Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31097 (Hints)
The Saturday Crossword Club (hosted by Gazza)
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We have a special Prize Puzzle today which is a superb tribute to the Telegraph’s Puzzles Editor with all the across answers contributing. Chris Lancaster himself has also written a very moving account of living with the horrible disease that he’s suffering from (MND) – you can read that by following the link contained in this post: https://bigdave44.com/2025/11/29/chris-lancaster/
I’m providing hints for what I consider to be some of the harder clues. If you’re really stuck on one of the clues I haven’t hinted I may provide a bit more help.
Most of the terms used in these hints are explained in the Glossary and examples are available by clicking on the entry under “See also”. Where the hint describes a construct as “usual” this means that more help can be found in The Usual Suspects, which gives a number of the elements commonly used in the wordplay. Another useful page is Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing, which features words with meanings that are not always immediately obvious.
Please ensure that you do not run foul of the instructions in red below and also take care to abide by the comment etiquette.
A full review of this puzzle will be published after the closing date for submissions.
Across
1a Fellow thus about to engage personnel (5)
Reverse an adverb, from Latin, meaning ‘thus’ containing what a personnel department is now called.
9a Sting occasionally put out some music? (5)
Remove (put out) occasional letters from ‘some’ and add what music is an example of.
10a Scotsman, say, drinking two litres with Scotsman is lit up (9)
What a Scotsman (it could equally well have been a Welshman) is an example of contains two abbreviations for litre and a Scottish male forename.
11a Venerable Parisian is thought to lose face (8)
A French verb meaning ‘is’ followed by a verb meaning thought or considered without its first letter (to lose face).
19a Splash the cash I had, around fifty grand (8)
A verb to splash the cash or pay out and the contracted form of ‘I had’ contain the Roman numeral for fifty.
23a Fox – it goes after monkey in a tree (6)
Fox here is a verb. When the answer follows ‘monkey’ we get the name of a tree also known as an araucaria.
30a Academic entertaining you once is a respected figure (5)
A university teacher (academic) contains an old form of the word ‘you’ (not thou, the other one).
Down
1d Chomp wraps like a nut (6)
A verbal synonym of chomp contains an adverb meaning ‘like’.
3d Defiant comment from drunkard in this location (2,5)
Join together a word for an habitual drunkard and an adverb meaning ‘in this location’.
13d Musical ornament jazzed up hit no tiny amount (10)
Start with a word for a musical ornament or decorative flourish to make a musical passage more lively and add an anagram (jazzed up) of HIT NO.
21d Plug small books about Napoleon, say (6)
The clothing abbreviation for small and the abbreviation for some Biblical books contain what Napoleon is in George Orwell’s Animal Farm. When the work was first published in French Napoleon was changed to César.
22d Reject ringing inaccurate scientist (6)
An informal verb to reject or scrap containing (ringing) an adjective meaning inaccurate or inexact.
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The Quick Crossword pun: DOCKED + URGE ON + SUN = DOCTOR JOHNSON
Quite a challenge but a lovely (and brilliant) tribute to Chris Lancaster and I’m sure we all send him our best wishes.
As I said, I found this a struggle but it was enjoyable despite that and one heck of a Nina. I liked the nut at 1d and the record of winter food at 18d but my COTDs are those that make up the Nina.
Thank you, setter (or is it setters today) for a very special puzzle. Thank you, Gazza for the hints and all the very best to Cryptic Sue.
Such a shame that this elegant puzzle has such a difficult background. It was , however, an absolute joy and quite tricky in places. Although the across clues were very clever to produce the Nina, it was 21d that took my fancy as favourite.
Many thanks to the compiler(s) and Gazza.
Steve C has said it all. I concur. Thanks to compiler and Gazza.
For those who don’t normally venture into Toughieland – Crypticsue left a comment on yesterday’s Toughie blog.
A very moving article and crossword – one of those rare occasions when I wish I was the one to provide the hints and full review
My thoughts and best wishes to Chris and his family. Thanks to the setters involved for the fine cruciverbal tribute
Thanks for all the good wishes. I am recovering well but slowly but I will be back
Great to hear from you Sue and pleased to see that you are on the mend.
We miss you.
Of course we do.
Wonderful to see your comment, Sue.
Very pleased to hear from you, Sue.
Get well soon!
A cracking puzzle and a fitting tribute to a fine man. I liked the topless Americans at 6d.
A great man, article and crossword, it was a privilege to solve. I was about 2/3rds through before the Nina dropped and until then I thought some of the downs were a bit obscure, but I am sure that a full Nina in the acrosses made some obscurities inevitable.
Thanks to Setter (or setters) and Gazza.
GWS Sue too.
This puzzle, particularly with the Nina, provides a fitting tribute to Chris Lancaster, who appears to be bearing such a dreadful disease with great fortitude.
Warmest wishes to Chris and his family.
Many thanks to the setters and to Gazza.
Good morning. Firstly, best wishes to Chris. In the past, I normally raced through Saturday’s Prize Puzzle. Since September, I have struggled with a number of Prize Puzzles. I pretty much raced through this but got held up on 15a and 17a and made some educated guesses. It is a wonderful tribute of a puzzle and a fitting way to end the week of what have been six great X words; shame I can’t make it six out of six! 1d, 5d and 7d are my podium but plenty others could be there. Thanks to Gazza and Setter.
What others have already said and a brilliant and forthright article. Thank you Chris and all the Puzzle Staff.
P.S. Pleased to see a comment from CS and good to know that you are on the mend, albeit slowly.
Great puzzle. Great article. And a really great editor.
It seems rather odd to wish Chris all the best in light of his ‘relentless’ diagnosis, but I do, whatever happens.
Many thanks to those involved with the puzzle, and to Gazza.
What a wonderful puzzle and tribute to such an excellent setter, who has provided us with so much entertainment.
With best wishes to Chris and family.
It would be a tough call to select a podium, however 23a did make me chuckle!
Many thanks to the setters and to Gazza.
What fun this was.
My FOI was 4a and, when I saw that 1a was 5 letters, I thought ‘Surely not?’. Sure enough…bingo! Next I got 10a. thinking, once more, ‘No, they’re not going all the way with this?’ and they did. Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant.
I then challenged myself to think of some words that would describe ‘The Man’ and got a couple before reading the clues (12a and 23a). What larks.
Can someone give me a hint for the last two letters of 24d without being banished to ‘The Step’ as I have a different second letter for the abbreviation?
I love 30a as a word.
My podium is 5d, 6d and 16d.
MT to the super setters and G.
3*/5* (It had to be)
For 24d you need a US city reversed (revoltionary).
Thank you, Gazza.
I had the city as the Emerald one, reversed, which is a tad daft as there would need to be a fictional reference.
A fitting tribute puzzle to accompany today’s article & well deserved. In addition to all of the related clues I rather liked 21d not least because it the playing of the great sketches from Beyond The Fringe. Thanks to all who contributed to it & to Gazza.
Ps nice to see a comment from Sue.
What a very clever puzzle and a wonderful tribute.
Thank you setter and Gazza
Did anyone else not get the email today? Had to come in the long way round. Good crossie but have an answer For 15a but can’t see why Messi is involved. Thanks to setter and Gazza. Good to hear from you CS, glad you are improving.
Charles Messi”er” catalogued them
D’oh & I thought it was because the wee man was one on the football pitch – never heard of the other fella
That’s how I read it too, H.
Me too, so thanks SJB
I found my email today in my Junk folder … not sure why BT Internet did that.
Isn’t Messi an example of the answer?
First letter of soccer and a type of oil.
HI CD
This conversation passed me by on Saturday….
I’m completely with you. Charles Messier didn’t just catalogue these in his 110 astronomical objects.
The setter probably chose Messi as a bit of fun because the surnames are so similar
And somewhat like is relevant to the wordplay, as er is a suffix that equates to somewhat like, therefore the cataloguer is Messi (somewhat like)
I’ll eat my hat if the setter(s) intended the clue to refer to anyone but the footballer.
Very moving to read Chris’s article, do the puzzle, and then gather with the Big D Saturday community. Thanks to all concerned. I liked 21d, and 4d for some reason too. Whole thing was 10a.
What a puzzle – both excellent and poignant
Best wishes to Chris, and thanks to Gazza and the very clever setter
What a moving article – my thoughts are with Chris and his family. Thanks so much to the setters for such a wonderful tribute. And to Gazza for the hints.
You’ve been Pah previously so this needed moderation. Both versions will work from now on.
I can only echo my fellow contributors’ sentiments in wishing Chris all the best and congratulate the compiler on his excellent tribute.
I found this to be mostly straightforward though there were a few clues which needed a bit more thought to fully parse.
Ticks for the cash splashed in 19a, 23a’s fox and Napoleon in 21d.
Thanks to our setter and Gazza.
An exceptionally enjoyable puzzle and a fitting tribute to Chris, who has been so instrumental in giving the Telegraph Crossword/Big D community such a lot of pleasure over the years.
I found all the clues of a high standard so difficult to choose any standouts, so I will go for 1a and 4a as my highlights for the clever way they introduce the theme of the puzzle.
Thanks to Gazza and everyone else involved in making this puzzle happen.
I was attracted to this puzzle by the post regarding CL. Already alerted to the presence of a Nina, I thoroughly enjoyed the process of revealing it, both from the quality of clues and the heartfelt sentiments of the setters. Most of the across clues were awarded ticks so I won’t list them, the entire Nina deserving the gold medal step of my podium.
The puzzle is a wonderful tribute to Chris, to whom I send my very best wishes – and also my sincere thanks for the splendid contribution he makes to the crossword landscape.
My thanks also go to the setters; and to Gazza for the hints and, of course, the cartoons!
A fine crossword and a lovely tribute to Chris Lancaster.
Thanks to everyone involved.
I can’t say it any better than Steve C said in post 1 and all the rest that followed. Very good Nina in the across clues and the tribute to Chris..
Wishing all that are suffering or recovering from various ailments all the best, especially Chris Lancaster & CS
Thanks to all the Telegraph puzzle staff, setters and bloggers including Gazza for today.
A great tribute to a great man.
Thank you, Chris Lancaster, for all the pleasure you have given me over the years….which I hope will continue for some time yet.
All good wishes Chris.
Thanks to the setters and to Gazza.
I now know what a Nina is.
Lovely puzzle that I struggled to complete – therefore a satisfactory brain stretch.
My best wishes to Mr. Lancaster
My thanks to the setter and Gazza
Thanks to the Setter(s) and Gazza for the hints. We share the thoughts and comments others have made about Chris.
A fitting tribute to a man who has brought his personal touch to our daily brain exercises and made them so enjoyable. The sentence imposed on him by such a cruel disease is truly dreadful and we can but wish him the strength to bear it. My thoughts are with both him and his family as they navigate such a rocky road.
My thanks to the team who put together this puzzle (19a & 21d came out on top for me) and I hope Chris will be able to bring us some more of his own work in the months to come. Thanks also to Gazza for the hints and the light relief in the cartoons.
Such a clever puzzle and such a fitting tribute to Chris Lancaster.
My best wishes go to Chris and to all sufferers of MND. As awareness of this disease grows, primarily through the courage of those who suffer and those support them, hopefully a medical solution will be found
I think its all been said
Great article, great puzzle, tricky in places.
I thought yesterday’s puzzle was brilliant and this is a fitting tribute to someone dealing with a terrible disease. I hope you continue to set such great puzzles Chris.
I will pick 1a, 4a, 10a, 29a and 30a as favourites.
Thanks to Gazza and the setters
As with others, Chris’s moving article increased my admiration for him. I wish him and his family fortitude and as much joy as remains available. Turning to the puzzle, tough in parts but witty and all fair and above board – a fitting tribute indeed.
A great guzzle today and a fitting tribute to Chris Lancaster. As has been said a very moving article written by him. I know he will be in our thoughts.
There were many good clues but 18d made me smile. Thankyou to the setters for all your hard work and also to Gazza for the hints.
I echo everyone’s comments and wish the best that can be for Mr Lancaster and family. Superb crossword and wonderful Nina as a fitting tribute. Many thanks to the setters and Gazza.
We also echo everyone’s comments re CL a fitting tribute indeed and a wonderful crossword. It makes any further comment superfluous. Thanks to the setter and Gazza.
I didn’t twig to the theme until the grid was nearly full when 1a finally fell. That penny drop moment was quickly followed by a second as my eyes settled on the bottom row of the grid. Then ensued a cascade of penny drops as I scanned up the grid. Thank you to the collectivity of setters for this fine tribute to a remarkable man who has given us so much pleasure and to Gazza for the hints. Chris, thank you for the many creative puzzles you have bestowed us with over the years. I wish you strength as you deal with the condition in which you find yourself. Hopefully we will continue to be blessed with one of your creations from time to time.
I solved from the bottom up & twigged the theme very late on too & probably later than you – so a similar cascade…..
Such a moving article today by Chris Lancaster.
Thank you for sharing your impossible situation with such candour and strength of character.
It makes one thankful for every day of comparative health.
This puzzle is an apt tribute to someone smitten by this terrible illness and shows the respect in which you are held.
Every DT crossword will remind me of you henceforth.
I’m afraid in spite of having twigged the presence of a Nina I found this tribute to Chris completely inpenetrable and threw in the towel but that is no comment on my respect and gratitude to such a brave man who has given so much joy over the years. I guess I’m just feeling dull. TVM setter(s).
So sorry, my thanks to Gazza too.
What a wonderful puzzle to pay tribute to someone who has provided such joy and entertainment over many years. I do not think I need say more except to express my thanks to Mr Lancaster and to send my kindest thoughts to him and his family.
A fine tribute to Chris from the setters, I can only echo previous comments.
Thanks to Gazza, I was stuck on the NW but as soon as I read Gazza’s first sentence it all fell into place.
A fantastic tribute to a great man.
All the best to Mr Lancaster and his family, even if that seems somewhat hollow.
I’m going to print out this completed grid and pin it on my wall; it is such a good tribute to the great Chris Lancaster as well as the DT team for doing this so well. As for the article today, it moved me to tears and only hope that one day soon medics will kick horrible MND into touch.
Apologies and of course thanks to Gazza
Superb work from the team with today’s crossword, following on from Chris’s magnificent puzzle yesterday.
Chris’s article today was deeply moving. VMT to the setters, to Gazza, to all who have submitted comments above, and most especially to Chris whose outstanding work as Editor has given us all so much entertainment and intellectual exercise over the last 8 years.
It took a while for the significance of all those clues to register but having now read Chris’s article, it all makes perfect sense. Thank you Chris for all the fun you provide to us. Keep on keeping on.
Many thanks to Chris for his help and contributions over the years, in making so many of us so happy by solving his crosswords. I know little about the disease but know enough to appreciate just how debilitating and painful it is .I send best wishes to Chris and family as they try to come to terms with the position they find themselves in.
The crossword today was difficult but fair with several gems scattered here and there .A superb guzzle
Thanks to all .
I just dropped to the blog with still a few clues in the NE to solve and so glad I did. I had completely missed the Nina . In fact I wasn’t aware Chris Lancaster was the puzzles editor, being a relative newbie. I just read his article and found it very moving and of course sad too. I wish him and his family all the best. Thanks to the setters for the wonderful tribute and to Gazza.
If you wish to make a donation to the MND Association you can do so via the Telegraph Appeal donation page here:
https://telegraph.ctdonate.org/index:payment.html
Great puzzle but quite challenging!
Relatively new to learning about who’s who in the world of Telegraph puzzles but what a fab tribute this is to CL. (And also learned what a Nina is.) I read his article and hope that he has much more time left filled with love and peace.
Just managed to finish this brilliant crossword with the help of the hints. I echo all the admiration and good wishes for Chris Lancaster that are expressed above and thanks to the setter and Gazza
Cracking puzzle and a wonderful tribute. Although they’ve made it tricky to find an adjective they haven’t used in the across section!
Thanks to Gazza for the blog and the cartoons. Once I’d twigged that I’d misspelled 4d, this went in reasonably smoothly. I’m giving my prizes to the cleverly-surfaced 15a, and the lesser-spotted amount in 13d.
I only do the cryptic on a Saturday, and rarely comment on here though I am grateful for the wisdom and entertainment from reading this blog, but this is special. It’s all been said; it took me until nearly the end until I got 1A and the Nina. A splendid puzzle for a brave and excellent man. Best wishes to Chris and his family, also to CS, and many thanks to the setter and to the reviewer of this unique offering.
I am so glad that the contributors to this site are so eloquent because after reading the article by Chris Lancaster words fail me. Some aspects of life are so cruel and to be robbed of the facility that has become one’s life must be hard to bear.
I struggled with this puzzle but persevered and so glad that I did. It was such a beautiful construct and tribute. Thanks to the setter or setters ? Thanks also to Gazza.
Firstly, I read the article in yesterday’s Telegraph and this puzzle was a fitting tribute. At first glance it looked a bit of a stinker but as the clues began to unravel it all became much easier. My last entries were down in the SW corner, 23a and 24d. Once again very pleasing to have finished without the need for any external reference. If I had to rate the difficulty, two to two and a half stars.
COTD for me was 21d, there was me thinking of Austerlitz, Borodino, Waterloo, etc instead of Blair.
Once again a fine tribute to Chris Lancaster and thoughts go out to him and his family.
As always, thank you to the setter and to Gazza for the hints.
I’ve been deeply moved by Chris L’s article. It certainly drives home the important things in life. What courage and fortitude! My very best wishes to Chris and his family. My thoughts are with you.
This crossword is a tour de force. What a lot of skill must be involved in setting a puzzle like this! The Nina is amazing and is a most fitting tribute to our 23a / 25a, and Editor. My heartfelt thank you, Maestro Chris, for the many, many, many hours of superb cruciverbal entertainment.
Many appreciative thanks and congratulations to the setters for this super puzzle. Many appreciative thanks to Gazza for the hints which I fortunately didn’t need but am grateful to have them nonetheless.
A wonderful tribute, and great fun to solve. I was busy on Saturday so only got to this today, but was so glad I hadn’t missed it. It was tricker than I often find Saturday puzzles to be, but so worth it. My first two answers happened o be 11a and 12a, so the theme popped out straight away.
Thank you to all the setters collaborating on this masterpiece, and to Gazza for the hint to 9a, which I had left at the end and still couldn’t get even with 3 out of 5 letters! My favourite clue was the “fifty grand” in 19a.