Toughie No 658 by Notabilis

“Three words, darling; A-may-zing!”

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

BD Rating – Difficulty ***** – Enjoyment *****²

Greetings from the Calder Valley. Thanks for all the nice wishes and I am home from hospital, although feeling a little fragile, so our leader is going to assist with the Downs.

Today we simply have a thing of beauty. An absolutely stunning crossword from Notabilis, a ferociously tough struggle, but like the best meat when you dine, when you see the explanations for the clues, they fall apart beautifully in the brain. I know some of you will have probably given up but quite simply this is a puzzle by a setter at the top of his game, and I cannot praise Notabilis high enough for it. Thanks to Phil McNeill, the Telegraph Puzzles Editor, for publishing it.