Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30917
A full review by Rahmat Ali
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This puzzle was published on 3rd May 2025
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
Greetings from Kolkata. A superb, lovely Saturday puzzle from NYDK that I enjoyed solving and further writing a review of the same for your kind perusal and significant feedback.
QI, part of the wordplay to the clue of 26a, is a British comedy panel game quiz show for television. QI stands for ‘Quite Interesting’ and is, indeed, quite interesting. I gathered from the net that unlike the traditional quiz shows that focus on getting the right answers, QI rewards contestants for giving interesting, obscure or funny answers, even if they are technically wrong. That itself sounds funny. Points are awarded or deducted based on how interesting or misleading the answers are. However, QI has its valid reasons for still being a quiz show, albeit with a twist. The format of the show focusses on the panellists answering questions that are extremely obscure, making it unlikely that the correct answer will be given. To compensate, the panellists are awarded points not only for the correct answer, but also for interesting ones, regardless of whether they are correct or even relate to the original question, while points are deducted for answers which are not only wrong, but pathetically obvious, and typically answers that are generally believed to be true but in fact are misconceptions. These answers, referred to as forfeits, are usually indicated by a loud klaxon and alarm bell, flashing lights, and the incorrect answer being flashed on the video screens behind the panellists. Bonus points are sometimes awarded or deducted for challenges or incorrect references, varying from show to show. QI has a philosophy that everything is interesting if looked at in the right way. Many factual errors in the show have been corrected in later episodes or on the show’s blog.
From the net, I further learnt that the metaphoric term ‘silver lining’ is a shortened version of the proverb “Every cloud has a silver lining”, the answer to the clue of 3d&11d. The proverb, in turn, has its origins in John Milton’s ‘Comus’ which includes the line: “A sable cloud turns forth its silver lining on the night.”
I also gathered more information on Pierrot, the answer to the clue of 20d. He is a stock character from French pantomime and commedia dell’arte. He is typically depicted as a sad-faced clown dressed in loose white clothes. He has a white-painted face, often with black tear marks. He is silent, soft-spoken and melancholic, often portrayed as a love-struck or rejected figure. He is usually seen as a dreamy, naïve, and gentle soul and a stark contrast to more mischievous or brash comic characters. The name ‘Pierrot’ is a French diminutive of Pierre, which means Peter in English. ‘Pierrot’, as ‘little Pierre’, itself originated in the seventeenth-century France, evolving from the Italian commedia dell’arte character ‘Pedrolino’. When Italian troupes brought commedia dell’arte to France, Pedrolino was adapted into Pierrot, taking on more poetic and romantic qualities in the French tradition. Over time, Pierrot became a symbol of the tragic clown of unrequited love, melancholy and silent longing and was widely used in art, poetry, music and theatre.
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Across
1a See 7 Down
6a Strange leader in parliamentary seat (4)
RUMP: RUM (strange) as a slang term for an adjective meaning odd, strange or queer followed by the leading or first letter (leader) in P[ARLIAMENTARY] takes to the definition of a humorous term for a person’s buttocks, an example of which is seat denoting a person’s buttocks
9a See 14 Down
10a Great man unknown in American rowing club (9)
ALEXANDER: The definition of the king of the ancient Greek kingdom of Macedon who was undefeated in battle and is widely considered to be one of history’s greatest and most successful military commanders and thus famously known as Alexander the Great is reached from X (unknown) as a variable, unknown or yet to be ascertained quantity or factor as used in mathematics, especially in algebra placed inside (in) a combo of A (American) as the abbreviation for American and LEANDER (rowing club) as the name of one of the oldest rowing clubs in the world that is based in Remenham in Berkshire, England
12a Refuse to deal with an old bat (7)
BOYCOTT: Double definition; the second being a noun referring to Sir Geoffrey Boycott, former Test cricketer and one of England’s most successful opening batsmen that takes to the first a verb meaning to refuse to have dealings with a person, organisation etc
13a Democrat in a Murdoch’s embrace in Elba? (5)
IDRIS: D (democrat) as an abbreviation for Democrat or Democratic as in the United States subject to a hug or cover (in an embrace) of IRIS (Murdoch’s) as the forename of the celebrated Irish and British novelist and philosopher, whose novel ‘The Sea, The Sea’ won the Booker Prize in 1978 takes to the definition of the forename of the English actor and musician Idris Elba who was named in the ‘Time’ 100 list of the Most Influential People in the World in 2016
15a See 24 Down
16a Notice vice-president marching forward (7)
ADVANCE: A charade of AD (notice) as a notice or announcement in a public medium promoting a product, service or event and VANCE (vice-president) as referring to the present vice-president of the United States who full name is James David Vance takes to the definition of a noun denoting an act of marching or moving something forward or improving something
18a Weary old bowler perhaps trapping us (7)
EXHAUST: The definition of a transitive verb meaning to make extremely weary is arrived at from O (old) as the abbreviation for old as OT in Old Testament and HAT (bowler perhaps) as a covering for the head usually having a shaped crown and brim, an example of which is a bowler i.e. a man’s hard felt hat with a round crown and narrow brim holding inside (trapping) US from the clue
20a Soft angora dicky could be perfect example (7)
PARAGON: P (soft) as an abbreviation for piano that is a musical term for an adjective meaning soft or quiet followed by an anagram (dicky) of ANGORA guides to the definition of a noun meaning a person or thing regarded as a perfect example of a particular quality
21a Husband noticed area from the east flooded (5)
AWASH: A combination of H (husband) as the genealogical abbreviation for husband, SAW (noticed) as a verb in the past tense meaning noticed or caught sight of someone and A (area) as the abbreviation for area all coming from the opposite side (from the east) as reversals in the across clue takes to the definition of an adjective meaning covered or flooded with water, especially seawater or rain
23a Poet on to interrupt robbery in Bow? (7)
ELEGIST: The definition of a poet or writer of reflective or mournful poems, usually written to lament the dead or express sorrow, loss or melancholy is arrived at from LEG (on) as relating to or denoting the ‘on’ side of a cricket pitch to get inside (interrupt) [H]EIST (robbery in Bow) as a robbing or theft as pronounced or uttered by a Cockney i.e. a person born in London, strictly within hearing of Bow Bells
25a Holbein’s upset king’s scientist (5,4)
NIELS BOHR: An anagram (upset) of HOLBEIN’S followed by R (king) as the abbreviation for rex, the Latin word for king is leading to the definition of the Danish theoretical physicist who made foundational contributions to understanding atomic structure and quantum theory, for which he received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1922
26a Arab artist appears in current quiz show (5)
IRAQI: The definition of a native or inhabitant of Iraq who is likely to be an Arab, since the majority of Iraqis are Arabs is arrived at from RA (artist) as the abbreviation for Royal Academician, denoting a practising artist of the Royal Academy of Arts coming inside (appears in) a combo of I (current) as the conventional symbol for current in physics and QI (quiz show) as a British comedy panel game quiz show for television created and co-produced by John Lloyd and the series currently airs on BBC Two
27a Legal documents for hearing in Piccadilly hotel (4)
RITZ: A homophone heard by the audience (for hearing) of WRITS (legal documents) as the plural of a legal document from a court which orders someone to do something or to not do something takes to the definition of the 5-star luxury hotel at 150 Piccadilly in London, England that is regarded as one of the most prestigious and best known hotels of the world
28a P&O regrets securing boat with east European (10)
PORTUGUESE: P and O from the clue (P&O) followed by RUES (regrets) as a verb in the simple present tense third person singular form meaning bitterly regrets something one has done or allowed to happen taking inside (securing) TUG (boat) as a small, powerful boat used for towing larger boats and ships, especially in harbour and having afterwards (with) E (east) as the abbreviation for east leads to the definition of a native or inhabitant of Portugal that is in Europe and hence a European
Down
1d Polish PM‘s projection (4)
TUSK: Double nounal definition; the first being the surname of the Polish politician and historian who has served as the Prime Minister of Poland since 2023, previously holding the office from 2007 to 2014 and whose full name is Donald Franciszek Tusk and the second referring to a sharp pointed projection, an example of which is a long protruding tooth
2d Hired gun shuffled around British city (9)
EDINBURGH: An anagram (shuffled) of HIRED GUN placed about (around) B (British) as an abbreviation for British takes to the definition of the capital city of Scotland
3d and 11 Down Student in crazy overindulgence with hairy Slav is ruined – there’s an upside? (5,5,3,1,6,6)
EVERY CLOUD HAS A SILVER LINING: L (student) as appearing in an L-plate denoting a learner driver put inside (in) an anagram (crazy) of a combo of OVERINDULGENCE and (with) HAIRY SLAV IS leads to the definition of a proverb meaning that even in difficult or bad situations, there is always some hope or a redeeming quality or positive aspect to be found
4d Jasmine’s warmer? (3,4)
TEA COSY: The definition of a thick cover for a teapot to keep the tea warm is cryptically arrived at from warmer indicating COSY, that is a covering used for a teapot, to keep the tea warm of jasmine, that is a type of TEA, most commonly green tea, that is scented with the aroma of jasmine blossoms, that is COSY of TEA, or precisely, TEA COSY
5d Complex female chosen by artist (7)
ELECTRA: The definition of the complex-nature daughter of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra of Greek mythology who was famous for helping avenge her father’s murder by killing her mother that gave rise to the phrase ‘Electra Complex’ in psychology that describes a girl’s unconscious psychosexual competition with her mother for her father’s attention and affection, typically during early childhood is obtained from ELECT (chosen) as an adjective meaning chosen or singled out to hold public office or some other position by voting, especially of a person having alongside (by) RA (artist) as once more the abbreviation for Royal Academician, denoting a practising artist of the Royal Academy of Arts in a charade
7d and 1 Across Articles carried separately in scanties not so good (5,3,7)
UNDER THE WEATHER: THE and THE (articles) as the definite article in the English language appearing twice in separate places inside (carried separately in) UNDERWEAR (scanties) as clothing worn under the outer garments, usually next to the skin, an example of which is scanties that is a colloquial term for an underwear, especially women’s brief panties guides to the definition of a phrase meaning feeling slightly ill or not so good
8d Urbanite, a Republican, is one into pasta (10)
PARISIENNE: The definition of a French term denoting a female inhabitant or resident from Paris, the capital of France and certainly an urbanite or city dweller is reached from a combination of A from the clue, R (Republican) as the abbreviation for Republican, again IS from the clue and finally I (one) as the Roman numeral for one is placed inside (into) PENNE (pasta) as pasta in the form of short thick ridged tubes
11d See 3 Down
14d and 9 Across Micronesian hero at sea whatever the circumstances (4,4,2,5)
COME RAIN OR SHINE: An anagram (at sea) of MICRONESIAN HERO guides to the definition of an idiom meaning something will happen no matter what or regardless of the circumstances, whether good or bad
17d Man losing thousand on horse – bad experience (9)
NIGHTMARE: [K]NIGHT (man) as referring to a chess piece or man, usually with a horse’s head, that moves one square forward, backward or to either side, and one diagonally at each other devoid of (losing) K (thousand) as the symbol for a thousand used in metric system and placed upon (on) MARE (horse) as an adult female horse in the down clue takes to the definition of a bad or horrifying experience or an event that is intensely distressing
19d Technique required for piece written with quavers? (7)
TREMOLO: A cryptic definition of a musical technique involving fast repetition or wavering of a note, literally making the sound as if to quaver or tremble
20d Sad-eyed clown cause of seaside venue’s failure? (7)
PIERROT: The definition of a sad, white-faced clown with loose long-sleeved garb is the result of a ROT (failure) as collapse, breakdown or failure of PIER (seaside venue’s) as of or pertaining to a seaside venue, often a structure with a deck that is built out over water and used as a landing place, promenade etc, that is, ROT of PIER or PIER ROT
22d Maintain temperature in Dodge? (5)
AVERT: A charade of AVER (maintain) as to assert, maintain or state categorically and T (temperature) as the symbol for temperature as in physics leads to the definition of a verb in the present tense meaning to prevent or ward off an undesirable occurrence, an example of which is to dodge i.e. to evade or avoid someone or something by a sudden quick movement
24d and 15 Across Old English car company’s comfortable existence? (4,2,5)
LIFE OF RILEY: The definition of an easy, carefree and often irresponsible life is cryptically arrived at from RILEY’S (old English car company’s) as denoting belonging to Riley or, more particularly, to the Riley Motor Company, a British manufacturer of motorcars and bicycles, with its origin dating back to 1890 and LIFE (comfortable existence) as continued or conscious existence or a period of usefulness, that is, RILEY’S LIFE, or precisely, LIFE OF RILEY
Some of the clues that I liked in this puzzle were 10a, 12a, 13a, 23a, 25a, 27a, 3d&11d, 7d&1a, 8d and 20d; 7d&1a being the best of the lot. My prayers to the Almighty for the eternal rest and peace of BD and my thanks to NYDK for the entertainment and to Gazza for the assistance. Looking forward to seeing you here again. Have a wonderful day.