  4. I’m afraid I had to borrow a few electrons to get this finished. It was the SE that did it for me, I didn’t know the Director in 18d or the writer in 9d.

    Did anyone else waste time with schoolboy humour in 12a? I did.

    Many thanks to Tilsit and the setter.

    1. You haven’t missed much with the director, very much an acquired taste.

      1. Acquired by watching his films. Of course if you are thinking of the film director in the answer you are very right. But the director of L’Aventura had a Point in Zabriskie.

        1. Corky, Antonioni (not Fellini) directed Zabriskie Point; Fellini; such wonders as La Dolce Vita, 8 1/2, La Strada, and Amarcord, et al.

    2. Yes, I was thinking along the same lines and at the same time wondering if the DT would really allow such terrible language!

  5. A very entertaining puzzle from today’s setter.

    Thanks to Tilsit for the blog.

    22a I thought it was a triple definition … the middle word being an American jail.

  6. Three notable writers and one outstanding director distinguish today’s most enjoyable puzzle, and I found it most entertaining. (But the director is mis-attributed, alas; he did not direct L’Avventura!.) I think the clue for 22d, by the way, is actually a triple definition, is it not? My last one in actually held me up for some time, 20a, because I think we call that ‘blower’ something else. Podium stars today: just for old-time sakes, 8/20a, 9d, and 7a. I also thought that 12a, 14a, 1d, and 17d should squeeze onto the podium. Thanks to Tilsit and the setter. *** / ****

  7. I struggled with this one a little bit because of the GK required, but it was doable. Many thanks to the setter and to Tilsit. I hope the sunny weather holds out for our lunchtime bbq, but a few dark clouds are looking ominous.

  8. The bottom right held out the longest for me in this very enjoyable puzzle, with 20a and 18d being the culprits.

    Got there in the end but taking a little longer than normal.

    Many thanks to Tilsit and the setter.

  9. Definitely on the GK heavy side but relatively easy to get from the parsing.
    I did spend a bit of time on 14a and 6d. Specially the latter as I thought the whole answer was a Scottish town.
    Got 1d thanks to the blog as it is through all our friends from that county that I learned the term.
    Agree with Jepi that 22a was a triple def.
    Favourite 26a. Very smooth.
    Thanks to the Saturday setter and to Tilsit for the Club. What happened to the music promised to explain I am words worth?

  10. I got hung up on the director and it took me into 3* time and elwctronic help to finish this. It did have lots of GK clues ut there were also some really wily ones. I enjoyed 7a, 12a and 1d and lots of otheres so 4* for enjoyment. Thanks to Tilsit for the hints and to the mystery setter. Keep safe and well.

  11. I have no problems using the word that Tilsit tried to avoid using – this was quirky! Completed at fast canter with no standout favourites – 2.5*/3,5*.
    Thanks to the setter and Tilsit.

  12. No real difficulty apart from 20a. Couldn’t get blower (telephone) out of my head. I’m not too sure that a mister is “lower class” but in crossword land, I suppose it works. Favourite 6d.

      1. I think it’s based on the A B C1 C2 D E social class scale used for UK demographic classification. D is working class and E is not working.

        1. Yes but nevertheless a Mr. is not necessarily a “gentle-man”! 😏

      2. D and E not poor school grades but the lowest social class based on A-E.
        Very out of date nowadays ………

            1. I’m sure you’re all right but I justified it to myself as “to lower the the class of a gentleman” de- mister. Well it worked for me. 😶

  13. An enjoyable crossword for a sunny Saturday morning, especially as I got to solve it in a proper newspaper!

    Thanks to the setter and Tilsit.

  14. I thought that this was a ‘proper’ Prize Puzzle (at a time when there are no prizes) and very enjoyable – thanks to the setter and Tilsit.
    My podium candidates were 7a, 8/10a, 3d, 17d and 18d.

  15. I found this quite tricky again but very enjoyable. To be picky shouldn’t 1d end ‘ae’ rather than ‘as’, as in the Latin mensa singular, mensae plural? Thanks to all involved and stay safe.

  16. A fair bit of GK today but still an elegant puzzle. I needed a hint or two in the south. The US musical genre wouldn’t come and I am no clothes horse, the nature of Mr Dior’s business was beyond my ken. Thanks to Tilsit and setter.
    I will favour 15a with COTD today mainly because I once met Mr Joss Naylor, probably the country’s greatest exponent of the sport.

  17. It wasn’t a one star puzzle for me! Though I got off to a sturdy start because I was sitting at the garden table looking at the daffodils. Thus the poet went straight in.
    Thanks Tilsit for some much needed help – and to the setter.

  18. Not my cup of tea at all; I prefer to see GK in a GK puzzle, not in a cryptic puzzle. Enough said……

    Thanks to Tilsit for the write-up.

  19. Slightly too much G.K.for me but also some lovely clues.Loved 15 and 23abut needed the hint to parse 1d.Thankyou.

  20. Not on the wavelength at all today.
    Maybe I’ll be better after some more practice .

    Thanks to the setter and to Tilsit for his unravellings.

    Keep safe, stay home.

    1. Never mind the same wavelength, I wasn’t on the same wave band for much of this!

      1. I agree. Some really silly clues and obscure synonyms- such as for soldiers in 11a. Hope we don’t get too many from this setter.

  21. Is there a Lakeland theme?
    I see a lake 4d, a lake poet, a lake sport and a term for a lake that is mainly used in the lake district. what with the lake mountain in 18d and the 26a weather I think the setter is maybe missing the hills.

  22. I enjoyed it, but I wonder how many got annoyingly held up by fruitlessly searching for words connected to the actress who wanted to be alone in 14a?

    1. Similar for me but I was thinking of Betty Grable. Tried to think of a reason to transpose two letters before the male actor came into my head.

  23. I didn’t object to the GK, probably because for once it really was ‘general’ rather than obscure!
    Podium places handed out to 7,8/10 & 15a plus 17 & 18d.

    Thanks to our setter and to Tilsit for the review.

    1. Jane,
      You commented on the golf “joke” the other day (it was actually a true story although the guy who threw the club denied it there were three witnesses).
      Yesterday someone related the worst I have come across:
      Two Mexican detectives were discussing the person who had shot drug baron Juan Gonzales at close range
      “It was obviously a golfer” said one, “What makes you say that?”
      “Well he made a hole in Juan didn’t he?”

        1. Brian
          It came from the US but I refuse to use “shot” for scored hence “made”. Still cringe-worthy even then.
          Seen the temporary rules that will apply for club golfers when the game resumes ?

  24. I am a big fan of the Lakeland Poet, who like Beethoven is celebrating his 250th birthday this year. Here are a few lines of one of my favourite pieces of his poetry….

    For I have learned
    To look on nature, not as in the hour
    Of thoughtless youth; but hearing oftentimes
    The still, sad music of humanity,
    Nor harsh nor grating, though of ample power
    To chasten and subdue. And I have felt
    A presence that disturbs me with the joy
    Of elevated thoughts; a sense sublime
    Of something far more deeply interfused,
    Whose dwelling is the light of setting suns,
    And the round ocean and the living air,
    And the blue sky, and in the mind of man:
    A motion and a spirit, that impels
    All thinking things, all objects of all thought,
    And rolls through all things.

    His poetry still has much to teach us about nature and looking after the natural world.

    1. I love Wordsworth but even the great poet fell short of perfection. Like this –

      “And to the left, three yards beyond,
      You see a little muddy pond
      Of water–never dry
      I measured it from side to side:
      Twas four feet long, and three feet wide”. 🤣

      1. As for Beethoven, his music is majestic. I came to him, as most do in all probability, via the 5th symphony. I bought a recording of it when I was fourteen and played it incessantly. I can now play it in my head because I have heard it so often. Beethoven’s music never fails to stir and excite my senses.

    2. Thank you, Mikep, for the lines from Tintern Abbey–it was always my favourite WW poem to teach (in my 43 years in the classroom); nothing quite equals it, not even the Intimations Ode. I once ascended Mt Snowdon because HE did and I taught the entire Prelude in a graduate seminar once.

      1. I took some international MBA students on a walk through Wordsworth country last October, on a beautiful sunny day and we read parts of the Prelude, Home at Grasmere and those lines from Tintern Abbey. They loved it (and so did I!) and interestingly, the Indian students seemed to know more about the Romantic poets than those from the UK!

  25. Started off like a house on fire then came to halt thinking I should get 15a & 13d easily but didn’t. Should have got 15a as my daughter competed at the sport. Then the penny dropped and things went OK if a little slowly.
    Thought nearly all the GK was doable from the wordplay and wasn’t too obscure anyway (I am neither a film nor literary buff).
    Thank you to the setter for the enjoyment & Tilsit for the review (intrigued by “the Naughty canine”).

  26. I worried on many clues that the answer would evade but then up it popped!

    Most enjoyable **/*** and I agree with everybody else about the GK element being ok as quite easy.

  27. If Mozart had been born in Rome then the parse for 3d would almost work in reverse? Contrary (reversing) RE (with regard to) W E (directions) and IV being the Roman numerals for quartet (4).
    Just a playful bit of amusement to occupy my Saturday morning!

  28. Lovely Jubbly as Delboy would say. I made a guess for 23a not being a lover of that sport and 7a was first in
    closely followed by the British poet. The sun is shining, if only I could say all is well with the world!
    Thanks everyone, and keep safe.

  29. An OK puzzle, nothing special but can see the 2nd ref to trump in the BRB but why the capitalisation to Trump. Don’t get the ref to Mozart whose music I detest (probably not helped through once having to sit through Amadeus Twice!).
    Thx for the hints
    **/**

      1. Not only Mozart but Fellini too, apparently. Nihilism seems to be his view of matters literary, classical, and cinematic.

    1. Capitalisation of T is permitted mis-direction (but a setter cannot change the first letter of a name to lower case).

    2. The capitalisation is misdirection. The reference to Mozart is that he was German and hence the quartet is the number four – vier in German.

      I was getting on reallywell with this, especiallythe GK bits went in easily so good clueing. But I hit the buffers in the SE especially with the obscure 23ac.

      No complaints, just didn’t do well. Do we have another Dada on our hands? If so I will look forward to future puzzles.

      Thanks setter and Tilsit for more than one hint.

    3. Love it Brian…..
      That’s Mozart & Fellini dealt with what about the fella droning on about clouds & daffodils..
      Ps just had a lovely walk over the superb golf courses at Brocket Hall (Melbourne & Palmerston) – the turf was crying out for a golf ball.

  30. About 75% flew in final 25% however was a bit of a struggle particularly with the parsing of some of the clues.
    3*/3/*
    Thanks to setter & Tilsit for review

  31. One of the best Saturdays for a long time, mainly I suppose I fairly whistled through it except and there always is 14a tried all sorts but gave up and referred to hints. No real favouries but 1d and 21d I liked.
    Broke ranks again today shot off to Bodmin Moor, beautiful and deserted, a good walk and cobwebs blown away. I hope this ends soon, the level in the Jack Daniels bottle is going down fast.
    Many thanks to Tilsit and the setter, great hints from Tilsit and godd clues.
    Keep safe everyone.

    1. Soryy for late responce emergency to old friend in remote locatiom. More bottles being sent from scotland.

  32. You could say quirky but nevertheless enjoyable. Some giveaway clues to help people along. My favourites 7 and 20a and 6d. Also now 1d as Tilsit has kindly explained the parsing. I should have spotted that. No complaints about the general knowledge as could be obtained from the wordplay and checkers. I am an expert neither of music or films but easily got 23a. Also 18d because I knew I was looking for a film director ending in “i”. I also did not parse 3d, as I can’t get past two in German numerals. Well done setter.

  33. A couple of things.

    If you are at a loose end tonight, there is a virtual comedy club live at 8:30 here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nNbYHMrV-M&fbclid=IwAR2CNUxKh3ooknRwfoS4by9SOzxI73-8j3O4bxZ5y-lFdlzgJL2hTW9qSaA Performers include Zoe Lyons, Mark Nelson and my chum and quiz genius from the Chasers Paul Sinha. Worth a watch.

    Secondly I promised some music, but got derailed trying to add pictures to my blog (or being unable to !)

    I was going to play the David Gates version, which I find bit too schmaltzy, but try this one:

    Have a great weekend!

    1. Tilsit, please correct your reference to Fellini as the director of L’Avventura; that was Antonioni. Fellini directed such gems as La Dolce Vita and 8 1/2 and my favourite, Amarcord. Thank you.

  34. Internet connection on the blink again today but fingers crossed for this post. A pleasant Saturday challenge with the SE holding things up a bit. 12a and 3d don’t really make the grade for me. Needed parsing help for 16d. Joint Favs 7a and 1d which is possibly somewhat obtuse for non-Brits.

  35. ***/***. A lot of pen sucking got this done all apart from 17d for which I bunged in doctors. Thanks to Tilsit for the explanation. I got all the GK based clues, although I’d prefer less of these. My favourites were 7&23a and 1&18d – the latter being one of my least favourite directors despite 8.5 being classed as one of the greatest films ever. Thanks also to the setter.

  36. Well I found this trickier than a * rating. The top fell quickly but I stalled on 2 pairs on the bottom (16d/19a & 18d/20a) which pushed me just into **** time. I can’t believe it took me so long to twig the director so that one & 6d were the pick of today’s clues for me. I had no real issues with the GK side of it as there was nothing ridiculously obscure. If I’m honest there were a couple of parsings that eluded me (1&3d) but at least I now know the abbreviation for Shropshire.
    Thanks to the setter & to Tilsit for the review.

  37. Phew, at last. A puzzle I could actually do, mostly without help. It’s been a long week. Started slowly, but gradually picked up speed. 8a gets COTD for sure. Never heard of the author in 9d, but figured it out being an anagram. Never read anything by her so googled for a list of her books/subjects. Hmmm, won’t be adding her to my library list. Thanks to setter for providing a doable puzzle and to Big Dave for the hints. Much appreciated.

  38. Definitely not my type of crossword today. Posed more of a wave band challenge, and many thanks to my great friend from Berkshire for her insight. Like others, I have always inserted the extra “L” in 19A.
    Still, as highlighted a couple of weeks ago, you pay your money for the paper and then take a chance on what crossword you get on a Saturday.
    1D definitely the clue of the day for me, and still doing a lot of head scratching over 8-10A. No, not on my brain level at all today, so thanks to all concerned for confusing me!

  39. Had to use a few hints here as I rate it as 2.5*/2.5* puzzle . Definitely some quirks in this one. 18d hint was incorrect in one of the facts and that was rather confusing for parsing. Also 3d took forever to parse even with the hint.
    However several favourite clues including 7a, 8/10a, 15a & 20a with 15a the winner!
    Rainy, wet and windy day on the West Coast of BC
    Thanks to setter and Tilsit

  40. I thought your * for difficulty a bit off, Tilsit! Not a fiendish puzzle like some this week, very doable and enjoyable.
    One of my fave poets at 8/10a, must read again. I didn’t know the sport at 15a but easy enough to google.
    I started to read one of 9d’s books but found it a bit depressing. She won so many awards.
    I failed to solve 6d, didn’t want to use e-help for just that, so left it blank.
    My fave was 7a, followed by 12a.
    Thanks for our setter and to Tilsit for his hints and tips.

    1. Hi, Merusa. Murdoch is indeed an acquired taste, but you might enjoy The Bell or The Sea, the Sea (if one of them is not the one you started). Just musing along here….

  41. Grading that as one star makes me feel very inadequate. Must be at least two.

    Colonel

  42. Hi Merusa hope you are well
    I think in the US 15a are known as mountain runners. I remember seeing one doing the rim-to-rim at the Grand Canyon.
    I know you know Snowdon & every year they have a fell race up to the summit & back – record is 1hour 2 minutes 29 seconds. Quicker than my effort today & it is a10 mile round trip!

    1. I’m still here, just going in the pool to exercise.
      I’ve never been a runner, walker yes, but my sport was tennis.
      My Balloch friend’s daughter is a Munro runner, lots around where they used to live but I don’t think it’s that hilly near Inverness.

      1. No not so many big hills here as we are only 4 miles from Dornoch’s superb beaches (& golf course). But plenty of hill walks over almost deserted moorland.

        My daughter does mountain marathons, orienteering, fell running & all sorts of other crackpot events (and the DT back pager the one good thing I started her off on.)

  43. This was an awful lot more than 1* difficulty for me.
    I struggled with it from beginning to end – don’t know why but I did – I’m not saying that I didn’t enjoy it but just that I found it tricky in the extreme.
    I tried ‘climbing’ and ‘walking’ for the second bit of 15a but then got 9d which fixed the problem. :roll:
    3 and 6d caused trouble but there were lots of others too.
    Very much a ‘not my day’ kind of crossword with some good clues – 7, 12 and 23a and 2 and 9d.
    With thanks to the setter and to Tilsit.

  44. Sorry, I think I was using an old template – I have corrected the grading of the puzzle.

  45. Well I’m in the “I thought this was spot on” camp today. Well clued and nothing overly obscure but hard enough to make one scratch one’s head. Favourite 15a. Many thanks to the setter and Tilsit.

  46. Thanks to the setter and to Tilsit for the review and hints. I didn’t like this at all. Too much GK for my liking. Favourite was 15a. Was 4*/2* for me.

  47. 3*/2*……
    liked 24D ” long sales talk with no pressure (4) “

  48. We are in the ‘not our cup of tea’ area for this one. Started well and then hit a wall and found even the extra clues hard to understand. Not enjoyable. Finished it just to get it over and done with.

  49. Ouch! Found this old one lying around but wish I hadn’t! Suppose I struggled with half of it then lost my confidence. Didn’t feel like the normal Saturday repas. Relieved that he/she is a new setter (not sure how you know)as I thought I was getting better. Perhaps wait a year or two before setting the Saturday ones to give me time to improve. Got there in the end with help of anagram solver which I consider cheating

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