Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30528
Hints and tips by pommers
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
Hola from Almoradí on another beautiful cloudless morning, but it’s a bit chilly at the moment. Still, it will warm up by lunchtime with a bit of luck. Forecast for 21°C this afternoon which is quite pleasant for early February.
Today’s puzzle is a bit unusual for a Monday. There’s some general knowledge required and there seems to be fair bit of what Big Dave used to call “Thesauritis”, i.e. if A is a synonym of B and B is a synonym of C then A must be a synonym of C, which isn’t always true. However, I quite enjoyed it even if I’d never heard of the chess player in 22d. It will be interesting to see your take on it all.
As usual my podium three are in blue. The definitions are underlined in the clues and the answers are under the “click here” buttons so don’t click on them unless you really want to see the answer. Please leave a comment telling us what you thought.
Across
1a Rough route reportedly (6)
COARSE: A word meaning rough sounds like a word for a route or direction to be followed.
4a Fish bones across middle of jetty (8)
STURGEON: What “bones” is a slang term for placed around (across) a T (middle of jeTty).
9a Straighten out former nurse (6)
EXTEND: Two letters for former, usually applied to a former partner, followed by a word meaning to nurse or look after.
10a Really popular outcome (2,6)
IN EFFECT: A word meaning popular or fashionable followed by a word for an outcome or result.
11a European university with typical wild trees (9)
EUCALYPTI: E(uropean) and U(niversity) followed by an anagram (wild) of TYPICAL.
13a Register one with lease? Not initially (5)
ENTER: A word for someone who is leasing something without its first letter (not initially).
14a Anxious, one outside shelter with husband beset by birds (2,11)
ON TENTERHOOKS: Take the ONE from the clue and place it around (outside) a shelter made of canvas. After that you need an H(usband) surrounded by (beset by) some large black birds of the crow family.
17a Currer, Ellis & Acton’s record? (3,5,5)
THE THREE BELLS: The answer is the title of a 1959 record by a singing trio called The Browns. It also describes who Currer, Ellis & Acton were. Fortunately I knew the pseudonyms adopted by the Bronte sisters but I didn’t know the record . . .
21a Temperature fine for Hungarian wine (5)
TOKAY: T(emperature) followed by a word meaning fine or pretty good.
23a New rope I ordered to hold large overhead cable, perhaps (5,4)
POWER LINE: Anagram (ordered) of NEW ROPE I with an L(arge) inserted (to hold).
24a Loyalty programme? Form of realism I injected (3,5)
AIR MILES: Anagram (form of) of REALISM with the I from the clue inserted (injected).
25a Like appeals close to umpire (6)
PLEASE: Some appeals followed by an E (close to umpirE).
26a Detectives essentially separate (8)
DISPERSE: You need some detective inspectors followed by a Latin phrase (3,2) meaning essentially.
27a Take in synopsis (6)
DIGEST: Double definition.
Down
1d Bright in initially crowded bar (6)
CLEVER: Bright as in intelligent. It’s a C (initially Crowded) followed by the sort of bar you might use to prise something open.
2d Take choir, for a change, for something to eat (9)
ARTICHOKE: Anagram (for a change) of TAKE CHOIR. There’s tons of these things grown around here but unfortunately I don’t like them!
3d Sleeveless garment — team’s leader is after one (7)
SINGLET: Take a word for one or solo and after it put a T (Team’s leader).
5d Problem affecting services? (6,5)
TENNIS ELBOW: A cryptic allusion to a problem which might affect your service with a racket.
6d Update arbiter regarding southern hospital (7)
REFRESH: Start with a term for the arbiter in a football match, then two letters for regarding and finally an S(outhern) and an H(ospital).
7d Still time to produce result (5)
EVENT: A word meaning still followed by a T(ime).
8d I trust an eccentric, one espousing nudity (8)
NATURIST: Anagram (eccentric) of I TRUST AN. I’d better not do a photo for this one!
12d £25, say, for mail service long ago (4,7)
PONY EXPRESS: The slang term for £25 followed by a word meaning to say or utter.
15d Stubborn stain to be treated (9)
OBSTINATE: Anagram (treated) of STAIN TO BE.
16d Assistance provided by government — its data broadcast about energy (5,3)
STATE AID: Anagram (broadcast) of ITS DATA placed around (about) an E(nergy).
18d Spooner’s a lot more complex? Crazy (7)
HAYWIRE: You need a two word phrase which might mean a lot more complex and do a Spoonerism to it and put the result together as one word.
19d Siren of traditional tales on the French island (7)
LORELEI: This is the siren on the river Rhine. It’s some traditional tales and knowledge followed by the French definite article and then an I(sland).
20d Expert touring city in desert (6)
DEFECT: Take the post code for the city of London and around it (touring) put a word meaning expert or skillful.
22d Paul, grandmaster, some risk-taker, Estonian (5)
KERES: The surname of a chess grandmaster called Paul, who happened to be Estonian, is lurking in (some) the last two words. Never heard of this chap but a guess and a bit of Google sorted me out.
A lot of good stuff today but my podium is 10a, 26a and 5d with 5d on the top.
Quick crossword puns:
Top line: CAESAR + NULL = SEASONAL
Bottom line: TUBE + HACKER = CHEWBACCA
A lovely start to the cruciverbal week with Campbell offering a great teaser. I didn’t know the grandmaster at 22d but it could be nothing else and Mr. G confirmed. The devilish reverend threw a spanner in the works again and it took a while to sort that out. I was also thrown by 11a until I saw it needed to be plural. My COTD is 14a for no other reason than I loved the way it was constructed.
Thank you, Campbell for the fun. Thank you, pommers for the hints, which I will now read.
Lambs are appearing in the fields so Spring is just around the corner!
A farming friend of mine started lambing in late November, Steve – it’s been a very long corner so far getting to Spring, and we’re not quite there yet, though I think I shall see the first hedgerow primroses in bloom tomorrow or Wednesday.
Would that be in lambing sheds, MG? 🐑
I seem to recall that some were in sheds but others in the fields, Steve – either way the lambs were outside almost immediately, and so were absolutely fine when we had the chilly spell last month.
I assumed 22d was a lurker and googled it, but it only came up with a Greek Goddess of violent death. I put it in anyway, what else could it be?
1.5*/3.5*. This was straightforward and good fun. My only hold-ups were writing in “double fault” as the answer for 5d, which messed up the NE corner until I realised the error of my ways; and taking an age to twig the parsing for 26a.
It was good to see a mention of the great Paul 22d, considered by many as the strongest chess player never to have won the World Championship.
17a was my favourite (although the record is a bit twee). Our sorely missed contributor the late Robert Clark would have approved of this one.
Many thanks to Campbell and to pommers.
Oh, I hadn’t heard the news about Robert. Belated RIP to Robert, and thank you to Jane for relaying this back in October and for signing his online condolences book on our behalf. (And apologies for not seeing it at the time.)
Good morning all, I feel we have an unusual start to the week today. I found this a somewhat uncomfortable mix of read and write mixed in with some real obscurity.
On the plus side I did like 5d and I really liked 14a.
But for 4a, is the sawless bones sufficient to indicate a surgeon?
Does 17a make any sense to anybody? (I will read the hints in a minute and will probably be suitably humbled).
21a I am not sure about this spelling, it seems a bit light in the J department.
18d – having praised a spoonerism yesterday I felt this one was at the opposite end of the spectrum
22d – surely so obscure as to unfathomable without it being a lurker supported by some on line research (OK, I am not au fait with Hungarian chess masters of the 40s and 50s…).
I seem to be a bit grumpy today, I think I had better get TDS’s coat
Thanks as ever to the setter and hinter
P. I think bones (a condensed form of sawbones) is pretty well-known slang for surgeon. Wasn’t it used often in Star Trek and Mash?
I guess PK is pretty obscure for most folk, but certainly not for me, being a chess nut. He was one of the greatest players of the 20th century.
Currer,Ellis & Acton Bell were the pseudonyms of the Bronte Sisters who thought if they submitted their manuscripts as women they would be rejected. These names were fairly ambiguous
Thank you, I knew the Brontes used pseudonyms but never know the actual names.
I knew who Currer, Ellis and Acton were so assumed there was a record called THE THREE BELLS. Recognised it once I played it.
Agree it was too obscure and general-knowledge based to be included
22d and 17a Hmm…………
22d I can accept as you can spot the lurker and answer the clue.
17a is my worst type of clue. It is not cryptic, both parts require general knowledge. If you don’t know the general knowledge you can’t find the answer.
That said I thought 5 was excellent.
Just Google the 3 names
True, I should have written – you can’t find the answer unaided/within the clue
I’m with you completely re 17a. In my opinion a clue should contain the answer within itself. If one requires general knowledge alone to be able to solve a clue, the clue has no place in a cryptic puzzle.
Thanks to the setter and to pommers.
Hi GZR and Jezza
I think it is an itsy-bitsy cryptic because it implies that the record was sung by, or is about, the sisters. I think the question mark is Campbell saying….let me off?
I am therefore more than happy to but others, quite understandably, won’t.
Hi Tom
I didn’t know the pseudonyms and I’ve never heard of the record. Such a clue is unsolvable.
I hadn’t heard of the chess player either, but at least the wordplay leads to the answer.
No problem J & BZ.
I can see why it’s gone down like a woofy in a space suit.
I love that thought for the ? ………..but I won’t let him off
Fairy nuff, Gee Junior.
Completely agree Jezza. And I did Google it and discovered it was a book called “Poems” written by the Brontë sisters. Which led me absolutely nowhere.
J. I haven’t done this puzzle, but have had good look at 17a. My verdict is: An obscure GK clue for sure, but OK generally. It probably has no place in a back-pager (especially on a Monday) but fine for a Toughie puzzle.
I would suggest that a massively obscure record, not to mention particular knowledge of the sisters has no place in a backpager.
I was fine with 22d.
A gentle start to the week’s proceedings with Campbell being in a very benign mood.
Faultless, as ever, with lots of nice constructions. Glad to see that the sixth letter of 14a wasn’t a d.
I think 4a is in the bronze medal position for most oft-seen answer in the last few months with ‘nevertheless’ taking the silver. We all know what the gold is.
My podium is 5d, 6d and 12d.
Many thanks to the aforementioned and Pommers
1*/3*
Gentle TDS ?,are you extracting the urine, I’m never sure with you🤔
Hi DG2.
I’ve just seen the word ‘gentle’ in your message. So, I have requested my reply gets deleted. Sorry about that.
Yes, I found it gentle today. I had never heard of the chess player but, as it was a lurker, it was easy enough. I knew the German dooberry from recent crosswords and knew the sisters’ monikers in 17a.
The rest was plain sailing for me. I had an excellent night’s kip and a top cardio workout in the gym. So, maybe I happened to be firing on all cylinders today.
My goodness, Tom, I don’t think I’ve heard the wonderful word “doobrey” for over 50 years!
There needs to be a word for these fillers like whojammaflip, thingummy, whatshisface and jobbychops.
Such fun.
Not to mention “whatchamacallits”!
Tom needs to start paying us some proper spondulicks for all these fine words we are providing
It’s Monday
It’s Campbell 
– 1.5*/4*
A slight pause on 22d but with the checkers in it had to be and I didn’t bother to check it.
Candidates for favourite – 4a, 26a, and 5d – and the winner is 26a for the use of the essentially Latin phrase just beating out the bones in 4a.
Thanks to Campbell and pommers.
Not my cup of tea today I’m afraid.
Didn’t know the Estonian chess master at 22d (did anyone?)….thank goodness it was a lurker.
Hadn’t heard of the song at17a ….but fortunately was aware of the Brontes’s pseudonymn.
Would never have figured out 20d …..took me a while even with the hint.
I did like 14a .
Maybe I am grumpy too like Phanciful.
Thanks to the setter and to Pommers .
After two passes I couldn’t see if this was a difficult one or a simple one? What a mixture it was. Had luck in guessing 14a and then confirming a fit, then guessing 5d and then 12d ….. With those checkers the rest followed fitfully, even the hated Spoonerism!
Finished this with a little electronic help.
5d. Having dismissed “housemaid’s knee” I was happy to settle for this
Felt 17a and 22d were more GK than cryptic
Happy to decide that, although perhaps another GK answer, my COTD was 19d.
A really enjoyable guzzle with lots of clever clues and a helping of General Knowledge to add spice. My COTD was the Spoonerism/homophone at 18d a really wily clue. The 14a was lego clue as great, as was the well-disguised cryptic definition at 17a. I had vaaguely heard of the Grandmaster from a book I gave my grandson, when he started getting intto chess and it couldn’t be anything else. I stalled for While at 20d, wondegringwhether to put reject which was in the rhesaurus as well as the right answer. Thanks to Campbell and to Pommers for the hints.
An enjoyable puzzle despite the absurdly high anagram count – come on setters, please: there are so many different clue types and, fun though anagrams usually are, anything more than 4 or 5 in a puzzle hugely reduces the scope for variety among the rest!
Held up in the SW corner with my final two. 17a was rather dated but an obvious biff from the checkers even having never heard of the band, the record, Curer, or Ellis – only recalled the link to Acton on coming here and reading Pommers’s very helpful hint. 22d likewise a biff. Podium to 14a, 26a and 19d.
2* / 3*
Many thanks to Campbell and Pommers
Couldn’t get started at all in the north so moved southwards and first one in was the Hungarian wine remembered from a couple of weeks ago, followed by the lurking grandmaster, who I’d never heard of. Moved on to the Brontes who I did know (though not the record) and wondered if I was doing the GK crossword by mistake. All was saved by the wonderful 14a, my favourite today sharing podium space with 5d and 18d. Thanks to Campbell and pommers whose hint I needed for 20d.
26a and 5d made up for the appearance of the reverend. A bit of google confirmation required. Thanks to today’s setter and pommers.
Quite tricky for a Monday with a few clunky surfaces and some general knowledge required, particularly at 17a and 22d.
Nice to see the Hungarian wine getting another outing and I enjoyed the Spoonerism.
5d is my COD, but then I do like a cryptic definition.
Thanks you setter and Pommers.
Found this tougher than Fridays, what with old chess players and some song from the 50s! I also put ‘wire’ in for the second half of 23a which held me up for an absolute age. Grrr.
Puzzle marginally redeemed by the lovely 5d. ****/**
I too thought it would be ‘wire’
Me too!
Perhap a little anagram heavy, but a nice start to the week. 17a is my favourite today, with 18d close on it’s heels. Despite not previously hearing of 22d, the answer was fairly obvious. 20d was my last in and caused me the most head scratching. Thank yous to Campbell and Pommers.
Well, that was mostly Mondayish, with a couple of googlies thrown in*.
The musical/poetical clue was possible when I filled in the blanks. I hadn’t known about the Brontë pseudonyms, but am old enough to remember the record.
The chess master, I did not know, but I could see that he was lurking there.
And why, oh why, does it always seem to take me so long to remember the city in 20d? I have even worked there.
Steve Cowling is lucky to have early signs of spring, but there are no lambs here. Snowdrops are everywhere, whilst crocuses and daffodils are peeking through. It’s dull and damp in The Cotswolds and the carpetfitters need the front door open whilst they cut the doors down to size. Brrr.
* please note that googlies are not thrown in – they are bowled.
I thought this was ever-so-slightly tougher than usual from Campbell, and all the better for it. 17a is, as has been said, a tad twee, but it read sweetly. And, like many, I’d not heard of 22d but it was very fairly clued. Plenty of ticks. 14a was excellent – my COTD. Many thanks to Campbell and pommers.
A pleasant start to the week – thanks to Campbell and pommers.
My favourite clue was 5d.
Re 17a I remember the Brian Poole and the Tremeloes version but had forgotten that the title wasn’t the same as the main character in the song.
Don’t forget, Daniel O’Donnell recorded it as well!
Fortunately the Bronte penny dropped for me because I only recall the “record” as Les Trois Cloches by Les Compagnons de la Chanson and Edith Piaf (lovely recording).
OMG, what a trip down memory lane!
I first heard the 17a record on my parent’s gramophone in Calcutta 65 odd years ago! (when I was also introduced to the Sons of the Pionneers and later to Tom Lehrer!) Didn’t know the Bronte connection. 19d also reminded me of a trip down the Rhine, not that long ago!
Many thanks to Campbell for the nostalgia and to pommers for the blog.
A couple of bung-ins required to finish this morning, particularly the group at 17a, where, for me, obscure GK was needed to fill the squares. I don’t like having to use a search engine to complete a cryptic puzzle, and I like to think my GK is pretty good. An ok start to the week.
Thanks Campbell and pommers.
Didn’t have the GK to finish unaided. Mostly enjoyed though!
A lot of GK needed and this alone made it more difficult than a normal Monday. For me more like a Wednesday/ Thursday but I don’t mind that. I’ve never heard of the Hungarian wine, so I will have to try some ( any excuse)
Thanks to all.
Quite a mix of GK and cryptic today. I knew the tune at 17a but not its name so thanks to the Bronte girls for helping with that one, but failed on the bottom line pun having never been a Star Wars fan.
Rosettes handed out to 4&26a plus 5&12d.
Thanks to Campbell and to pommers for the review.
I, too, am in today’s grumpy camp. Too many obscurities or holes in my gk to make it enjoyable and needed Pommers’ hints to complete the grid. That said I did like 11a and 14a. Thanks to Campbell and Pommers.
I enjoyed this GK no problem although I expected complaints. I knew the pseudonyms of the Brontés. I didn’t need to know the record. I’m not hot on Estonian Grandmasters but he was obviously lurking. I’m a French wine drinker but we have had the Hungarian one recently and, if you missed that one, it was easy to follow from the clue. My last one in was 20d. I did not know whether I was looking for an arid area or something else. Got there though and must remember that City! I thought of the fish at 4a as a joint favourite along with the ling. However not certain until I had all the checkers. I also was looking for something to go with wire as wire is a synonym for cable. Remember telegrams? Liked 14 and 26a and 1 5 12d and 14 and 26a
I remember telegrams when I was a child. They always seemed to bring bad news. I recall my mother clasping her hand across her mouth when one was delivered, a look of horror in her eyes. I believe it had something to do with WW2 when to get a telegram often was news of the death of a loved one in the fighting.
The name was changed later to “Greetings Telegram”.
Well, we enjoyed it. It seemed very doable although on a first read through I was down to 21a the wine before I picked up the one. Then they all began to fall with 26d being LOI even though I did have the EC.George knew the chess master – two years in hospital on bed rest turned him into a really good Chess & Bridge player. Tenter hooks are used to secure the warp to the loom. I think to be on them is a lovely phrase. It is bright and sunny here in East Angular but the wind is bitterly cold, but the garden full of snowdrops, primroses and aconites. And a wonderful winter clematis called Jingle Bells which blooms for months and which I highly recommend. ‘Freckles’ on the other side of the gate does not do so well. Many thanks to Messrs Setter and Hinter Pommers.
For picked up the ’one’ read picked up the pen.
I found this harder than most Mondays’ by far – too much GK and 14a comprising two pieces of the more arcane GK. ***/**. Shame really, cos it rounded off a difficult weekend including an impenetrable NTSPP and obscure Rookie.
Too hard for mere mortals.
Phew – I thought this was really difficult.
I usually find Campbell hard but I almost gave up today – it’s either wave-length or brain trouble (or both).
For quite a while I didn’t think it was Campbell but then I found the puns.
I liked 11a and 21a (I wouldn’t have got that if we hadn’t had it yesterday, or recently anyway) and 5 and 19d.
My favourite was 8d.
Thanks to pommers and to Campbell.
No real issues for a Monday, although I must say that I am not a fan of GK in a cryptic crossword – IMHO the clues should stand alone without requiring external (and sometimes arcane) knowledge. There are GK crosswords for that sort of thing! Sorry – end of rant.
Anyway, **/*** for me – thanks to Campbell and Pommers.
I agree!
You’ve changed your alias so this needed moderation. The various aliases you’ve used will all work from now on.
For a Monday, a little trickier than normal for Campbell IMHO. Enjoyable and fun to dig through though. One new word for me and one answer I just could not figure out the parsing on. Will at the hints to see if it comes to light.
1.5*/4* for me
Favourites included 4a, 14a, 17a, 1d, 5d & 18d — with winner 17a … I liked that.
Smiles from 4a, 14a, 1d & 18d
Thanks to Campbell & pommers for blog/hints
Well that was a shock to the system, I was expecting a gentle start to the week and this definitely wasn’t. Defeated by the SE corner. Thanks to all.
Been away this weekend celebrating a friend’s birthday , and despite having a bit of quiet time, having a gang in the same room and getting distracted meant I had DNFs for Fri, Sat and Sun – first time in ages. Luckily this one wasn’t too taxing and quite enjoyable once I got started as still feeling a little jaded. Stalled right at the end with a couple in the SW and needed a reveal for 20d , which I would never have got. Thanks to Campbell and Pommers.
I enjoyed this, I remembered the Hungarian wine from a few weeks ago and although I did not know the chess master or the Brontë connection I guessed the answers correctly ( not so hard if it’s a lurker and you spot it). 20d was last in for some reason.
Many thanks to Campbell and to Pommers for the hints and clip.
Good afternoon
An enjoyable crozzie and a few additions to the stock of GK – what’s not to like about that?
My thanks to Campbell and Pommers
Yet another enjoyable start to the week 😃 ***/*** I learnt something new at 17a and 22d 👍 Favourites 1a, 4a & 1d Thanks to Campbell and to Pommers
Tough for a Campbell but lots of fun. I’m not in the grumpy camp: everything was entirely getable from the clues and checkers.
***/****, LOI 26a of which the second half I failed to parse.
Many thanks pommers and Campbell.
As I have zero knowledge of Hungarian wines, Estonian grand masters, never watched Mash or Star Trek, and the word Spooner just makes me shudder, I was not in with much of a chance today. I put smiley faces beside great clues, and sad ones by the truly unhelpful, and the sad faces win by a mile today. Not my cup of tea I’m afraid, and finished only with several hints. Sometimes I can understand Campbell and sometimes I can’t, and today was definitely a “can’t”. Thanks to Campbell for the workout and to Pommers.
This was tricky, but I did finish … only just, 20d nearly did me in when I had an epiphany. There was some really good stuff. I solved 17a from the checkers, but I should have googled the trio to understand it. Yes, the Brown’s version was a bit twee, but what memories of the ’50s! I thought Edith Piaf’s Les Tres Cloches (I think I’m right) was the best version. YouTube here I come! I loved my trip down The Rhine, so 19d brought back happy memories, but I like 5d, mainly ‘cos it didn’t fool me, for once!
Thank you Campbell for the fun and pommers for his hints and tips. We’re colder than you are!
Edith Piaf’s version was backed by Les Compagnons de la Chanson who also did an English version. They were also on my parent’s radiogram with some other songs!
That’s right. I’ve got to listen to that again. Was The Old Lamplighter on your parents’ radiogram?
I have only just read your Comment, Merusa, and that of Lurker No Longer and indeed I made a similar Comment in Reply to ColinS in 20 above.
Somehow this did not feel like a Campbell … the siren and the pseudonyms were too obscure but still enjoyable. Thank you compiler and Pommers
What a fun concoction
Of easy, novel and very
Clever clues.
In that order, 1 and 4 and
26a. for example.
Great to complete, but
Perhaps slow in getting
17a to my shame but the
Penny half – dropped, as
I didn’t know the relevance
Of its last word.
Many thanks, Campbell and pommers.
I reiterate Shrimp, as it didn’t seem like a Campbell production today. A slight delay on 5d and wanted to put wire as the second part of 23a. Didn’t immediately get 17a but the checkers helped and realised they were bells but the Brontë connection passed me by! Didn’t know 22d but realised it was a lurker. Sorry to say I didn’t like the 2nd pun. Many thanks to Campbell for the challenge and to Pommers for the hints re 20d
A late post but solved the puzzle early doors. I knew Emily & Anne’s pseudonym but had forgotten, if I ever knew Charlotte’s one. Spotify told me about the record & Mr G about the chess chappie. Favourite was 5d with podium places for 14a (how many say tender) & 26a.
Thanks to Campbell & to Pommers – whose review together with the comments can be tonight’s pre lights out reading.
I really enjoyed some of this puzzle but there were many clues that were beyond me. My general knowledge was not on the setter’s wavelength.
Favourite was the problem tennis service!
But on the positive side there’s always tomorrow.
Thankyou all.
A dnf due to 17a. Said my bit in my reply to post #4.
Thanks to all.
I did not enjoy this at all. Too much googling required to confirm my bung ins. Bizarrely I got to complete it but with little satisfaction. 3/1. Thanks to all.
Late to the party, but I really enjoyed today’s puzzle.
Needed help for 17a but learned from it.
I never thought I would be in a position to comment on clues, but I’m not a fan of the Spooner ones.
Nice to see a mention of Tom Lehrer earlier in the comments.
For me 5d was cotd
Thanks to everyone
Perfectly straightforward until it wasn’t. Having not said that for ages I’ve said it three times in a couple of weeks, I hope I don’t feel the need to say again for some time. Didn’t know the pseudonyms or the record in 14a, both before my time or the chess player in 22d, at least that was a lurker, both would have been unsolvable for me before the Internet. I needed the hint to parse 26a. I had other gripes in the south that I can’t be bothered to go into. Not one for me I’m afraid.
I’m forgetting my manners. Thanks to Campbell anyway and Pommers.
Off to print today’s offering and hope to get time to solve it in the coming days.
That was good fun.
Only held up by 26a which pushed me into the 3 star rating that Pommers mentioned.
Thanks to Campbell and to our Spanish friend.
17a Never heard of these names. I put in the three bulls which in my opinion would be a record in darts!
Like your thinking – is their space do you reckon?
Perhaps it’s better late than never to say I enjoyed this tricky number. I hadn’t heard of bones in 4a context – ‘sawbones’ yes. Didn’t tumble to the 26a latin phrase so had to bung in. 2d “something to eat” is rather broad. I have joined the 17a discussions above. Don’t usually like Spoonerisms but 18d is Fav. Thank you Campbell and pommers. Good night everybody from this habitual night owl.
A DNF for me, which I had to finish after getting home from work in the early hours.
26a, 27a, 18d, 19d & 20d I could not answer.
I really do not like Spoonerisms!
Enjoyable though.
Would never have got 20d in a month of Sundays.
Thanks for the hints.
4*/2* ….
liked 11A “European university with typical wild trees (9)” ….
the parsing of the Spoonerism in 18D “Spooner’s a lot more complex? Crazy (7)” is eluding me … any further hints please ?