Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 29413 (Hints)
The Saturday Crossword Club
Hosted by Tilsit
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Good morning from Warrington!
Here we are with today’s Saturday challenge, which is by one of the Mysterons. Enjoyable, but a challenge in parts. Last one in today was 13 down.
Off to run another Grand Prix Quiz but will be back with some questions from it later to tease you!
And a shout out to the lovely Val who is a viewer of the blog and gave me and my partner a darned good kicking in an online bridge match yesterday!
As is usual for the weekend prize crosswords, an assortment of clues, including some of the more difficult ones, have been selected and hints provided for them.
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.
A full review of this puzzle will be published after the closing date for submissions.
Some hints follow.
Across
1a Self-confidence to increase after guy is put in class (10)
A 1950’s Beatnik-style word for a man with something meaning self confidence and to increase afterwards.
6a Red Prince regularly seen in something like ‘War and Peace’ (4)
The alternate letters of RED PRINCE give a description of the aforementioned work.
10a Trace vice worker on land from report (9)
A Latin-derived word meaning a trace of something is found by taking a homophone of a word for vice and a similar way of saying someone who works on the soil.
15a Involve England’s top two lower-order batsmen (6)
The top two letters of England plus the name for the lower order players in a cricket team give you the answer.
19a Dubious bishop in sporty car, well-padded means of transport (5,3)
Inside the abbreviation for a make of car goes something meaning dubious and an abbreviation for a bishop in chess.
21a Getting completely drunk with Directors, here’s a place to dry out (8,5)
If you completely drink something, you may do this to your glass. Add to this the name for a group of directors and you get something found in every kitchen.
24a Note exposed billet-doux as work of fiction (9)
The name for a type of book is found by taking the abbreviation for note and then adding the word for a billet-doux with its first and last letters missing (exposed).
27a One creates drama from predicament besetting wife in Scottish town (10)
Inside a word for a predicament goes the name of a town in SW Scotland and inside that goes the abbreviation for wife,
Down
1d Talk about Panama perhaps (4)
An abbreviation for about followed by what a Panama may be gives something meaning talk.
3d Chase an ignorant lad around (5,8)
The name for a famous Chase is found by rearranging the letters of AN IGNORANT LAD
7d Dad eating ordinary fast food from Italy (7)
A type of Italian food comprises a word for father with the abbreviation for ordinary and a period of fasting.
11d Give humiliating punishment to errant fathead cruelly (3,3,7)
An anagram of a humiliating method of punishment, often meted out to informers during the time of the Troubles, is an anagram of TO ERRANT FATHEAD
13d Feature of ‘Saturday Night Fever’ — The Clash? That’s not right (5,5)
Something associated with the aforementioned film is a word for a clash minus R for right, and then split.
16d Political pundit confused by Lib Dem (8)
Nice clue – the surname of a political pundit is an anagram of BY LIB DEM
20d Waiting to pick up diamonds, a feature of bridge (7)
Something meaning waiting has the abbreviation for diamonds inside and gives an action in bridge that the lovely Val got spot on yesterday!
23d Group covering Beatles’ centrepiece — Let it be (4)
A word for a group with the middle letter of Beatles gives a printing instruction.
Thanks to our setter and I’ll see you next week.
Today’s music is from the new Katherine Jenkins album and is a rather nice tribute to the NHS staff who’ve kept us here….
The Crossword Club is now open.
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The Quick Crossword pun: wore+Kings+tick=walking stick
A gentler Saturday than of late with some nice clueing esp my fav 19a. Not sure about 13d, does the full word really mean ‘The Clash”
Thx to all esp those who tried to answer my question in yesterdays blog but I’m afraid that I am still too dense to understand the answer of worrying=ate.
**/****
Just ‘clash’
As for ‘ate’ and worrying – if you look in the you-know-what you’ll find that eat can be an informal term meaning to worry or irritate – so the past participle can mean this too
Hope you and Mrs B are well
Thx CS, knew I could rely on you to sort it out. Mrs B sends her regards and we hope you are well and surviving the trials and tribs of COVID.
Greetings from the Meon Valley.I did enjoy this but like Tilsit and Brian,13d was last one in,but if you put an r in the middle then maybe this could be construed as The Clash, 4*/4* for me.
Brian, re ate/eat. Don’t let it worry you. Don’t let it eat away at you.
13d was my last one in too Tilsit. I went down the wrong route and googled The Clash in the hope of finding an answer. I managed to finish unaided in the end and really liked 13d and 19a. Thank you setter and Tilsit. I’m off into the kitchen to make a chocolate orange liqueur tart. I hope it’s easier than the Amalfie lemon.
F
Re 13d using THE Clash you are looking in the wrong place as Tilsit’s hint explains.
If that helps just send a slice of the tart please.
Thanks LROK. I managed to finish it without the hints before I signed in, but you can have a piece of pie anyway. It’ll have to be virtual.
I did warn you that the ‘Leopard’ tart was a right royal faff! I always think it’s worth it before I start to make it, half way through the process I swear I’ll never do it again, a bit further on I swear at anyone who comes anywhere near me and, eventually, it is really so nice that I think I will do it again some time, but not for a very long time.
Chocolate tart was easy to make but the effort involved in the lemon was well worth it. My only problem was the pastry singeing ever so slightly when I grilled it to get the spots. It didn’t spoil the taste. It was still a very scrummy pud.
I found this crossword quite challenging but moderately enjoyable (3*/3.5*). The clues were quite complex and needed a lot of time to unravel but in the end, using the reverse engineering tactic and the checkers, I managed to complete it in reasonable time. I’m still not quite sure about 13d, a rather clumsy clue I thought. I like 10a, a clever clue of its type and 24a was also quite clever. Thanks to Tilsit for the hints and to the setter.
A great puzzle with just the right amount of challenge for me. Several anagrams to give good checkers. And several favourites: 10a, 19a, 1d, 7d, 23d. Good misdirections (10a, especially). Had to check 26a, an obvious answer but not a saga I am familiar with. And 8d also a new word for me. So as usual I learned something from the crossword. Many thanks to setter and Tilsit for an enjoyable morning.
Daughter made rhubarb crumble muffins yesterday. Scrumptious!
I’m another to question 13d. I have no idea what the answer has to do with the clash, assuming I have the right one. Lots of great clues. 15a, 21a and 8d come to mind. Favourite 19a. 3* / 3*. Thanks to all.
Something of a Curate’s Egg for me. I got off to a good start, got totally bogged down, and then sped up to finish at a fast canter – 2.5*/2.5*.
Candidates for favourite – 25a, 7d, and 23d – and the winner is 23d.
Thanks to the setter and Tilsit.
AFound this tough, going well into 3* time. Perhaps oversleeping & waking with headache & pain in the neck ( no not Mrs LrOK) didn’t put me in crossword mode.
Not many “gimmes” meant I got off to a poor start then things got teased out rather than flowed. Completed at a hobble with, Like others 13d, LOI. 19a brought a smile but my COTD was 10a because I like the word.
Thanks to Mysteron and Tilsit.
Slow start for me before things fell into place. Test Match heading for draw and West Brom three points I hope. RIP Big Jack. Thanks to the Setter and for the review.
2*/3*. Gentle and pleasant on the whole. I think “sporty” in 19a is padding and 22d earned a raised eyebrow.
My podium comprises 10a, 24a & 13d.
Many thanks to the setter and to Tilsit.
Why does 22d raise an eyebrow?
Is it this ‘thing’ you have with names in a crossword? I don’t understand why you have to comment every time as everyone knows you hate it…or are you on a campaign to get compilers to stop doing it?
You have objected for years so me thinks you’re wasting your time.
Try your best to refrain from doing it, say, once every ten times as it’s very tiresome.
Please accept my apologies if that isn’t why you raised an eyebrow.
Doesn’t bother me.
Ooooh. Raised eyebrow AND hmmmmm.
It’s just a crossword.
Quite right
Indeed.
Oh for goodness’ sakes….
It’s “methinks”.
It doesn’t bother me. We all have some sort of hang up, whether it be proper names, slang, general knowledge clues, old chestnuts or whatever. It is a forum for us to give opinions.
My hang up is the Rev Mr Spooner.
Oh, me too!
And me!
So what is wrong if RD chooses to be the Don Quixote of BD’s Crossword Club and he chooses girls’ name as one of his windmills?
He is, of course, entitled to say what hethinks.
I am just asking him to rein in it 10% which, I appreciate, is a big ask as it’s clearly a reflex. So, he can’t help himself.
If you see the following occasional post from me when he does it, you’ll know what I’m referring to:
Zzzzz…..
Holes and stop digging spring to mind.
What a daft thread in a crossword blog – keep it happy, folks
Well said, LBR.
And I thought it was women who bitched!
I am with ***** on this.
We all have our pet hates and *****’s are well recognised and are often posted by proxy which is very, very tiresome.
What if every one of us were to post a hmmm or raised eyebrow every time a bete noire appeared in a crossword?
If someone posts their completion time it will be redacted whereas the ***** on a daily basis describes finishing with various degrees of equine alacrity.
Where’s the difference?
About twelve months ago a first quite polite post, from a seemingly elderly poster, was met with the curt response that he should get back in his tree.
***** took some stick for taking ***** to task for breaching the site’s etiquette about political postings.
It’s all very well to cut ***** slack for being a ***** year old anglophile but would his comments have been tolerated if they were in favour of *****?
Over time I have seen the site morph into a self-congratulatory mutual admiration society and there are several commenters whose smug, tedious, repetitive comments I cannot be bothered to read.
As so often happens, the pursuit of diversity succeeds only in creating silos of group think and double standards.
How long before people are cancelled?
It’s only a crossword!
I try to be fair and consistent, but I can’t watch everything. In future please avoid mentioning specific contributors in any criticisms. I have redacted them from this comment..
Thank you and I apologise for my first post being in such a negative vein.
Your point is well made and well taken and I recognise that your excellent work is all too often a thankless task.
Also, I meant to say in my original post that I am immensely grateful to you and to all of the others who take so much time and trouble to decipher the puzzles [and put us out of our misery] with a marvellous mixture of wisdom, levity and entertainment.
That is the great joy of this site.
Please accept my apologies for not making this clear in my previous post.
Thanks very much, Senf, I find that metaphor most appealing.
Now who could we nominate as Sancho Panza?
I found 22d to be one of the easier clues. I didn’t need to think about the girl’s name, as once you had the first, third and fifth letters it was quite obvious, and indeed raised a smile.
I also don’t like names used as clue parts with no other information as to which of the thousands of names to choose from. I’m always glad when somebody else mentions it, because it saves me from having to do so (and makes me feel my view is more reasonable, since others feel the same way).
However, this name was better than many. I can’t explain now, but I’ll try to remember to say why when the full solution is posted. (I’ve left myself a virtual sticky note on this page as a reminder.)
The car in 19a is considered sporty, well it was originally till they became the Director’s lounge on wheels!
I know, I had to sell the Porsche and buy a xxx or they wouldn’t let me in the golf club!
I sold my xxx and bought a Mini. Driving the xxx was like trying to drive a Yorkshire pudding. A very comfortable pudding. My 2L Mini is much more sporty and fun, and easier to park in London.
Oops sorry for using the name of my old car. I forgot it’s Saturday. Apologies to all. If I am on the naughty step, at least I can choose between lemon pie or chocolate to console me.
Over rather quickly. 13d was also my last one in. My dictionary defines the full word as a lack of harmony or agreement so fans of The Clash may prefer the latter to help parse. Thanks all.
Thanks, now I get it – slow or what?
A fun way to start the weekend. A smattering of longish anagrams made for an easy-going solve. 13a meant nothing to me. Failed to parse 1a. My Fav 8d. Thank you Mysteron and Tilsit.
Some good clues but a few dodgy ones. I’m not convinced about 13d. It could not be anything else as the movie didn’t have any other features, just quietly. 19a is stretching the definition of transport IMHO. And 1a, note to self, add *** to alternatives for guy list. A good spread of anagrams helped open it up (thanks BK) My COTD, 8d. Thanks to the setter and Tilsit🦇
Managed to complete without resorting to further hints today! 19a made me smile & 20d reminded me of our game of bridge against Tilsit and his partner last night! All such fun! Thanks!
Welcome to the blog
It seems as though the DT is settling into the new normal with what is becoming a reasonable standard for a Saturday puzzle.
As others 13d was the last in. 16d and 19a may cause some of our foreign correspondents’ difficulty as the not specifically Italian? food caused me.
Thanks to tilsit and mysteron.
You’re right, John; those were the two that pushed me into 3* time.
I only got 16d as had the checking letters, the obvious anagram, and I could remember his father. The 19a needed e-help.
Both
I always thought 19a was a US Trade Mark for the product. Your comments made me consult Mr G. It turns out the Company is based in Winsford in Cheshire! You live & learn.
I note that CV19 cases are still silly numbers in the Carolinas & Florida Stay safe both
I hear that Disneyworld, FL has been opened, is that sensible with C-19 rife in the state?
Nothing is sensible in Florida, considering no one wants to wear a mask and everyone seems to be joined at the hip. I don’t think we’ll ever get rid of this thing. Follow m’leader seems to be the game of the day.
JB
Re your Upton Park query of yesterday. Yes they were one and the same. The site is now a housing development.
WHU fans now unhappy with their team’s lack of success and with their new “home”. To coin a phrase its a lose lose situation.
Thanks, I thought as much but as an expat Geordie who grew up in Yorkshire I was always a follower of Leeds Utd.that and the fact that Mama Bee was born and raised in Ashington and is a bit younger than Jack and a bit older than Bobby. She has had quite a few reminisces about the Charlton lads today.
Sorry Little Dave I for one am quite happy to see West Brom just get a point today but I am still holding my breath re promotion.
A really good and enjoyable Prize Puzzle, with some sparkling clues like 13d, 10a, and 24a, my winners today. Didn’t know 16d, my LOI, but something Dickensian popped into my head and I must have guessed correctly; the term for 19a is also new to me–and what a clever clue! Thought ‘The Clash’ one of the most inspired clues in a while until ‘billet-doux’ came along and matched it. Thanks to Mysteron and Tilsit for the review, which I’ll read now. *** / ****
Seeing billet doux always make me think of LP Hartley’s The Go Between & it’s great opening first line – Joseph Losey’s film of the novel, with the gorgeous Julie Christie, is a real gem too.
OMG, what a book and what a film, Huntsman. Losey, Christie, Bates. ‘The past is a foreign country: they do things differently there.’ I fell in love with the whole thing. Might just re-read the novel again during our re-Lockdown here in S.C.
And Margaret Leighton was wonderful as the matriarch. The BBC did a pretty good adaptation in 2015 with Jim Broadbent playing the older Leo – worth catching if you get the opportunity.
Thanks. Haven’t seen that. Must find it. (Yes: the great Margaret Leighton.)
The past is another country……how I wish those woke idiots remembered that!
Good mix of clue types today and I put 19a on the leader-board for its humour along with 1a&13d which I thought were rather clever.
Thanks to our setter and also to Tilsit.
Oh dear, an NTSPP from the fiend – here we go…………..
17a was last in & the only one to cause a bit of head scratching for some reason. Pretty straightforward but very enjoyable nonetheless. No issues with 13d which was one of my favourite clues along with 10,19 & 27a plus 8 & 11d. All over in just shy of 2.5* time & I’ll plump for 27a as COTD.
Thanks to the setter & Tilsit for the review.
Ps wonder why DT has stopped displaying the solution for previous prize puzzles for digital subscribers as they used to. There must be people unaware of BD site who won’t know if their entries were correct.
17a my last one too, in fact still haven’t got it. Off for our daily exercise now and hopefully it will fall into place when we get back for the excitement of the week, my Tesco order arriving!
Got it now after a.lovely walk to our little harbour.😁 obvious really.
I started slowly with this one then gradually gathered speed, which is unusual for me because I mostly start off quickly before coming to a grinding halt. A most enjoyable puzzle although I share the concerns with regard to 13d. The clue I thought was an absolute belter was 24a so this is my COTD. Others of note are 10a and 27a. I have not heard of 26a so that’s another for the files.
Many thanks to the setter and to Tilsit for the hints.
Pam, our next door neighbour makes faces masks and she has sent two over for Mrs. C. and I. Very stylish made of blue cloth with lining, a mouldable nose strip and an internal pocket in which to put extra filters. They are washable for reuse, as well.
Unlike many l fully get 13 d but doing so leaves me with a problem 26 a.l will wait to see the solution when it is printed.unless enlightenment dawns as l mow the lawns again.Enjoyed the blog and the solve a great deal.Thanks to all.
Similar thoughts to others. Enjoyed all, although 16d beat me.
Re 26 a, I remember one of the bloggers saying ‘ when all else fails look for the lurker’. It worked for me, after Google to make certain.
Thanks as ever to the clever setter, and to Tilsit for the hints.
Too hard for me
A really good crossword with some gems of clues. 19a and 16d were brilliant and funny. How fortunate we are that day after day and week after week these gifted people sit down and produce these wonderful brain teasers. And others take the trouble to explain them. With all that is going on around us in the world dear old crossword land carries on regardless!
Well said and so true!
I didn’t find this as gentle as some. I got comp,every stuck in the SW corner , needed electronic and hint assistance there.
Got there is the end, though.
Thanks to the setter and to Tilsit who I hope is now recovered.
I was doing OK, though still suffering bouts of fatigue and then on Wednesday managed to misjudge placing my carefully prepared paella without prawns (allergy) on the desk at the side of my computer, completely missing and scalding my bare foot it decided to cover. Daily dressings with the nurse now! Ho hum!!
How wretched for you Tilsit. Just what you didn’t need on top of your Covid 19 problems. Very best wishes for a speedy healing process. 🤞💐
Found this quite hard, some words I didn’t know. Didn’t parse 13d – just assumed the answer was something the Clash wouldn’t associate with, hence not right!
Couldn’t understand the answer but that makes sense. Thank you.
I’m afraid you’re both barking up the wrong tree there.
SC is right – you’re both barking up the wrong tree. You need an eleven letter synonym of clash – a verbal one, a stylish one or a noisy one. That word has an R in the middle of it so take it out (not right) and split the remaining 10 letters 5,5
PS – sorry – not SC but SL
Life is slowly getting back to normal here in France. Football stadiums can accommodate 5000 with spaces between each seat. Airports open to more countries but still no 13d.
Great clue.
Loved 27a also.
And a few others.
Thanks to the Saturday setter and to our Quizmaster for the hints.
THIS WEEK’S QUIZ – Answers anon, please don’t post direct answers for at least 24 hours to give others a chance.
These were all in the ‘Hot 100’ quiz – a pop culture quiz that the serious quizzers tackle.
1. Which animated Disney character made his first appearance in the 1934 cartoon, ‘The Wise Little Hen’?
2. Which item of women’s clothing is a long-sleeved cropped top or jacket with both sides meeting at one point? It shares its name with a famous orchestral piece of 1928 by Maurice Ravel.
3. An icosahedron is a polyhedron with how many faces?
4. Which French painter’s only showing of a piece of sculpture was in 1881 with ‘Little Dancer Aged Fourteen’? The original piece is currently in the National Gallery of Art in Washington DC.
5. In the game of backgammon, how many long triangles or ‘points’ are on the board?
6. In Norse mythology, accompanying the god Odin were two animals named Geri and Freki. What kind of animals were they?
7. Named after a village in Slovenia where it was first bred in the 16th century, which predominantly white breed of horse is best known for its involvement in the Spanish Riding School in Vienna?
8. Of the 24 people who have flown to the moon, which US astronaut was the first to fly to the moon twice? He never walked on the moon and was one of the three astronauts on the troubled Apollo 13 mission.
9. In area, Padre Island is the world’s longest barrier island, and is the second largest island of the contiguous United States after New York’s Long Island. In which US state is Padre Island located?
10. Which 1964 musical was based on Thornton Wilder’s 1938 play ‘The Merchant of Yonkers’?
As usual, about three answers from the top of my head.
I had four I’m sure of, but had guesses for four more. Been to the village in Slovenia and the school in Vienna.
Totally agree, Daisygirl! Life would be a lot worse were it not for those who produce these gems every day, as well as those who unscramble them so often for me.
This one didn’t begin well as I couldn’t parse the 1a answer I thought of but after that, it all fell into place. I liked 19a, 24a and 13d. Many thanks to both setter and Tilsit for lifting my mood when my family had to postpone their visit as the little 2year old is poorly. As with so many others, the wait goes on!
19a and 21a were my COTD choices in an enjoyable crossword that I found easy to start with (anagrams help) but then struggled to finish even with help from Tilsit.
But I learned a couple of new words and learnt a bit more about solving clues so I’m satisfied.
*self indulgent sigh*
Whenever the general view is that a puzzle is on the easy side, it seems to take me hours to unravel. Such was the case today. Tilsit was of great help for a few, and then I was able to stride on to the end.
However – this is a great puzzle with some outstanding clues; 19a and 8d were superbly crafted.
If ever I can’t get going with a puzzle then I feel that is a learning experience for me and not an opportunity to have a pop at the compiler, the Telegraph, or Lola the cat.
Now to watch some cricket and then to view (with much stress, as always) my beloved Chelsea FC as they visit the unique and splendid county of Yorkshire, and the tricky chaps representing Sheffield United.
Fairly straightforward today apart from 26a which I had to check, and the last one in (13d) which took a little while. The ref to Directors In 21a put me in mind of the splendid Courage brew of yesteryear which didn’t take many …
Got there in the end after some slow progress in the SW. But all v pleasant with TMS on in the background – feels like summer is here. With that in mind I liked 15A, with 19A as my favourite
***/***. A mixed bag for me. Some really good clues with 19a topping the bill. I wonder how those outside the UK got on with 16d? LOI was 13d. Thanks to Tilsit and the setter.
Enjoyable with 10a as my most and 16d as my least favourites. Thank you setter and DT
That was a relief, finally a puzzle I could do after three days of struggling. I had no problems with 13d – I just picked husband’s brain and he answered it right away. Same with 19a, as I had forgotten the term and the Americans call them something different. 9d was the last in as I went completely off tangent with this one, and the wrong type of study. Favourite was 21a, bringing back childhood memories of scrubbing it clean. Enjoyed this, thanks to setter for confirming my brain does still work, and to Tilsit for the hints.
I didn’t know 19a, I had to use e-help for that.
Excellent.
Just held up by the 8d, 10a combination.
Thanks all, will read the blog later.
Oh dear – well, I found this one jolly tricky.
Back from spending yesterday and last night with the Elder Lamb, her partner and our three year old grandson so a bit knackered – that’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it.
Started off badly by being unable to get 1a and 13d so didn’t have any first letters to other answers for ages.
Then, after what felt like a very long time, things started to fall into place.
My last answer was 13d – think it now might be my favourite.
I also really liked 10 and 19a and 11d.
Thank you, setter, and Tilsit.
Too late to add anything meaningful so I will merely say I found this pleasantly challenging and enjoyable. Thanks to the Mysteron and Tilsit.
Straightforward. Favorite 10a.
I’ll have to read the comments later. Enjoyed this but had a problem unravelling the answers, so thanks to Tilsit for doing that.
I never saw 13d, but I think my answer has to be right. I didn’t know 19a and had to get e-help.
Fave was 10a but liked lots of others.
Thanks to our Saturday setter and to Tilsit for his hints and tips.
Just can’t get 13d
Welcome to the blog, Little Jane.
As Senf said, I too started off ok, got bogged down, then lights starting coming on again in my brain. 3*/3* for me today.
Favourite clues for me today include 19a, 21a, 8d, 16d & 23d … with the winner by a nose is 23d with 16d a close 2nd.
Last in 17a
Thanks to setter and Tilsit
An enjoyable way to spend an evening after a 20K bike ride and a fantastic home made curry, with our favourites of 19a and 16d. 13d certainly raised an eyebrow – not convinced
It amazes me that so many found this a ‘snip’…l found it very difficult, but eventually solved a few large anagrams ( the poor elderly lady to the left had her face covered in rings of letters!) Many thanks to Tilsit for a couple of hints – 13d held out for ages, and as usual never assume two adjacent words are connected – 8d head and study..wrong head..
10a was a word I can’t ever remember using! Thank goodness I filled in all the spaces.
Thanks to the setter for his test.
‘Completed without any electronic aids’ isn’t a definition of ‘enjoyable’; perhaps ‘satisfying’ comes closer. In any case I can get on with the rest of my life again now and look forward to more live cricket.
An interesting selection of comments. Solving this seems to have done different things to different people! I picked it up yesterday evening and solved at least four across and four down without a second glance including one or two which have caused problems. Unusually I did not find the short ones difficult. Most of the others went in pretty quickly. Did not parse 13d, but when I read the hint after I had inserted the solution I thought it a very clever clue. I have no complaint about the proper noun at 22d. This is not a case of randomly picking one name out of hundreds. All of the checkers are consonants and if you have those or two of them the country is obvious. We are even told where the place is and the missing last two letters are a gimme. I was left with three in the NE which have not aroused much comment. I woke in the night and quickly got 10a having been led down the wrong path earlier. This enabled me to solve 7d. I thought of two other Italian foods beginning with the same letter – which I could not get out of my mind. The solution was not obvious to me but found with the help of the third letter. Oddly perhaps, 15a was my last in. Not a difficult clue perhaps as I was pretty sure of the first two letters. I did not know the cricketing term and could thing of a number of possible words. Inserting 7d therefore solved it for me. Favourites as well as those mentioned above are 19 and 27a and 8d. I did not have a difficulty solving the anagram at 16d although this name brings to mind three people and if I was describing anyone of them the definition here is not the first that would spring to mind. Thank you setter and Tilsit.
Always the same…….the last unsolved clue is 4 letters and I’ve got 2 of them, but I cannot get 23d.
There’s even a hint on it, but that doesn’t help. Having spent hours on this and finally coming to the realisation that the clue providing the second checking letter was not in fact an island in the Caribbean, I thought It would then be a formality …….NOT SO!!
There’s only one word that you can make, as far as I can see, and even that’s slightly dodgy, as it could be construed to be an abbreviation. Any further clues out there for the forlorn and vanquished?
I’m guessing that you mean 25d as there isn’t a 23d. Your answer is hidden in the last three words of the clue – try looking up a list of wading birds if it’s not familiar to you.
Just thought – my comment refers to Sunday’s puzzle as you referred to the Tuscan island. If you mean 23d in Saturday’s puzzle then it’s time to dust off your Latin!
I don’t even know what day it is. There’s probably a clue there. I was talking about today’s ST 23d, but I posted this on yesterday’s hints. Excuse me while I hide myself away and squirm…………
No I wasn’t…….I was talking about 23d from yesterday (Oh Gawd….it goes from bad to worse!) But glad to see I’m at least on the right page. I need to lie down……
I’m still confused … is it 23d in the Saturday Puzzle or 25d in the Sunday Puzzle?
Sorry, Mark. I posted this before your last comment.
The one about the Beatles.
When I find myself in times of trouble … I always consult Tilsit’s hints and tips.
Try reading his hint for 23d again. Hopefully, all will become clear.
Yet another ‘out of this world’ experience with 17a ….. didn’t think it was that important though!
I think this is my favourite Saturday puzzle ever! So many fun clues.
Apologies for such late posting: I completed the crossword on Saturday (with a smattering of hints — thanks, Tilsit), then we had a message about the Falmouth holiday home we had booked for 3 weeks’ time. We didn’t mind this year’s cancellation (with Northern Rail allowing only essential journeys, we wouldn’t’ve been able to travel by train as planned, and it’s a long way to drive) but were shocked to discover if we postponed to the same weeks next year the price goes up by 41%! So the evening was unexpectedly spent frantically researching alternative accommodation options rather than praising this crossword.
I particularly liked the head’s study (8d) and England batsmen (15d) surface readings, and was impressed with the cleverness of The Clash (13d) and bilet-doux (24a) and the themed pundit anagram (16d).
Any of those could easily have been my favourite clue in most crosswords, but in this one the Let It Be clue (23d) put the biggest smile on my face. Thank you so much to the setter.