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DT 29601

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 29601

Hints and tips by 2Kiwis

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

Kia ora from Aotearoa.

Last weekend it was detected that some sneaky Covid 19 greeblies had managed to get through our strict border controls. The country immediately went into lockdown. Level 3 for Auckland and Level 2 for the rest of the country. Looks like it has done the trick as there have been only three connected further cases found and we’re hoping that by the time most of you read this we will be back to our unrestricted life-styles again. Fingers crossed!

We found this puzzle quite tricky and even gave some thought to giving it 4 stars for difficulty.

A real pleasure to solve of course.

Please leave a comment telling us how you got on.

Across

1a     Irish broadcaster covering international ceremony (4)
RITE : The Irish broadcasting organisation (which we needed Google to confirm) includes I(nternational.

3a     Player‘s call after good drive comes to nothing (10)
GRAMOPHONE : In the order that the pieces appear in the answer we have G(ood), then drive or force through, the letter signifying nothing, and call using an electronic instrument.

9a     Swallow in trepidation as promotion rejected (4)
GULP : The reversal of a promotion or advertisement.

10a     Graphic artist using a mixture of wire and string (4-6)
SIGN-WRITER : An anagram (using a mixture of) of WIRE and STRING

.
11a     Time students must be backed with increase? (7)
SUNRISE : Reverse the organisation that looks after the interests of students and then a synonym for increase.

13a     Notice one model is fat (7)
ADIPOSE : A short word for a notice or promotion, then the Roman numeral one and model, perhaps for a portrait.

14a     Striking, oddly very English, and infectious (3-8)
EYE-CATCHING : The second and fourth letters of very (oddly), then E(nglish), and finally infectious or communicable.

18a     Accept consequences and weep about a Republican prison (5,3,3)
CARRY THE CAN : Weep or shed tears contains ‘A’ from the clue and R(epublican), followed by a 3,3, slang term for prison.

21a     Lustre surrounding vacant blonde boozer (7)
SHEBEEN : The first and last letters (vacant) of blonde are inside a synonym for lustre.

22a     Defiant words may see some miss other exit (2,5)
SO THERE : A lurker, hiding in the clue.

23a     Heat and cut in pieces on your own (10)
UNATTACHED : An anagram (in pieces) of HEAT AND CUT
.
24a     Pull back, adopting new custom (4)
WONT : The reversal of pull, as you might a broken-down car, contains N(ew).

25a     Finished full of rage and put at risk (10)
ENDANGERED : A synonym for rage is enclosed by finished or terminated.

26a     Newspaper‘s start of sales pitch (4)
STAR : The first letter of sales and then pitch used in road making.

Down

1d     Check in ledger (8)
REGISTER : A double definition. The first is what we do with the Covid App on our smart phones.

2d     Brilliant story, with editor accepting books (8)
TALENTED : A story or narration, then a set of biblical books and finally ED(itor).

4d     Flower power’s last hour on popular drug (5)
RHINE : String together the final letter of power, H(our), the two letter popular and a party drug.

5d     Lying urban reformer’s promise may be this (9)
MENDACITY : Split the answer 4,1,4 to understand the urban reformer’s promise.

6d     22 Across moving right on past? (7,4)
PARTING SHOT : An anagram (moving) of RIGHT ON PAST.

7d     Judgement needing time to replace popular alternative (6)
OPTION : Start with a judgement or viewpoint and replace its 2 letter popular with the single letter abbreviation for time.

8d     Dodgy cash job requiring student to start late (6)
EARNER : Remove the first letter from a student or someone undergoing training.

12d     Doctor was not nice — a scientist (5,6)
ISAAC NEWTON : An anagram (doctor) of WAS NOT NICE A.

15d     Case of late support for long-standing account (9)
CHRONICLE : A word meaning long-standing, often used in relation to an illness, is followed by the outside letters (case) of LATE.

16d     Represented cadet, apparently? (5,3)
ACTED OUT : A reverse anagram. The second word of the answer is an anagram indicator for the word CADET.

17d     Creature finding soldiers a source of food? (8)
ANTEATER : A cryptic definition.

19d     Adopt a son, setting up fast birds from down under (6)
ASSUME : ‘A’ from the clue, then S(on) and the reversal of fast-running birds from our trans-Tasman neighbours.

20d     Announce a line that must be crossed by crowd (6)
HERALD : A crowd, often of large animals, contains ‘A’ from the clue and L(ine).

22d     European energy needed to support southern ally (5)
SWEDE : S(outhern) and E(nergy) enclose ally as a verb meaning to join together.

Plenty of great clues to choose from again but we settled on 3a as our favourite.

Quickie pun    stain    +    sighed    =    stay inside


Here are the pdfs of this puzzle and the quick crossword that should heve been printed in today’s newspaper.  BD


 

103 comments on “DT 29601

  1. I’m afraid I have to admit defeat today, with just a single answer left. It was quite a gentle solve for the most part, and I was heading for a ** time, but then the SW held me up.

    15d was my nemesis, and despite thinking of the right lorry, for some reason the rest didn’t follow. I’d kick myself, but I’d probably do more damage when I fell over.

    22a took me ages to parse, but I did get there in the end. It is therefore my COTD.

    I also noted that the numeration in the dead tree version is wrong, showing 29,606, unless I have slept for 5 days.

    ::EDIT:: I think there is a total mismatch between the dead-tree version and the e-version today!

    Many thanks to Jay (?) and the 2 Ks. (Or perhaps neither)

    1. My DT for today is 29,606. Something has gone wrong in UK for we have 606 as the puzzle and they have given us the answers to 605.

    2. I too have 29606 and totally different clues to the ones shown above i hablmve also got the answer gid for 29605. Has DT made any comment.

  2. Hmm…

    2*/4*. I enjoyed this a lot with nice brief cluing and smooth surfaces.

    However, whilst solving it, it didn’t feel to me like a Jay puzzle. I see that it is numbered 29606 whereas yesterday’s back-pager was 29600. So, could this possibly be the puzzle intended for Tuesday next week? Then I spotted that “yesterday’s solution” in today’s paper is numbered 29605, added to which “yesterday’s quick crossword solution” contains two puns, one for the top line and one for the bottom line. That makes me think that those solutions might in fact be applicable to Campbell’s puzzle next Monday!

    It took a while for the penny to drop with 2d, which was my last one in. My podium comprises 14a, 16a (nicely disguised Chuck), 5d & 7d.

    Many thanks to the mystery setter (how about Navy as a guess?), and also to the 2Ks.

    1. Aha!
      I’ve just scanned the 2Ks’ review which is entirely different to the puzzle I have solved! Could some kind soul please email me DT 29601?

  3. The paper version is Crossword 29,606 with the answers to 29,605 printed beside the quickie.
    Shurly shoome mistake??

  4. Really enjoyed this puzzle today with some good clues **/**** fav was 21a with podiums for 2d and 5d.
    Thanks to Jay and the 2Ks.

  5. I solved the version from the DT Puzzles site which was a most enjoyable Jay Wednesday puzzle. Thanks to him and the 2Ks

  6. A thought-provoking and quite tricky puzzle, which was an enjoyable challenge (3*/4*). I wondered who the compiler was too but it didn’t seem like a Campbell production to me. There were so many great clues and some fascinating anagrams. As a fan of Chuck’s, I liked 16a and 3d was quite funny. 2d was nicely misdirected and held me up for a while but my clue of the day was 24a, fascinating place to visit (though I didn’t really appreciate the viewing of Lenin’s embalmed body). Thanks to the Kiwis for the hints and to Jay ?

    1. I’ve only just read the hints (I usually leave that until after I’ve commented) and they aren’t the same as the clues in the dead tree version.

    2. Does this mean we have that place in Moscow to look forward to in 4 days time, if we can remember it?

      1. Looks like the crossword we had in the dead tree version today is now going to disappear, just as Lenin’s glass tomb is no longer extant in Russia.

  7. I got halfway through this and began to wonder if Jay had retired after last week’s landmark as it really didn’t feel like “one of his”…now I know why!
    I enjoyed the puzzle I solved though there were a couple I thought questionable and was looking forward to the reviewer’s thoughts. Ah well.

  8. Oh dear, it would seem that the 2Ks lovely review is wasted on those of us with the dead tree version – we’ve got puzzle no. 29606 plus Quickie today.
    So sorry to hear that Covid has found its way to NZ again – you were doing so well and we were all very envious.

  9. As a Telegraph Edition iPad solver I completed the grid blogged by the 2Ks and very enjoyable it
    was too. 3a was my clear favourite of many great clues. Definitely a Jay in my book. Great fun as always.

    Many thanks to all three birds.

  10. Thanks for the hints where necessary for this, in places, challenging puzzle. Really impressed with how NZ and their more significant neighbour are dealing with Covid, but I wonder if smugness is appropriate?

  11. Here in Fowey.Cornwall, we have a completely different DT cryptic crossword! Ours is numbered 29606!!

    1. I’d love to have that problem right now. I’m sure that the view from your window beats the view from mine. As for eating mussels outside The Galleon. Heaven

  12. Chris L has confirmed that next Tuesday’s puzzle appeared in the paper today. I’m going to see if I can get a copy of the paper version and bash out some hints and tips for it as today will be the only appearance of 29606

  13. Could someone with the paper please tell me if the back-page confusion also applies to the Toughie? The Toughie on the puzzles site is number 2594 by Giovanni.

  14. Printed mine from the DT puzzles page and got 601
    Really struggled today top right corner had me going. Could not make 3A for ages.
    Really bad for a vinyl junkie.

  15. I agree with the the 2Ks that this was somewhat trickier, but no less enjoyable, than usual for a Jay Wednesday puzzle and he almost slowed me down to a fast canter – ***/****.
    Candidates for favourite – 13a, 14a, 18a, and 20d – and the winner is 14a.
    Thanks to Jay and the 2Ks.

  16. An enjoyable solve neatly filling the time while waiting for an appointment. 4 down fooled me for far too long even with the correct answer in my mind I couldn’t see it as a blossom. Surely I’ve been doing cryptic puzzles long enough to know my flowers from my flowers. As a Telegraph Edition iPad solver I too completed the grid blogged by the 2Ks and very enjoyable it was too. When we have problems with the online app we are often asked why we don’t simply buy the newspaper. I wouldn’t lower myself to return the remark and suggest that others should move with the times and get online. That would be churlish.

  17. Do I take it that the answers printed in the paper today for 29605 are in fact the answers to the Sunday Prize puzzle? I’m a happy bunny as I did 601 on my Kindle and can now do/attempt 606 in the tree version.

    1. Manders, depending on how the Telegraph unscramble this, DT29605 should appear on Monday 22nd but, as the answers are now already printed today, this puzzle may never appear. :unsure:

      1. It definitely won’t be seen again which is why I’m currently bashing out a blog for it. The paper solvers won’t see today’s puzzle and the on-line solvers won’t see the dead tree version (apparently caused by a technical fault)

        1. CS, you are kindly doing a swift review for DT29606, published in the paper today but originally due for Tuesday next week. Manders was asking about DT29605, which would have originally been due on Monday next week although the answers appeared today.

      2. If anyone collects backpager grids (I never cease to be amazed what people collect) it could become a collector’s piece then!
        Like that magnificent Bugatti in the paper today.

  18. I’ve also got 601 and it’s almost certainly a Jay production. Not one of his easiest. ***/**** This may have been because I’m feeling a bit groggy from the jab yesterday. Curiously, the clue that the kiwis picked for the top spot, I thought very clumsy. Lots of clues, seemingly, with backward surfaces. Pick of the bunch for me is 18a. Thanks to all.

  19. As another iPad solver I got the right puzzle & an enjoyable Jay it was too. No parsing issues but a wee bit of head scratching in the NE with 3d&4a the last 2 in. Think we had 15d very similarly clued recently but I’m probably mistaken as I can barely remember what happened yesterday in the heady whirl of lockdown excitement. Agree with Roger H’s picks but with 5d atop the podium.
    Today’s albums: Unplugged (Clapton) & (Neil Young)
    Thanks to Jay & to the 2Ks

  20. Comment from e grid as reviewed.
    Jay at the tougher end of his spectrum to me took **** time but absolutely delightful. West / East split for me with NE corner last to fall.
    So many good clues 5d brought a huge “DOH” moment & is my COTD but the clever 16d and the lurker 22a ran it close.
    Thanks to Jay and the 2Ks. Knew of the Covid hiatus because of the “sailing”. It amazes me how this thing seems to get back. Interesting to know where it came from

    1. I have just published some hints and tips for 29606 so that those who have solved in the newspaper version can have some help if they need it. Hopefully this will also stop the flood of commenters new to the blog posting the same comment about the ‘wrong’ crossword

      1. Well done CS – if I pop into Waitrose I’ll pick up a free DT & take advantage of an extra puzzle.

  21. Another error?

    I’m sure that 4a in the Quick at stupid o’clock was “Breathe sadly” … now corrected to “Breathed sadly”.

    Maybe I was dreaming?

  22. Ah! Such a day of confusion for Telegraphers!
    Happily, I have the on-line version which I enjoyed immensely; only holding myself up by chucking in ‘s’ for the first letter of 4d before seeing the error of my rash ways.

    It’s five days since I had the vaccine and whilst not unwell by any means, I did feel very heavy-limbed and lethargic from Friday through to yesterday, but today I feel like I have shrugged off the side-effects and can return to my more normal state of lethargy and languor.

    Today’s soundtrack: Telemann – Parisian Quartets (so lovely)

    Thanks to the superb Jay, and the two Aotearoaeans

    1. I contribute to the ZOE site. They’re still waiting for more AstraZeneca data, but so far, it seems that about 15% of Pfizer recipients are getting systemic reactions to jabs and maybe 30% of AZ.
      This is quite interesting (and of course, much higher than usual flu vaccination reactions).
      They’re saying the “reactors” may have previously had some virus in them over the last few months, although most older adults won’t have been tested and won’t willingly have exposed themselves to risk, other than grocery packaging and online deliveries. We had the same batch on the same day and one suffered and one didn’t.
      Personally, I think individual differences in immune systems are responsible, probably genetic in origin.
      I don’t worry about it – you can only do your best and you can’t control more than that.

    2. Perhaps you were coming out in sympathy with Lola Terence.
      Hopefully news from the German lab. comes soon. Vorsprung durch Technik and all that.

    3. Me and Liz had the Pfizer Biontech jab at the end of January. Liz had soreness at the site of the jab for the next 24 hours but then it wore off. I had nothing. Both of us reporting to the Zoe Covid-19 site daily.

  23. Sounds like there has been quite a printing snafu…but I worked the puzzle which the Kiwis reviewed, and a real doozy it is, too: Jay at the highest his bar has been set in some while, I thought. 3a was my LOI, and solving it pushed me into *** time. Misdirection with an apostrophe + ‘s’ (or something like that)! So much elsewhere, though, to shout about: 22a/6d; 5d; 15d. The expression in 18a was new to me but the clue was fair enough. As usual, another masterstroke by the Wednesday master. Thanks to the Kiwis and to Jay. *** / ****

    The Toughie has driven me nutsier than I already was.

    1. Me too. I’ve nowt in the north, sod all in the south (well 9) & already struggling & it’s Paul in the Graun. Think I’ll risk the rain & take some exercise instead…..

  24. This was one of those awful puzzles that was just too tricksy for words. It was possible to complete it by finding the definition if possible (not easy for many of the clues) or just arbitrarily filling in letters to see if what fits makes any sense.
    The awful clues included 3a (particularly horrible), 2d, 5d, 8d, 16d, 17d and 22d.
    Goes without saying that although completed this was NOT one of my favourites. Absolutely no fun whatsoever.
    Thx for the hints
    ****/-***

    1. Brilliant! Thanks for cheering me up 👍🤣
      I managed it with only one help from 2K’s hints…but I do know what you mean re 3A…🙄
      Cheers!

  25. And now for the real DT29601, with thanks to Senf for the copy of the puzzle. A wry smile is in order having eventually received today’s puzzle electronically via Canada!

    The one thing that stays the same is my rating, which is 2*/4*.

    My podium choice is 3a, 2d & 5d (i.e. three of those which Brian found as “awful”!)

    Many thanks to the three birds.

  26. I noticed nothing, as I print off from the puzzles site and do it that way (I like pen and paper, OK – and I can use the left overs for jottings).so, I was fine with most of it, although it took me a while to get going. 3a my LOI after cheating and then waited to get on here for 8d.
    I liked the 6d and 22a combo – perhaps a few too many reversals.
    21a a bit close for comfort……..
    Thanks to ?Jay and the Kiwis.

  27. It looks like the right place to come to.
    Never saw it before and forgot about the mish mash.
    Had the wrong river in 4d as I took the on from the clue and E to be a popular drug.
    10a was last in.
    14a made me laugh.
    Thanks to the setter and to 2ks for the review.

  28. I had a problem printing off my crossword this morning, and can only assume reading this blog that something was afoot. I did, however, manage to print off 29,601, which on all accounts, looks as though it was the correct one for today. I found it tougher than yesterday’s “Toughie”, but at least still had some favourites. 22a, 16d and 14a. 4d I worked out, but I’m afraid it’s still lost on me. Thanks to the setter and to the 2Ks.

  29. **/*** for me. Didn’t see the anagram at all in 6d, just assumed it had something to do with the first four letters of 22a being an anagram of the last word of the answer to 6d. Just writing that makes me realise how warped my thinking was! Love reverse anagrams, so 16d my favourite. How clever. Thanks to Jay and 2Ks.

  30. Luckily for me, I printed off 29601 from my iPad, and it is the puzzle for which the 2Kiwis kindly provided the hints. And I didn’t have the confusion of a back pager that didn’t match the hints. Kudos to CrypticSue for rushing out help for the misprinted crossword. That’s the good news. The bad is that I found 29601 very difficult, particularly 21a, which was a totally new word for me. I did get it, there wasn’t much else it could be, but not much confidence when I penned it in. Wish I could lay my hands on the paper version so I could have a go at that. Thanks to setter (was it Jay?), and to 2Kiwis, particularly for the 4d picture. We were fortunate to be part of a river cruise in 2017 on that river, such happy memories.

  31. Thanks to the good offices of my Canadian penfriend, the puzzle for today winged its way to me across the pond. Now then, if only I could persuade him to stop sending the cold weather across as well…………
    Definitely thought our setter included a few trip hazards today and it took me quite a while to negotiate 3a so that deserves a podium place along with 9a which made me laugh and 5d which I thought was a very clever touch.

    Thanks to Jay and to our 2Ks who are doubtless still in blissful ignorance of today’s DT shenanigans.

  32. Well I finally got round to sloving this “bonus” puzzle courtesy of our Sunday blogger, and it was worth the wait. Definitely not the usual Wednesday stroll, 5&16d would have graced a Toughie I thought. I did like the amusing 9a (funny how “plug” appeared in the “other” backpager) along with 14,18&22a plus the aforementioned 5d
    3/4*
    Many thanks to Jay, The 2Ks and Senf for
    the entertainment

  33. Apologies to anyone confused by the mismatched puzzles today; it was also confusing for me. The intended puzzle for today was 29,601 by Jay, which appeared in the Edition App and on the puzzles website; 29,606 (by yours truly) was mistakenly run in the print edition.

    As a result, the intended puzzles for next Monday and Tuesday (29,605 and 29,606) are being replaced with new ones, as some readers will already have seen the solutions for the original 29,605, and some will have already solved the original 29,606.

    1. Thanks very much for popping in to apologise.

      Once the dust had settled we got two excellent puzzles today, one from Jay and one from you, for the price of one, which can’t be bad. I guess this sort of incident keeps you from being bored! :wink:

  34. Morning all.
    What a lot has been going on here while we have been blissfully sleeping. However if the end result is that many people get an extra bonus puzzle to solve and enjoy then it can’t be all bad news.
    At home we did click back lockdown levels at midnight last night so are pretty much back to normal once again. The biggest worry though is that they have not yet been able to fully trace the pathway through which the virus entered,
    Stay safe and enjoy your puzzles everyone.
    Cheers.

  35. Started the top half in quick order then slowed. Some nice words/phrases today. 3a,13a,21a,22a,15d &20d. My vote today is 20d.
    **/**** thx to the setter and 2K’s.

  36. I too printed the 29601 puzzle from online. Found this really quite tricky and rate this as ***/***. Found some troublesome clues in this one that took some hinting and several of the 4 letter answers were hard to suss out too.
    A tough Wednesday puzzle for me
    Clues for today 1a, 3a, 14a & 18a with winners 18a & 14a
    New word for me in 21a

    Thanks to Jay and 2K’s

  37. I might have missed something but if not would it be possible for today’s online version to be posted on the site as it sounds a good challenge and i only have the paper version?
    If it’s not going to be used next week hopefully that won’t upset the DT?
    Thanks

  38. I turned to the blog to seek explanation of my answer to 17d -anteater.
    I’ve read that it’s a cryptic definition but I still don’t get it. Can someone explain further, please?

  39. Needed some hints to finish what was a mixed bag of a crossword.5d is probably an oldie but goldie but was new to me so it is my favourite today.
    Thanks to the 2Ks and the setter.

  40. Quite pleased to have got through this although it did take most of the afternoon! Thank you Mr Mutch for stretching my brain to its limit today, and for occupying an hour or so. Thank you also to Senf for explaining the ram in 3a.

  41. I found this very tricky for a Jay. I had five bungins, of which only one was wrong! I also had a blank at 8d, though why that’s a dodgy cash job I have no idea.
    There was lots to like; 21a was a lovely reminder of The Irish RM, and I also liked 18a.
    Thanks to Jay, foot off the pedal just a bit, please. Thanks for the hints and pics 2Kiwis, glad of your COVID news.

    1. For 8d here is a verbatim quote from BRB ‘ Something (esp illegal or slightly shady) that brings a good income or profit (inf).

      We had to check that one too.

  42. Well it worked the other way for me. Having struggled with the web version I came here for help and found the one on the top was totally different to what I was working on. Had to read the comments to work out what had happened. Quite tricky today but got there in the end. My jab due on Friday….

  43. Glad I appear to have solved the right grid. Thaybsiad I think o could have looked at17d for a very long time without solving it. So many thanks for the hint. If I lived in NZ I would be out and about enjoying my freedom not doing crosswords so thank you for taking the time.

  44. I found this tough and needed a couple of hints. And in the process learned some more crossword tricks. Kicked myself for forgetting the watery meaning of ‘flower’ but pleased to have built up the unknown 21a from first principles. Many thanks to 2kiwis and fiendish setter.****/***

  45. Not my cup of Darjeeling, this one….very clever clues I’m sure….I just couldn’t work them out! Thanks to Jay and the 2Ks for the answers.

  46. ****/**. Very tricky in parts and too much reverse engineering required to make it enjoyable. Thanks to the setter and the 2Ks.

  47. Oh dear! What a ***** up at Telegraph Towers! I did the crossword in the paper and have now commented on that one on CS’s blog.
    I’m going to store up the crossword from the DT site which I’ve now printed and tuck it up my sleeve for tomorrow and will comment then.
    I’m now completely sunk and have no chance again this week to know what day of the week it is! :sad:
    Thanks in advance to Jay and to the 2K’s for what I’m sure is a good crossword and an equally good load of hints and pics.

    1. Dear Two K’s

      Many thanks for the blog. You really didn’t need to apologise about your COVID news. Anyone who reads your blogs regularly would know that it was not your intention to be smug in any way.

      Kath,

      when you posted your note it was Wednesday.

      If you’re reading this it’s probably still Thursday but it may be Friday….or later ….if you don’t see it today.

      That help?

  48. I solved the puzzle…which one?? 😜
    It was Jay’s, and I found it pretty tricky and only completed with a hint from our Antipodean pals!
    Good to see Chris Lancaster popping in to explain today’s shenanigans and offer a ‘Mea Culpa’ for the unintentional “c**k up” 👍
    As we always used to say “Worse things happen at sea!” – just keep calm and solve them puzzles!
    Cheers y’all.

  49. A bit of a late comment from me but I’ve just finished this one.
    I agree with anyone who found this quite tough for a Jay but I thought it was just as good as his crosswords always are.
    Not much point in blathering on any more at this stage so thanks to Jay and the K’s.

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