Sunday Toughie No 222 by Light
Review by Sloop John Bee
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This puzzle was published on 26th April 2026
Across
1a Accepting knight was forthright about not much of value years ago (14)
FARTHINGSWORTH: An anagram (about) of WAS FORTHRIGHT with the chess notation for a Knight included
9a They look very ordinary, of course, touring ancient city (7)
VOYEURS: Abbreviations of very and ordinary V O, a synonym for of course YES, around crossworders’ favourite ancient city of UR
10a Sky, swell broadcasting channel (7)
AIRWAVE: A synonym of the sky AIR, and a swell at sea WAVE, combine to fit the definition
11a Seed in training, finishing with ace (3)
PEA: Lessons in training for sports PE, and an abbreviation for ace A
12a Some actors put on this musical sketch (6,5)
GREASE PAINT: A John Travolta – Olivia Newton-John musical GREASE, and to sketch in a medium such as watercolour or oil PAINT. A term for the sometimes heavy make-up worn by some actors
14a Jenny possibly visiting North American university city (6)
NASSAU: Jenny, as the female name of an equine animal ASS, is inserted into (visiting) North American NA, and University abbreviations U. N-ASS-A-U, NASSAU the capital city of The Bahamas
15a I’m not surprised Motown singer’s cancelled (2,6)
NO WONDER: Motown’s most celebrated singer-songwriter Stevie WONDER, has cancelled his appearance NO, and I’m not surprised NO WONDER
17a Transport given the green light in Brussels, perhaps part-submarine (8)
EUROSTAR: I am going to call this an all-in-one, as this means of transport from Brussels to St Pancras would start with a green signal and include a section under the English Channel. There is some wordplay though, if you accept green as a term for the currency used in Brussels EURO, and light as the heavenly source of light STAR
19a Inclination behind lad reportedly causing optical phenomenon (6)
SUNBOW: A homophone (reportedly) of a lad Son becomes SUN, followed by an inclination of the neck perhaps BOW. SUNBOW an optical phenomenon where sunlight is broken by aerial water droplets
22a Check out wearing skimpy top and head for inn exit (11)
INVESTIGATE: To be wearing a sleeveless top IN VEST, the head of inn I, and a means of exit from a garden or airport terminal GATE. To check out or INVESTIGATE
23a Finales for tuneful couple, Minnelli and Garland (3)
LEI: The finales or final letters of tuneful, couple and Minelli would be a LEI. LEI is a flower garland as worn in Hawaii
24a Opening Bible book I see being read out in church (7)
CREVICE: An abbreviated book of the Bible The Revelation of St John the Divine or REV. and letters sounded out in I see IC, go into an abbreviation for the Church of England CE. An opening or C-REV-IC-E
26a All quitting halfway through swampy hike, like Zanzibarian? (7)
SWAHILI: The first half of SWA mpy, HI ke and LI ke would be SWAHILI. The ethic group and language of most Zanzibarians
27a Picking the best old volunteers, fast and smart to guard funds (6-8)
TALENT-SPOTTING: The former (old) abbreviation for the soldiers now known as the British Army Reserve Territorial Army or TA, the fast undertaken before Easter LENT, and to smart from a bee or wasp STING, which guards some funds or a POT of money. TA-LENT S-POT-TING
Down
1d Former vice-president Gore, in support of prime minister, ultimately quits for a bit (4,5,5)
FIVE PENCE PIECE: Beware the devious capitalisation of Gore – he isn’t the VP we seek. A former Vice President, Mike PENCE, follows a prime number FIVE, then to gore or impale PIE(r)CE, from which the ultimate letter of minister R, has been removed. A bit is a small coin
2d Bras: any different shades? (3-4)
RAY-BANS: An anagram (different) of BRAS ANY. RAY-BANS a brand of sunglasses or shades
3d They time hotel covering bins for us (11)
HOURGLASSES: H for hotel a possessive for us OUR, and more formally, the bins we use to improve our vision GLASSES
4d Put away novel when lecturer rings in recess (6)
NOSHED: A novel by H. Rider Haggard SHE, is ringed by a lecturer DON who has been reversed (in recess) NO-SHE-D ate or put away
5d Still angry after what’s said when turning over similar card (spades) (8)
SNAPSHOT: The call made when similar valued cards are turned over in a childhood card game SNAP, the abbreviation for the suit spades S, and a synonym of angry HOT. SNAPSHOT a still photograph
6d Round edges on aircraft-carrier’s propeller (3)
OAR: On my first look at this clue I took the edges of aircraft and was reminded of Samuel Johnson’s opinion of, OAT “A grain, which in England is generally given to horses, but in Scotland supports the people”
I missed the hyphen between aircraft-carrier, which gives us a different pair of edges A-R, put after the round letter O, it is a means of propelling a rowing boat OAR
7d Flattered drag act in audition (7)
TOADIED: homophones (in audition) of drag or TOWED, an act or DEED. TOWED DEED becomes TOADIED Attempted to gain favour through obsequious behaviour or flattery
8d Child’s hero battling for Spooner’s journalism (7,7)
FEATURE WRITING: I remind you that with Spoonerisms, it is sounds not just letters that are transposed. The hero of Lee Child’s books Jack REACHER, and his belligerent nature FIGHTING, swap sounds to give us a style of long-form journalism that goes beyond reporting raw facts to explore human-interest stories, trends, or profiles in-depth FEATURE WRITING
13d Popping up close to shrub, otter ran off (11)
PROTUBERANT: I was going to include the second word in the definition but it is part of the fodder of an anagram (off) of UP, the close to shruB and OTTER RAN
16d Mum home for a chat, maybe around one, fine and clear (8)
MANIFEST: An informal mother MA, the home where a Chat or other avian species live NEST, around the letter that looks like one I, and an abbreviation of fine F. MA-N(IF)EST
18d Coastal region‘s flower swathing Italy area (7)
RIVIERA: Crosswords “flow”er RIVER, around the IVR code for Italy I, followed by the abbreviation of area A. The French/Italian coastal area The RIV(I)ER-A
20d Ill in bed, daughter spilt fresh peach drink (7)
BELLINI: An anagram (fresh) of ILL IN BED but split off the daughter abbreviation
21d Have nothing to do with dad getting face lifted (4,2)
PASS UP: A slang term for the face PUSS, is reversed (lifted in a down clue) SSUP, it follows a term for your father PA. PA-SS UP or have nothing to do with
25d What’s physician essentially on about? Spleen (3)
IRE: The essential letter of physician I, and one of our usual ons or abouts RE
Compiler
Light
That’s all Folks…