Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30,597
Hints and tips by Shabbo
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
Good morning from a cold and grey Welwyn Garden City. It is 4o here today – we seem to have abandoned spring and reverted to winter! Temperatures are due to rise next week – fingers crossed.
Anyway, what about the puzzle, I hear you say? The presence of the Queen, the sweetheart and the clueing brevity indicate that we have RayT back on Thursday duty this week and I found this to be an enjoyable and largely straightforward solve. What did you think?
In the blog below, the definition element of each clue has been underlined, anagrams are CAPITALISED and the crossword technique “indicator words” are in brackets. The answers are concealed under the “Click Here” buttons. Please leave a comment telling us how you got on and what you thought of the puzzle.
Across
1a Cold air turning warm (7)
CORDIAL: anagram (turning) of COLD AIR.
5a Runs film rolling credits (7)
DIRECTS: another anagram (rolling) of CREDITS.
9a Sit back following ace storyteller (5)
AESOP: synonym of sit (as in sit for an artist) reversed (back) after (following) abbreviation for ace reveals a fabled story teller.
10a Unaware of endless falsehood in open (9)
OBLIVIOUS: synonym of falsehood without the final letter (endless) inside (in) a synonym of open (as in apparent).
11a Echo sounded in blasts and backfires (10)
BOOMERANGS: the letter represented by echo in international radio communication + synonym of sounded inside (in) synonym of blasts (as in roars).
12a Haggard woman embracing old loafer? (4)
SHOE: title of a book by Rider Haggard outside (embracing) abbreviation for old.
14a Nude in arrest dancing with abandon (12)
UNRESTRAINED: anagram (dancing) of NUDE IN ARREST.
18a Bond has Interpol worried about one (12)
RELATIONSHIP: anagram (worried) of HAS INTERPOL outside (about) I.
21a It’s dead good touching sweetheart! (4)
GONE: abbreviation of good + word meaning touching + the heart of swEet.
22a People purchasing pine goods (10)
BELONGINGS: synonym of people outside (purchasing) synonym of pine (think yearn).
25a Cutting fish, worker holds kipper’s tail (9)
TRENCHANT: type of fish + synonym of worker (an insect) outside (holds) the tail of kippeR.
26a Reportedly demolish then build up (5)
RAISE: homophone (reportedly) of a word meaning demolish.
27a Somebody is impotent, perhaps (7)
NOTABLE: synonym of impotent (two words joined together).
28a Right embarrassed about gutted services (7)
REDRESS: the colour one goes when embarrassed + two-letter abbreviation for about + gutted ServiceS.
Down
1d Irascible taxi-driver keeping right (6)
CRABBY: informal synonym of taxi-driver outside (keeping) R.
2d Filmed again and disturbed others (6)
RESHOT: anagram (disturbed) OTHERS.
3d Drench, permeating pants (10)
IMPREGNATE: another anagram (pants) of PERMEATING.
4d Sponge in a dessert rising (5)
LOOFA: A + a type of dessert upside down (rising). I would normally spell this with an H at the end, but this alternative spelling is in Chambers.
5d Strikes out framing Georgia representatives (9)
DELEGATES: synonym of “strikes out” outside (framing) abbreviation for Georgia.
6d Stray from prior view, occasionally (4)
ROVE: every other letter (occasionally) of pRiOr ViEw.
7d Dress is fine wearing heavy footwear (8)
CLOTHING: synonym of fine (think slender) inside (wearing) traditional wooden footwear.
8d Arrests American over payments (8)
SUSPENDS: two-letter abbreviation for American upside down (over) + synonym of payments.
13d Old lady survived feigned illness (10)
MALINGERED: abbreviation for mother + synonym of survived.
15d Spare former partner with single charge (9)
EXONERATE: two-letter synonym of former partner + synonym of single + synonym of charge.
16d Panic just being stuck in bog (8)
FRIGHTEN: synonym of just inside (stuck in) a word meaning bog or marsh.
17d Ringing man after proposal (8)
PLANGENT: abbreviation of gentleman after a synonym of proposal or design.
19d Total fury supporting hospital department (6)
ENTIRE: synonym of fury after (supporting – this is a down clue) our usual hospital department.
20d Idiots accepting Trump’s principal strengths (6)
ASSETS: synonym of idiots outside (accepting) the first letter (principal) of Trump.
23d Fur is lavish on Queen (5)
OTTER: three initials signifying lavish or extravagant + the regnal name/number of our beloved late Queen.
24d Oddly sick sailor getting blackleg (4)
SCAB: odd letters of SiCk + our usual two-letter abbreviation for sailor.
Quickie Pun: TANS + URN + NEAR = TANZANIA
Good fun from RayT today
I hope you are not unaware of this track
Thanks to RT and Shabbo
Related to 11a – In late 1974 and early 1975, when, as a teenager, I was working at Charisma Records, next door to the Algerian Coffee Shop, in Old Compton Street, Charlie Drake became a regular visitor. Still only in his forties, his showbusiness career had trickled to a bit of a standstill after some popularity in the mid ’60s when he released a series of novelty records that were popular with very young children, but cringe-worthy to their teenage brothers and sisters (hello 11a).
Just about any dress code is acceptable in today’s Old Compton Street, but in 1974, Charlie was sporting a most unusual fluffy comb-over hair style, and, presumably in a sterling effort to fit in with the mood of the times, striped, open-necked shirts and denim flares. And highly polished business shoes. And a briefcase.
Charlie was courting the A&R team at Charisma with the intention of making a record with Genesis. Yes, that Genesis.
He was a kind man, bringing in Fortnum and Mason mince pies at Christmas, and champagne and whisky just about any other time.
Somehow, the transition was made from tentative discussion to reality, and Peter Gabriel handed over a song he had written for his first solo album. Recorded in one session, as well as featuring Gabriel, Robert Fripp was the guitarist, Sandy Denny provided backing vocals and Phil Collins played drums.
It wasn’t a hit.
Great guzzle. Needed Shabbo’s help to get me rebooted. 22a last one in.
Thanks to RayTee and Shabba-dabba-doo
Great story T – who’d ‘ave think it
I’ve never heard that record before – unsurprisingly – however, it does have Gabriel’s writing style all over it – great story.
Did you stay in the business Terence?
Kind of, Sim. I worked in the music business for a few years and then, in an unexpected twist, became a writer for radio, TV, and film. Amongst other career offshoots.
Thanks Terence, I only asked as I started in recording studios a couple of years after you and wondered if our paths might have crossed!
Love it, Terence!
It would have been perfect on the Lamb Lies Down on Broadway, PG’s masterpiece.
I think the other members of Genesis would like to think they had some input too Tom! 😅 But, yes, a masterpiece indeed
Tony said that Peter wrote the whole album, i.e the story, and presented it to them as a fait accompli. The others chipped in with their bits and bobs (mainly Tony of course) but it was pretty non-negotiable stuff from him.
It was the beginning of the end of his time with them. They also wouldn’t budge on him asking for time off to be with his new-born.
The concept is a load of old cobblers but it’s great music – apart from the odd track the only Genesis with PG I can still listen to.
I’m hovering like a fly waiting for the windshield on the freeway such a great lyric
I’m a Genesis nut. Definitely my musical sweet spot, especially when Peter was around though Trick of the Tail and Wind & Wuthering are on my podium along with Selling England by the Pound.
The solo after that lyric was one of Steve’s highlights.
Wonderful stuff.
Another Genesis fan here.
I live in Newcastle Emlyn, just three miles from where Lamb was recorded!
Gosh. You’re in deepest Wales there, Mr Tumble. I knew it was recorded in The Valleys but had no idea where.
Now I know.
My day is complete.
I’m not supposed to say anything, but I played the synth solo on Riding the Scree after they knocked on my door and told me that Tony was finding it too difficult.The house seemed to be privately owned last time I went past. It certainly hasn’t been used for recordings for a long time. In his autobiography, Phil Collins says their time there was pretty idyllic, especially following the earlier album sessions at a rat-infested Headley Grange in Hampshire.
It does look like a splendid part of the world.
Forgive me if I’m being slow out of the traps but I assume you are having a giggle with the bit about ‘Riding the scree’?
I’m off to see a Genesis tribute band tomorrow – first time I’ve seen one so not so sure how I’ll feel about it
Ah ha! Visible Touch in Hungerford. Mustn’t grumble, Sim.
I saw Steve Hackett doing his nod to Genesis (the old stuff) in the ‘Genesis Revisted’ tour in 2020. Suppers, Firth, Cinema, Musical Box….wonderful stuff. The boy has still got it.
Have a great night watching Genesis (the new stuff)
I’m not quite that old, Tom! Just a daft joke because the keyboard part on that track is notoriously difficult.
I would have added an emoji to show I wasn’t serious but they’ve only just arrived.
That is one great pic!
Love the Scree comment (apols for thinking for a squillysecond that you were being serious.
Chuffed that you like the boys as I love meeting fellow fans.
Solid from Brian Brevity. His crosswords never disappoint (I’m getting the hang of that expression)
I started at the top which was an anagram frenzy that made me think…..’Ay up, MG won’t be a happy bunny.’ But, they tapered out as I worked my way down.
My podium is 1a, 14a and 22a.
Many thanks to RayT and Shabbs.
2*/4*
Good morning, where is everyone?
I really enjoyed today’s puzzle and only had to check the definitions of 25a and 17d.
My only doubt was the synonym for sound in 11a- but have decided it’s as in the context of ‘the lyrics sounded like this’. Am I right or right off the track?
Many thanks to Shabbo and the setter for a smashing guzzle.
Sounded not sound 🙄
Re: sounded in 11a, “We were forced to evacuate when the alarm sounded”.
Quality is assured from one of our favourite setters and this did not deviate from the norm. A very high standard of commendably brief and accurate phrasing made this yet another delightful solve in a long line of similarly enjoyable puzzles. My top clue from a wide selection was 14a.
My thanks to Ray T and Shabbo.
I always find a Ray T puzzle hugely enjoyable and this was no exception. I did think we may be in for an anagram fest but, although there were more than I would have liked, they all proved to be grouped together near the top. 12a was my LOI and I could have kicked myself when the penny dropped with a resounding clang. I may have twigged sooner had my penultimate solve not been 7d. Thus 12a became my favourite with podium places for 22a and 15d. Thanks to Ray T and Shabbo.
Probably not quite as challenging as my solving time suggests but drooping eyelids can slow down progress in an essentially visual activity so I will rate it as 2.5*/4.5*
Candidates for favourite – 9a, 26a, and 15d – and the winner is 9a.
Thanks to the master of brevity and Shabbo.
Fabtastic guzzle with some head scratchers alongside the straight forward. I finished unaided, which is great for me because it is usual for RayT to bamboozle me with two or three. I did get held up by putting in “iboga” at 4d because it’s a plant and I thought it was a kind of sponge. I should have gone to Specsavers – there were two s’s in the word, Cowling! My COTD is the lavish fur at 23d.
Thank you, RayT for the fun challenge. Thanks you, Shabbo for the hints.
Quite fun mostly; except for 8d, where I thought the synonyminity very iffy.
Apart from that loved 4d, fave of the day!
I first came across one in my parent’s bathroom in Calcutta in the 50s! Since then they seem to exist .mostly in xwordland!
Thanks to RayT and to Shabbo.
I too initially questioned the synonym for “payments” but determined after some deliberation I have seen it used in this sense. Perhaps it is a bit foreign to those such as myself on the western side of the pond as I see that, on the Collins website, the British dictionaries show the synonym as both a verb and a noun but the American dictionaries list it only as a verb.
Thanks!
Grandma Bee had one hung by a bath with the most ludicrous plumbing fittings ever seen, all brass and porcelain that was frightening to this bairn raised with a tin bath in front of the fire
Luxury!
Other than being a tad slow to twig the anagram indicators in the first 2 across clues a quick completion. I can’t say the answer to 11a would have been the first definition synonym to spring to mind but the wordplay was clear. Rather liked the fodder in the 2 long ‘uns at 14&18a but I’ll plump for 22a as my pick.
Thanks to Ray T & to Shabbo.
Ps a gentle Django Toughie today
Slow start but then it took off thanks in part to quite a few anagrams. 12a was of course a bum steer leading me to toy with gaunt. Agree with Shabbo and doubtless others re spelling of 4d. 27a Fav. Thank you RayT and Shabbo.
I was doubtful re the 4d spelling too.
Shabbo points out in his hints above that the spelling is in fact in Chambers.
A most gentle but very enjoyable puzzle.
My last one in was 17d. 1*/4*.
Thanks to RayT, and to Shabbo for the write-up.
RayT
Cracking
Nuff said
21a, 13d, 20d
2* / 4*
Thanks both!
Love the
Brevity.
In the constantly shifting line-up of back page setters that has become our lot, it’s a relief to see that Mr T remains a constant presence! I could do with him turning some cold air warm here as the central heating, which has been acting up for a couple of weeks, has finally packed up altogether…….
Anyway, on to the puzzle – plenty of RT trade-marks in evidence and some rueful smiles forthcoming over the likes of the irascible taxi-drivers and Trump’s idiots. Top two for me were the streaker under arrest and the old lady feigning illness.
Devotions of course to Mr T and many thanks to Shabbo for the review.
I have noticed that the comments are a bit of a boys’ club, might be a bit controversial but hey ho. I found this an enjoyable outing, I liked 12ac and 25ac the best, easy enough but clever
Well come on then, girls, ladies, women!
Oh dear I have to choose my words for the opposite sex carefully.
Oops, there I go again. I understand that there are now numerous sexes, oops, genders.
Help!
Just so there is no confusion. I am a man! 😊
I think Daisygirl, Merusa, Jane, Cryptic Sue, Kath, BuzyLizzie and the rest of our lovely ladies would argue the point. 🤣🤣
Steve, I think your two comments have appeared in the wrong order. Or have they?
I see what you mean! 🤣🤣 However, I can assure you they are seperate replies.
Another great puzzle from RayT. Lots of contenders for favourite today but I’ll award top honours to the dancing nude (who appears to continue even after being taken into custody). I must say I have always enjoyed RayT’s puzzles dating back to my days as part of the Thursday blogging trio. Thanks to him and Shabbo.
Thank goodness for RayT showing up on his fortnightly visit this week. This puzzle made up for yesterday’s that I had some struggles with.
As is usual with RayT, things make sense and are logical.
1.5*/4.5* for today.
Favourites include 9a, 11a, 18a, 13d & 16d — with winner 18a & 16d a close second.
Smiles from 11a, 27a, 3d & 16d
Thanks to RayT & Shabbo for blog/hints
I made heavy weather of this puzzle and needed a few of Shabbo’s hints to get me finished. When I look at the completed grid I wonder why. Thanks to Ray T and Shabbo for the much needed hints.
Good fun. 20d my fav.
A quiet steady solve
COTD 1a
Great offerings two days in a row, whappened? The stars must be aligned. I won’t think about tomorrow. Long time no see our Haggard lady, welcome back. I did struggle with a couple in the SW, 16d and 25a, I had to use ehelp there, goodness knows why, so easy in retrospect. I like the 17d word, but fave is a coin toss between 22a and 13d.
Thank you RayT for the fun, and, of course, Shabbo for explaining a few.
Relief here too at seeing a RayT puzzle – never thought I would write those words. I have come to appreciate his brevity and fairness. A slow start had me worried, but perseverance paid off and developed into an enjoyable solve. COTD has to be 20d for many of us on this side of the Atlantic 😊. A pretty good day here, having also reached a Wordle streak of 307 today and hoping to continue to build on that. Thank you to RayT and to Shabbo.
I almost chose that as fave, but thought it would be too predictable!
Thought of you as soon as I saw it!
Good afternoon
A day off, which meant that I could give my full attention to this corkeroonie of a crozzie from The Mighty Mr T. Yes, as soon as I clocked 21a, I knew! I left it until last….
Mind you, this crozzie certainly did need my full attention, and I had to go and find my lucky green pen. I scanned the empty squares for ages looking for a way in. Bit by bit, the answers revealed themselves, beginning with 1d, and ending in a bit of a struggle with the SW quadrant. One or two parsing issues, resolved thanks to Shabbo, and one questionable synonym at 3d.
Nevertheless, an enjoyable solve. Thank you to Ray T and to Shabbo.
I needed to start my day early, so my morning puzzling in bed was rushed. I struggled and used E help to finish, feeling somewhat guilty.
And rightly so, now that I have time to digest the parsing. I should have set it aside and come back to it. Clearly and cleverly clued.
Compelled to use an
Unusual solving method.
Needed the checking
Letters from many of
The long answers
To solve this gem of a
Puzzle.
All good stuff.
Thanks RayT and Shabbo.
A nice puzzle from the Maestro 😃 ****/**** Favourites 18, 22 & 25 across 👍 Thanks to Ray T
and to Shabbo
I made heavy weather of this one – not sure why but didn’t really explain why – I’ll keep trying to work out to myself. I think I’m still not completely normal, it’s also cold – think we all need sun (as long as it’s not TOO hot!)
for my poor sister – her little cat was run over last night and she doesn’t know what to do with herself she’s so miserable!
I liked 10 and 11a and 13 and 19d. My favourite was 1d,
Thank you to RayT for the crossword (even though I made a pig’s eye of it) and to Shabbo for the much needed the hints.
Please could we spare a few little
How sad. Always difficult to cope with. Hope she feels better soon 🙁 💐!
Oh Kath, how sad. I know only too well how we get attached to our four-legged friends, it’s so sad when you lose one. You can’t replace them, but you can give another one a chance at life!
Evening all. My usual thanks to Shabbo for the analysis and to everybody who left a comment.
RayT
Many thanks for popping in and for giving us another in a very long line of first rate puzzles.
My rating is 2*/4.5*. I wasn’t able to comment earlier as I solved the puzzle as usual over breakfast and then went out before 11 am to go and play my first game of cricket of the season. What a day. Very cold and miserable with heavy rain coming in later fortunately five minutes after we won.
Oh no! Rain stopped play! Glad you won.
Good evening, Mr T. As I said earlier, it’s so good that you remain a constant in our lives!
I am and have always been a great fan of The Moody Blues so I was sad to hear of the death of Mike Pinder today. He gave The Moodies their unique sound with his playing of the Mellotron, a forerunner of the synthesiser that used tapes. Here he is playing it and I’m sorry this is not crossword related.
I had the pleasure of seeing The Moody Blues live at the Isle of Wight pop festival in 1969. They were superb and, probably more than any other act there, they sounded just like their records.
Sadly, I have only been to three of their concerts. The first was at Bingley Hall in Staffordshire and the sound system was awful. In fact, they all apologised for it. Then I saw them at the NEC on their Long Distance Voyager tour and they were fantastic. By then Patrick Moraz had replaced Pinder. The last time I saw them was the Strange Times tour again at the NEC.
I got most of it but 22a and 23d eluded me. I was too set on fur being a word like skin or coat than what it ended up being. Once I got that then 22a was obvious
Another gem from my favourite setter, I look forward to alternate Thursdays. Hard to pick a favourite but I’ll go with 25a. Thanks to Rayt and Shabbo, my predictive text still hasn’t got the hang of your name but suggests my email address after one letter.
I answer to Shabbo, Shabby, Shabs, etc so don’t worry too much about correcting the pesky predictive text!
I was very pleased with myself as I managed to complete this before we went out this morning. What a delight, initially I managed only 1 or 2 clues but then with the help of the anagrams (beautifully disguised) I got going and the rest fell into place.
many thanks to RayT and to Shabbo for the hints.
Very enjoyable. Finished with no help (after picking up and finally finishing last Friday’s crossword – some help needed for that!). Many thanks to the setter and for the hints, which were very useful for checking.
Only got to look at it this morning ,and at first run through it looked beyond me, but I persevered and surprised myself with an unaided finish. That’s why I am commenting, although I’m probably talking to myself( again 🤪). Anyhow thanks to all.
Greetings from sunny Scotland! No you’re not talking to yourself Dave and well done on an unaided finish!
I read it! Give Emmy hugs for me and Sadie.
2*/3* ….
liked 13D “Old lady survived feigned illness (10)”