Sunday Toughie No 157 by Zandio
Review by
Sloop John Bee
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This puzzle was published on the 26th January
Across
1a Entertainers that won’t perform unless they are given a hand (5,7)
GLOVE PUPPETS: An all-in-one &lit to start, Shari Lewis and Lambchop an example from my childhood
9a It’s taken from its pot and put on the lid (9)
EYESHADOW: And another… Removed from a pot and applied to the eyelid
10a Dream of London’s East End I would restore (5)
IDEAL: A synonymous phrase of I would restore or I’d HEAL as spoken by someone from the East End of London (who drops his aitches) IDEAL or DREAM
11a Yobs roared “No retreating”, scrapped occasionally at close quarters (6)
NEARBY: A reversal (retreating) of alternate letters (scrapped occasionally) of the first three words
12a 13’s equivalent to 10’s spread… (8)
ISOLATED: TO from the clue and the letters you have in 10a IDEAL, plus the ‘S are spread about to be a synonym of the answer for 13a REMOTE or ISOLATED
13a … opposite to 11 – one could facilitate viewing (6)
REMOTE: A double definition – Opposite to NEARBY, or the second could facilitate television viewing if you are too lazy to get off the sofa.
15a One cadges what’s saved by Andrew or Robert in recession? (8)
BORROWER: A reverse lurker (what’s saved by…in recession) hidden in AndREW OR ROBert
18a Set to get new or old pence, apparently (8)
BACKDROP: A reversal of new or old pence P OR D, but the reversal indicator goes in the grid. So it is indicator, old pence, or reversed, and ends with new pence. The set in front of which actors perform
19a Summons to fight everyone in competition (4-2)
CALL-UP: A competition named for the prize for the winner CUP, contains a synonym for everyone ALL
21a Hard area to land in agreed with spin bowler – maybe… (8)
HEADGEAR: Abbreviations of hard H. and area A, and AGREED from the clue are spun (anagrammed) to make bowler a definition by example – maybe
23a … kind of wicket requiring “twitch” described by broadcaster (6)
STICKY: A satellite broadcaster SKY, contains a spasmodic twitch TIC.
26a There it is, five-nil, Italy against the French (5)
VOILA: A Roman five V, the letter that is equivalent to nil O, the IVR code for Italy I, and one of the French definite articles LA. There it is VOILA!
27a Standard cheap tyre burst (9)
ARCHETYPE: An anagram (burst) of CHEAP TYRE
28a Mix of raisins put into tropical treat (7,5)
PASSION FRUIT: Another anagram (Mix – into) of OF RAISINS PUT
Down
1d Using fewer fossil fuels, meagre energy’s provided? (7)
GREENER: A lurker (provided) hidden in the preceding two words
2d Little surgical procedure – time for work in theatre (5)
OPERA: An abbreviated surgical procedure OP, and a geological time ERA, a work of musical theatre OPERA
3d 25 times reserved, but not in or on display (9)
EXHIBITED: The Radio Code letter that your answer to 25d indicates E, the mathematical symbol that times things X, and a synonym of shy or reserved without (but not) in (in)HIBITED
4d Free gun dog, absolutely no good (4)
UNDO: Both abbreviations of good (absolutely no good) are removed from the gUN DOg
5d Possible destination for 15 men on board, on short journey (8)
PAWNSHOP: Sixteen men on a chessboard PAWNS, and a short journey HOP, would be a place where your answer to 15 a BORROWER, may get funds
6d Rolling broadcast in list after cutting is experimental (5)
TRIAL: Cut is from list L T, and add a synonym of broadcast AIR in the middle L AIR T, and then reverse it (rolling) to an experimental TRIAL
7d Last recourse of washer-upper seeing terrible lot we ate? (3,5)
TEA TOWEL: An anagram (seeing terrible) of the last three words – you wash I’ll dry…
8d End of plodding Queen cover’s cut – it should soar (6)
GLIDER: The end of plodding G, and our late Queen’s regnal cipher ER, cut by a synonym of a cover LID
14d Called out phoney, an evil snake (8)
MOCCASIN: A homophone of phoney MOCK becomes MOCC, plus A singular deadly SIN
16d Repeatedly criticise Sunday lunch? (5,4)
ROAST BEEF: Two complaints or criticisms
17d Currently on the up, Yankee in blue advanced and came first (8)
NOWADAYS: A reversal (on the up in a down clue) of the letter that Yankee suggests in a synonym of blue Y in SAD SYAD, an abbreviation of advanced A, and came first in a competition WON. S(Y)AD A WON becomes NOWADAYS or currently
18d British ought to undermine European act (6)
BEHAVE: Abbreviations of British and European B E, precede ought to possess HAVE.
20d What gets any temp working? (7)
PAYMENT: An anagram &lit What ANY TEMP (or full time employee) works for
22d Husband sounded in a state (5)
GARNER: A homophone (sounded) of to husband or gather up and store GARNER, give us a state in West Africa GHANA
24d Creature climbing up under arch (5)
COYPU: A synonym of arch as an adjective COY, and under that a reversal (climbing) of UP from the clue
25d Mirror becoming regional paper? (4)
ECHO: Many regional newspapers have this synonym of mirror in their title – Sunderland, Liverpool and Southend amongst many others have regional newspapers called ECHO
Compiler
Zandio