To Mr XL by Elgar
The NTSPP (Not The Saturday Prize Puzzle) series of puzzles is one of Big Dave's landmark achievements. Today we have a special NTSPP honouring him, compiled by Elgar for today's S&B (Sloggers and Betters) gathering in Nottingham.
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The puzzle is available by clicking on the above grid.
Big Dave set up the NTSPP in response to the fact that the Saturday Prize Puzzles were often so straightforward, that solvers wanted another crossword to solve on a Saturday afternoon. Many of the NTSPP setters have gone on to have their crosswords nationally published, so even before the advent of Rookie Corner, the blog was 'doing its bit' for Crosswordland
Elgar has set a fine tribute to BD, including lots of references to him and his interests as well as a Nina in the grid. BD always enjoyed solving an Elgar crossword, especially the annual challenge of the Christmas Double Toughie so I think he'd have been delighted with this tribute. Thank you to John, and once again RIP Dave and Pam.
1/5a Staggering zest in life also making universal appeal ... (3-4-4-3)
ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL An anagram (staggering) of ZEST IN LIFE ALSO
9/12/15a ... this man, born into IT, retired and departed rollercoaster (3,3,3)
THE BIG ONE HE (this man) and the abbreviation for Born inserted into a reversal (retired) of IT, followed by a synonym for departed
10a May the Tory government finally present it? (7)
THERESA The final letter of governmenT, a synonym for present and the alternative to IT when referring to sexual intercouse
11a Department stores proclaim what BD set out to do (7)
DECRYPT A department 'stores' a verb meaning to proclaim
12a See 9
13a Rotten outfit keeping Gunners on perimeter of Telegraph puzzle (as they usually do against Spurs) (7)
PREVAIL Insert the abbreviation for one of the Sunday Telegraph cryptic crosswords into the abbreviation for the Royal Artillery (Gunners) and insert into the abbreviation for Public image Limited, an organisation (outfit) set up by Johnny Rotten of Sex Pistols fame. As BD was a long-time Spurs fan, I can imagine what he'd have said about the last part of the clue!
15a See 9
16a Mad climax in evidence, lovers do this again (7)
RESOLVE An anagram (mad) of the 'climax' in evidencE and LOVERS
18a Returning Boojum eats almost all important beings "of legendary enormity" ... (7)
KRAKENS A reversal (returning) of a Lewis Carroll creation also known as a Boojum 'eats' almost all of a synonym for important
20a ... /"of substantial build", one ... (7)
SOLIDUS A sneaky bit of definition-hiding! - a single word meaning of substantial build and a synonym for one (we)
23a ... in heaven, not so much in earth? (7)
BLESSED In a smaller quantity (not so much) inserted into a garden plot (earth)
26a Variable-length feature of R&B – rock 'n' roll standards repeatedly (3)
AND A feature shown in variable length featured in two of three (repeatedly) places in the clue, the third one shown in full
27a Distinguished number requiring company who eat, drink and entertain ... (7)
NOTABLE An abbreviated number and one word defined as a company who eat, drink and entertain
28d ... much-loved person, plan to return and ... (3)
PAM A reversal (to return) of a plan
29a ... make merry Bridge House area suitable for crowd of enthusiasts (7)
BRIGADE A group of people organised for a specific purpose – an anagram (make merry) of BRIDGE into which is inserted (house) the abbreviation for Area - a nice reference to the annual Birthday Bash
31a Eccentric in plain clothes? (7)
OFFBEAT If you were a plain clothes policeman, you wouldn't be following a specific round like a uniformed officer
33a Couple having passed over, you can shed a tear (3)
RIP Reverse (having passed over) a couple and then 'shed' the A
34a To name but three, CS, Kath and Kitty aren't bloody fellers! (7)
LOGGERS Remove the letter you'd use to truncate the word bloody when trying to swear politely from the role of the three of us in the clue
35a A not undemanding guy who played his part? (7)
EXACTOR Someone who made demands on others would, with a hyphen, be someone who used to play a part
Down
1d Discovered rock 'n' roll, initially – with future in strong ale (7)
OCTOBER The inside (dis covered) letters of rOCk and the initial letter of Roll into which is inserted a two-word phrase referring to the future – the strong ale was named because it was historically brewed in this month
2d Issues, electronic, Mrs Big Dave finally wants sorting round back of house (7)
EMERGES The letter used to indicate things electronic, and an anagram (wants sorting) of MRS and the final letters of biG and davE, the 'back' of housE then being inserted
3d I like St Gabriel's formality (3)
ICE I (from the clue) and the abbreviated Christian religion to which a church like St Gabriel's might belong
4d Rising number attending George, regularly part of the furniture (7)
ETAGERE A reversal (rising) of the number attending (eg a football match) followed by the regular letters of gEoRgE
5d Excellent cryptic commenters did in Rookie Corner? (3,4)
FED BACK The solution is a cryptic instruction telling you what to do with a slang adjective meaning excellent
6d Boosting Conservative? It's something habitual (3)
TIC A reversal (boosting) of IT (from the clue) and the abbreviation for Conservative
7d One's got involved with cryptic army now (3,4)
ANY MORE An anagram (got involved) of ONE with another (cryptic) of ARMY
8d How many solvers like to know the landlord and landlady? (7)
LETTERS What many solvers like to know when solving a crossword or a description of the landlord and landlady
13d Smart, captivating young chap who won fair lady? (7)
PALADIN A smarting sensation 'captivating' a young chap
14d Don't make edits go live (5,2)
LEAVE BE Synonyms for go and live
17d Language used as input by website doyen (3)
EDO Hidden in the last two words of the clue
19d Severn rising, drained intermittently at one time (3)
NEE Indicating the maiden name of a lady (at one time) is hidden in reverse (rising) in the alternate letters (drained intermittently) of sEvErN
20d News agency's launched cryptic blog course? (4,3)
SPAG BOL A reversal (launched) of an abbreviated news agency (don't forget the S) and an anagram (cryptic) of BLOG
21d Drunk old group of hosts trap resident at Swan? (7)
LODGING An anagram (drunk) of OLD and an abbreviation for Group 'hosts' a trap
22d Maybe The Sun's crossword compilers (7)
SETTERS A cryptic definition of the Sun (again don't forget the S)
23d Who gave thanks for the memory and a bit of old desire (3,4)
BOB HOPE Ear worm time! A slang name for old coin (bit) followed by a desire
24d Discerning Sue's topping something baked, not without love! (7)
SAPIENT The 'topping' of Sue, something baked (1,3) and NoT from the clue without the letter representing love
25d Protector of husband and wife, made (not half!) to measure (7)
DEMETER The second half of maDE and a verb meaning to measure. A goddess of, amongst other things, marriage, so a protector of husband and wife
30d Fantastic beginnings of a crossword expert (3)
ACE The 'beginnings' of A Crossword Expert
32d Carol's second to take after father and brother (3)
FRA The second letter of Carol goes after an abbreviated father
A splendid puzzle (delightfully outrageous in places!) and a wonderful tribute to the big man :good:
…one can only echo the sentiments expressed at 9/12/15/26/28/33.
Not to forget the middle row!
Ah, missed that! Thought there must be a reason for the choice of solution at 17 :smile:
A superb tribute – many thanks to Elgar.
The podium for me consisted of 9/12/15, 13a (Rotten outfit – brilliant) and 23d.
DNF but thoroughly enjoyed the challenge
Thank you Elgar
A fabulous treat, many thanks Elgar for a wonderful tribute. Super Nina and great clues throughout but absolute favourite is 13a for … well for every element of it (and I say that as a Spurs fan!) Huge thanks again!
Same as LBR – DNF here too but thoroughly enjoyed the challenge. Thanks to BD and Elgar, I hope the sloggers and betters in Nottingham have a great time
It took a large glass of Rosé before the SW corner finally crystallized. A good challenge with lots of PDMs and smiles along the way. Thank you, Elgar, for providing this puzzle as a fitting tribute to BD and Mrs BD. I did note the Nina amongst the clued entries, but missed the middle row, so thank you to Prolixic for pointing that out – I shall also look forward to a couple of parsing clarifications in the review tomorrow. Ah, wait, I just figured out the ‘Rotten outfit’!
I rarely identify favourites in an Elgar puzzle as the whole is usually greater than the parts, but today is an exception…
9a, 12a, 15a, 26a, 28a, 33a.
Finally hit a brick wall in the SW corner but quite proud of myself for getting that far, I wouldn’t normally attempt one of this setter’s compilations.
I’m sure Mr XL would be embarrassed but secretly ‘chuffed’ at being the centre of attention!
Thanks to Elgar – hope everyone had a good time in Nottingham.
I’m about 2/3rds in but feeling stuck at the moment. I intend to persevere, and read the hints if I haven’t solved by Christmas. RIP Big Dave.
Completed this morning. Great fun.
A DNF for us too but we did enjoy working on this one and being reminded in so many ways of how BD has been a significant part of so many lives.
Thanks for the tribute Elgar.
Phew. I needed to come here after Annotations had been published. This was half ‘solved’ – in terms of filling in solutions – on the train last night and then taken as far as I could take it this morning. As a couple of other posters have commented, the SW was particularly challenging. I did admire the tightness of the cluing throughout and there was plenty of imagination and creativity that went into the deceptions. And, yes, the various surface references as well as those in the solutions all made for a fitting tribute.
Thanks Elgar and crypticsue for the vital explanations.
Thanks, CS. The only uncertainty I had left was ‘g’ for ‘group’, but you are clearly OK with it. I’ll remember for next time!
P.S. 12a in your grid didn’t publish with a red background.
G is short for ‘Group of’ as in the G7.
:good:
That’s the only grid I’ve got so I’m not sure what you mean about a red background?
On my screen, ‘THE’ and ‘ONE’ have a red background, but ‘BIG’ doesn’t. Then there are also blue, yellow and green backgrounds elsewhere. Not a big thing, but it loses the nice symmetry :smile:
Many thanks for the review, CS, I can finally stop worrying about that SW corner!
Nice to see the photos of Mr & Mrs BD again and I was pleased that BD’s long-suffering sister got a mention in the clues.
Another DNF for us – but it’s Elgar! Lovely tributes to BD and Mrs BD. Thank you CS for the clarification,
Great fun. Also 21d made me smile. Alluding to Hanley Swan I presume
Lovely and thoughtful tribute by Mr H to Mr XL (and Pam). I enjoyed managing to complete nearly all of it (another SW corner casualty) and then having to ‘reveal’ a couple of letters to get over the finish line. Thanks to Elgar for the puzzle and to CS for confirmation of the parsing of a couple of clues :good: