DT 31013 (Full Review)

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31013

A full review by Rahmat Ali

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This puzzle was published on 23^rd August 2025

BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****

Greetings from Kolkata. A nice, super Saturday puzzle from NYDK that I enjoyed solving and thereafter writing a review of the same for your kind perusal and significant feedback.

This time, after solving the puzzle, I took interest in knowing the etymology of Camelot, the answer to the clue of 27a and explored the net for my answer. Wikipedia tells us that the name’s derivation is uncertain. It has numerous different spellings in medieval French Arthurian romances, including Camaalot, Camalot, Chamalot, Camehelot, Camaaloth, Caamalot, Camahaloth, Camaelot, Kamaalot, Kamaaloth, Kaamalot, Kamahaloth, Kameloth, Kamaelot, Kamelot, Kaamelot, Cameloth and Gamaalaot. According to Ernst Brugger, an Arthurian scholar, it was a corruption of the site of Arthur’s final battle, the Battle of Camlann, in Welsh tradition. As per Roger Sherman Loomis, the name was derived from Cavalon, a place name he suggested was a corruption of Avalon, under the influence of the Breton place name Cavallon. Camelot is a legendary castle and court associated with King Arthur. Absent in the early Arthurian material, Camelot first appeared in 12^th-century French romances and, since the Lancelot-Grail cycle, eventually came to be described as the fantastic capital of Arthur’s realm and a symbol of the Arthurian world. Medieval texts locate it somewhere in Great Britain and sometimes associate it with real cities, though more usually its precise location is not revealed. Most scholars regard it as being entirely fictional, its unspecified geography being perfect for chivalric romance writers. Nevertheless, arguments about the location of the “real Camelot” have occurred since the 15^th century and continue today in popular works and for tourism purposes.

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Across

1a           Actress taking lead aboard explosive vessel (7)
HEPBURN: The definition of the surname of the British actress whose full name was Audrey Kathleen Hepburn and who was ranked by the American Film Institute as the third-greatest female screen legend from the Classical Hollywood Cinema is arrived at from [LB – now corrected to:] PB (lead) as the symbol for the chemical element ‘lead’ to get into (aboard) a combo of HE (explosive) as the abbreviation for High Explosive and URN (vessel) as a vessel that is typically an ornamental vase on a pedestal and that is used for various purposes such as preserving the ashes of the dead after cremation

5a           Old relative in tank going from place to place (7)
VAGRANT: GRAN (old relative) as an informal word for grandmother who is the mother of one’s father or mother and hence an old or elderly relative placed inside (in) VAT (tank) as a large tank or tub used to hold liquid, especially in industry leads to the definition of an adjective meaning wandering about from place to place usually with no means of support and living by begging

9a           Workers to die, suffering inside? Remedies needed! (9)
ANTIDOTES: ANTS (workers) as social insects working together in groups and TO DIE from the clue subject to an anagram (suffering) placed inside (inside) takes to the definition of the plural of a remedy or other agent used to neutralise or counteract the effects of a poison

10a        Lives with girl: shares maybe? (5)
ISSUE: A charade of IS (lives) as used as third person singular present indicative denoting lives, for example, ‘he lives’ can mean ‘he is’ and (with) SUE (girl) as a common girl’s name leads to the definition of all of a particular type of shares, bonds etc. that are offered for sale together

11a        Outing Democrat – one in restructured party (3,4)
DAY TRIP: The definition of an outing or a trip made to somewhere or back within one day is reached from D (Democrat) as the abbreviation for Democrat who is a member of the Democrat Party followed by I (one) as the Roman numeral for one placed inside (in) an anagram (restructured) of PARTY

12a        See 2 Down

13a        Acknowledged grass should cover small garden feature (9)
RESPONDED: The definition of a verb in the past tense denoting acknowledged, notice or answered is fetched from REED (grass) as a tall stiff hard-culmed marsh or water grass that should surround or have inside (cover) a combo of S (small) as the abbreviation for small and POND (garden feature) as one of the water features of a garden

16a        Is it extra stout brought in to be selected? (5)
OBESE: The definition of an adjective denoting having excessive body fat is fetched from part of or hidden inside (brought in) [T]O BE SE[LECTED]

17a        Article seen with crisis on the horizon (5)
AHEAD: A (article) as one of the indefinite articles followed by (seen with) HEAD (crisis) as a head or a turning or culminating point, usually of a critical nature or a crisis or climax takes to the definition of an adjective denoting in the future, an example of which is ‘on the horizon’, a prepositional phrase referring to the near future, especially when something is approaching or impending, like ‘Exciting opportunities lie ahead’ can mean ‘Exciting opportunities are on the horizon’

18a        Comprehensive: where one learns poem shortened by a line (9)
UNIVERSAL: The definition of an adjective meaning comprehensive or including all or everything is arrived at from UNI (where one learns) as a colloquial term for university i.e. a place where one learns something, followed by VERS[E] (poem) as a metrical composition or a poem devoid of the  last letter (shortened) and having alongside (by) A from the clue and L (line) as the abbreviation for line

21a        Petition thus allowable (7)
SOLICIT: The definition of a verb meaning to make a petition or request, as for something desired is reached from a charade of SO (thus) as an adverb meaning thus or in a way described or demonstrated and LICIT (allowable) as an adjective meaning within, allowed by or sanctioned by the law

22a        Welsh lad around clubs avoiding booze ban (7)
BOYCOTT: BOYO (Welsh lad) as a Welsh slang for a boy or young man placed around C (clubs) as the abbreviation for clubs that represent the playing cards and followed by TT (avoiding booze) as the abbreviation for teetotaller as someone who does not drink or who avoids alcohol that leads to the definition of a verb meaning to abstain from buying or using something or to ban something

25a        US agent from Bow in New Orleans initially (5)
NARCO: The definition of a US police officer or federal agent specialising in narcotics and related crimes is obtained from ARC (bow) as a curve, bend or bow placed inside (in) the initial or first letters (initially) of N[EW] O[RLEANS]

26a        Girl at bar ordered port (9)
GIBRALTAR: An anagram (ordered) of GIRL AT BAR takes to the definition of a popular port for cruise ships that attracts day visitors from resorts in Spain

27a        Kept appointment with fate in legendary town (7)
CAMELOT: A charade of CAME (kept appointment) as a verb in the past tense meaning arrived or showed up with the idea of keeping an appointment and (with) LOT (fate) as destiny, fate or fortune in life guides to the definition of the legendary English town where King Arthur’s mythical castle and court were situated

28a        Manage Ulster county in need of regeneration? (3-4)
RUN-DOWN: A charade of RUN (manage) as a verb denoting to manage, control or direct and DOWN (Ulster county) as the name of a county in the province of Ulster in Northern Ireland leads to the definition of an adjective meaning something neglected, deteriorated or in poor condition and hence in need of regeneration

Down

1d           For this person, more difficult to keep nothing (7)
HOARDER: A cryptic definition of a person who hides certain things they intend to sell, often excessively, more particularly to create a crisis of those things in the market and then sell them at an exorbitant price is cryptically arrived at from HARDER (more difficult) as an adjective in the comparative degree denoting more difficult having inside (to keep) O (nothing) as the letter representing naught or nothing, or in other words, easier to keep things

2d and 12 Across              Lunatic went on Eurostar perhaps for continent early (5,7)
POTTY TRAINED: A charade of POTTY (lunatic) as a colloquial term for an adjective denoting crazy or dotty and TRAINED (went on Eurostar perhaps) as a verb in the past tense meaning travelled by the train Eurostar perhaps takes to the cryptic and humorous definition to describe a child who has learned to control their bladder and bowel functions early in life

3d           From this, milk shake Jack leaves (5)
UDDER: The definition pointing to the mammary gland or organ from which milk comes in cows and other mammals is derived from [J]UDDER (shake) as to shake rapidly or spasmodically with J (Jack) as the abbreviation for jack as a playing card ranking below a queen going out (leaves)

4d           Poet and blundering scribbler (4-3)
NOTE-PAD: An anagram (blundering) of POET AND guides to the definition of a block of paper for writing notes, an example of which is a scribbler that refers to a scribbling pad i.e. a pad for scribbling or writing something

5d           Nero’s sex position 500 came to see? (7)
VISITED: VI (Nero’s sex) as the Roman numeral for six, which in Latin is denoted by the word ‘sex’ that was used by Roman emperors like Nero et al to mean the Roman numeral for six, SITE (position) as a situation or position, especially of a building, town etc and D (500) as the Roman numeral for five hundred all in a charade that takes to the definition of a verb in the past tense meaning came or went to see or went for sightseeing, recreation or religious purposes

6d           Be independent – too genial potentially (2,2,5)
GO IT ALONE: The definition of a phrase meaning to undertake a usually a difficult or dangerous task alone or to manage by oneself i.e. to be independent is obtained from an anagram (potentially) of TOO GENIAL

7d           Missing persons? (9)
ABSENTEES: A cryptic definition of people who are not present at their respective places where they are supposed to be like school, work, events, votes etc and felt greatly missed by those present

8d           Time to study the French foot pedal (7)
TREADLE: A charade of T (time) as the symbol for time in physics, READ (to study) to study or learn by reading and LE (the French) as the definite article ‘the’ in French language used with singular, masculine words takes to the definition of a lever worked by the foot and imparting motion to a machine

14d        Horse carrying large, unusual percussion item (5,4)
STEEL DRUM: STEED (horse) as a horse, especially a spirited horse taking inside (carrying) L (large) as the abbreviation for large that is usually referred to large size of shirt or other clothing and followed by RUM (unusual) as a slang term for an adjective meaning strange, unusual, odd or funny guides to the definition of a percussion instrument usually made from the top of an oil drum, hammered out into a bowl-like shape and faceted so as to produce different notes

15d        Grey whales perhaps having traditional ideas? (3,6)
OLD SCHOOL: A charade of OLD (grey) as aged or advanced in years, an example of which is grey denoting old, mature or belonging or relating to the elderly and SCHOOL (whales perhaps) as the collective term for or representing a shoal of fishes or other swimming animals, an example of which is the whales that takes to the definition of those whose ways, thoughts or attitudes are such as prevailed in the past i.e. someone or something that adheres to traditional values or methods

17d        As seen at the start in revised Racine (7)
ARSENIC: The definition of a solid chemical element of atomic number 33 that is used especially in wood preservatives, alloys and semiconductors and is extremely toxic in both pure and combined forms and having ‘As’ as its chemical symbol as we find in the Periodic Table is fetched from the starting or initial letter (at the start) of S[EEN] taken inside (in) an anagram (revised) of RACINE

18d        Nervous – too drunk to go to bed? (7)
UPTIGHT: The definition of an adjective meaning nervous, tense, anxious or highly strung is cryptically deduced from ‘too drunk to go to bed’ to mean so drunk or TIGHT so as to be unable to go to bed, that is, to be in a chaotic or hyper state, still talking a lot and partying, or simply to be still UP, that is, TIGHT to be UP, or, precisely, UPTIGHT

19d        I’m singer Justin, dropping an E for supper? (7)
IMBIBER: I’M from the clue followed by BI[E]BER (Justin) as the Canadian singer and songwriter known for his multi-genre musical performance having removed (dropping) an E takes to the definition of a person who drinks alcoholic beverages, especially to excess or cryptically a supper i.e. a person who sups or drinks

20d        Dead right leg – not right now? (5,2)
LATER ON: A charade of LATE (dead) as an adjective meaning no longer alive, R (right) as the abbreviation for right and ON (leg) as a term in cricket referring to the leg side takes to the definition of an adverbial phrase meaning afterwards, subsequently or in the future but not right now

23d        Long time before noon (5)
YEARN: The definition of a verb meaning to pine, long or have an earnest or strong desire is arrived at from a charade of YEAR (time) as the period of time taken by a specified planet to complete one revolution around the sun and N (noon) as the abbreviation for noon

24d        Have advantage over United in scoreless game? (5)
OUTDO: The definition of a verb meaning to do something better than or to have advantage over someone else is reached from UTD (united) as the abbreviation for United that is frequently used in the names of football clubs i.e. Newcastle Utd for Newcastle United or Man Utd for Manchester United placed inside (in) OO (scoreless game) as referring to the O-O score that a scoreboard would show for a scoreless game

There were several clues that I liked in this puzzle such as 1a, 18a, 22a, 27a, 1d, 2d/12a, 5d, 17d, 18d and 19d; the combo 2d/12a 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 encouragement. Looking forward to seeing you here again. Have a delightful day.