NTSPP – 238

28 comments on “NTSPP – 238”

1. Thanks Toro for a really enjoyable puzzle with many penny-drop moments. It’s said that the mark of a good crossword is that the clues don’t read like crossword clues – in that case this is a very good crossword because the surface readings are excellent. I liked 4a, 9a and 10d a lot but my favourite was 21d.

2. Thanks Toro; nice crisp clues. I didn’t know 12 & 16 but fairly clued (although 16 took me a moment to fathom.) 13 is a typical Arachne clue for those who do the Guardian puzzles.

   I really enjoyed all of gazza’s favourites. I was encouraged to look again at 21d……….

   1. Don Manley would not approve of the wordplay in 21 down! For many, that will be why it is an excellent clue.

3. A very nice puzzle from Toro – fairly gentle but great fun.

   But – I still do not understand the wordplay for 3d & 21d.

   Really liked 25a, 7d & 10d.

   On my shopping expedition this morning, I bumped into Nigel Farage and Douglas Carswell – touting for UKIP votes – already!

   1. Neither 3d nor 21d would be likely to appear in a Telegraph crossword.

      For 3d look again at NOT + the answer

      For 21d split the first word into (2,4)

      1. Thanks BD … I have now promoted 21d from obscurity to my Favourite!

4. A really enjoyable puzzle so many thanks to Toro. I agree with Gazza about the surface readings which are smooth as silk.

   If it was a DT back-pager I’d give it **/***** with 21d as favourite closely followed by 3d and 13a,

   Thanks again Toro – enjoyed it while watching Man Utd play something that looks a little bit like football but clearly isn’t as skillful

5. I have a completed grid, but there are several where I believe my answer is correct but I don’t understand why, like 4A and12A and the relevance of the first word in 16A. Also, I think I understand most of 21D, except for the last letter. I’m sure of my answer for 10D, but what has it to do with the first part of the clue?

   I did like 20A, and loved 27A. Thanks to Toro, and I look forward to tomorrow’s review.

   1. 4a – three articles – both definite and indefinite – can be found in “Anthea”!

      1. Clang! Penny dropped. Thanks!

         1. That took me ages to understand.

   2. 16a – I don’t understand the first word either!

      1. The still is a photograph.

         1. Thanks! And thanks again to Stan below.

   3. Expat Chris – 10d – http://bigdave44.com/2013/12/21/toughie-1106/

6. Agreed, a super-smooth set of clues and some very clever ones too. A few only appreciated after jumping to a successful conclusion (20a, 3d). 12a and 1d were favourites and I got 21d straight away but have my doubts about it.

7. A really brilliant crossword – I enjoyed it very much.
   To begin with I didn’t think I could do it at all but have finished now.
   I didn’t understand my answers for 3 or 21d but those have now been sorted out by some earlier comments – thanks BD.
   I still don’t understand my answers for 9a or 15d.
   I liked 4 and 27a and 4 and 10d. Loved 1a.
   Thanks to Toro for the entertainment and to anyone who will sort out my two remaining problems.

   1. 9a Reverse (back) your answer to get the saintly Peter’s role.
      15d Reverse ‘when staff’ (2,3) and add L(eft) and what marks the end of a film (especially in France).

      1. Thank you gazza – now I’ll be able to sleep tonight – but what a great crossword!

8. Excellent fun for our Sunday morning treat. Hard to pick a favourite but will go for 4a as winner by a nose in a closely packed field.
   Thanks Toro.

9. Thanks for that, Toro. I loved 4ac, and 19d was another favourite. Look forward to the review for some where I got the answer but couldn’t see all the wordplay – I’m still a beginner really.

10. Thanks to Toro for the puzzle and to Prolixic for the review!

    Liked the clip for 23a – Freddie Mercury & Montserrat Caballé – who would have thought?

    1. This needed moderation because your email address was missing the variables. I’ve edited it for you.

       1. Many Thanks & Many Apologies!

          Why not have a “sign-in” to avoid such typos from fat-fingered people like me?

11. It’s always such a pleasure to have a puzzle picked for the NTSPP, and to see the reactions to various clues, so thank you very much to Prolixic for the as always impeccable explanations, to Gazza for providing hints on the day, and to everyone who took the trouble to solve and comment. It’s much appreciated.

12. Great puzzle, Toro! Thoroughly enjoyable. Thank you very much. As I’ve been off-line, it has been an added pleasure to have this NTSPP midweek. My apologies for the lateness.

    Many thanks, too, to Prolixic. Going through the explanations has enhanced my appreciation of this puzzle. This because although I had arrived at all the correct answers, I had missed the subtleties of 4a, 9a, 3d and 21d. What clever clues! My fave, though, is 1a. Also particularly liked 12a, 5d, 11d and 15d.

    Enjoyed listening to the clip at 23a, which I haven’t heard before. Tried to listen to 1a, but it wouldn’t open (suspect my Vista laptop was the reason). Closed Firefox and when I returned and tried a second time, it was fine. Do hope I didn’t cause any problems. My sincere apologies if I did.

    1. Thanks Catnap! I worked hard at this one and I’m really glad you enjoyed it. Prolixic didn’t miss a trick – he never does!

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