Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31247
A full review by Rahmat Ali
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This puzzle was published on 23rd May 2026
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
Greetings from Kolkata. A nice and straightforward Saturday puzzle from Twmbarlwm that I enjoyed solving and thereafter writing a review of the same for your kind perusal and significant feedback.
‘Love Story’, the answer to the clue at 2d, was a film starring Ali MacGraw and Ryan O’Neal that I watched at a cinema hall named Tiger in my early twenties. After solving the puzzle, I searched the internet to learn more about the film and found a great deal of information, including some unusual facts. ‘Love Story’ began life as a screenplay written by Erich Segal in the late 1960s. He originally developed the story for a film project that was subsequently approved for production by Paramount Pictures, but the studio however, requested or rather encouraged him to adapt it into a novel first in order to build interest and commercial momentum before production. Segal expanded the script into a romantic tragedy about Oliver Barrett IV, a wealthy Harvard student, and Jennifer Cavilleri, a spirited music student. Their relationship develops quickly, but is tested by family opposition and ultimately devastated by Jennifer’s terminal illness. The novel was released on the February 14, 1970 that was a Valentine’s Day and became an immediate bestseller, resonating strongly with readers for its emotional simplicity and direct style. Its success in print generated significant anticipation for the film adaptation, which followed in the same year. It was translated into more than 33 languages. The film, released on December 16, 1970, also proved highly popular, cementing the story’s cultural impact and leading to a sequel novel, ‘Oliver’s Story’. The phrase “Love means never having to say you’re sorry” became particularly famous, despite ongoing debate about its meaning. The work remains a landmark example of a screenplay successfully transformed into a novel that then reinforced the success of its cinematic adaptation. During my teens and even later, I loved watching romantic films. I saw the English film ‘Romeo and Juliet’, starring Olivia Hussey and Leonard Whiting, at Minerva. I still remember the cinema halls where I watched Hindi films based on legendary love stories from India to Iran to Arabia, such as ‘Heer Raanjha’ and ‘Laila Majnu’ at Park Show House, ‘Shirin Farhad’ and ‘Dastaan-e-Laila Majnu’ at Noor Mahal and ‘Sohni Mahwal’ at Crown.
I further learned that ‘Tut’, answer to part of the wordplay in the clue at 22d, was the shortened name of King Tutankhamun, who became pharaoh of Egypt in 1332 B.C. when he was only nine years old. He ruled during a period of political instability and regional conflict, including tensions with neighbouring kingdom of Nubia over territory and influence. Despite his royal status, his reign was relatively short; he died at approximately eighteen years of age, less than a decade after ascending the throne. For many centuries, little was known about his life or significance, and he remained a minor figure in Egyptian history. This changed dramatically in 1922 when British archaeologist Howard Carter discovered his almost intact tomb in the Valley of the Kings. The discovery provided extraordinary insight into ancient Egyptian burial practices, wealth and culture and made Tutankhamun one of the most famous pharaohs in the world. His tomb’s treasures captured global attention and transformed modern understanding of Egypt’s New Kingdom period.
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Across
4a Sheep fold in front of church – it’s not worth much (8)
TUPPENCE: TUP (sheep) as a ram or uncastrated male sheep followed by PEN (fold) as a fold or enclosure in which sheep, pigs or other farm animals are kept placed before (in front of) CE (church) as the abbreviation for the Church of England leads to the definition of a variant spelling of two pence which is not worth much
8a A little aggro overcoming Slot (6)
GROOVE: Part of or hidden inside (a little) [AG]GRO OVE[RCOMING] takes to the definition of a slot, cut into wood, that is a carved-out depression
9a Around the back of hotel, new dinette given a name (8)
ENTITLED: An anagram (new) of DINETTE surrounds (around) the back or end letter (back) of [HOTE]L, guiding to the definition of a verb in the past tense meaning given a name or a particular title
10a One liable to forget a million counterfeit in case (8)
AMNESIAC: The definition of a person suffering from amnesia or partial loss of memory i.e. one is liable to forget is got from A from the clue, followed by M (million) as the Roman numeral for million and an anagram (counterfeit) of IN CASE
11a Tough guy keeping close to Wimbledon tennis player (6)
HENMAN: HE-MAN (tough guy) as a strong, tough or muscular man holding inside (keeping) the end or terminal letter (close) to [WIMBLEDO]N directs to the definition of the British tennis player whose full name is Tim Henman
12a Potential answer in questionnaire beats me (4,4)
DON’T KNOW: DON’T KNOW (potential answer) as one of the potential or possible answers, among others like ‘yes’ or ‘no’ in a questionnaire or survey sheet takes to the definition of an answer that indicates puzzles or baffles me or simply beats me, that is, the answer is not known to me
13a Dog show with Winton, possibly on fourth of June (8)
AIREDALE: The definition of a large terrier of a greed originating from Airedale in Yorkshire is got from AIR (show) as to broadcast, transmit or show a television programme followed by DALE (Winton, possibly) as referring to Dale Jonathan Winton who was an English radio DJ and television presenter preceded by (ON) the letter placed fourth in the word (fourth) of [JUN]E
16a I think one mike in rock opera is missing – take heed (2,2,4)
TO MY MIND: The definition of a prepositional phrase denoting ‘in my opinion’, ‘from my point of view’ or ‘I think’ is reached from TO[M]MY (rock opera) as the legendary 1969 rock opera by English rock band ‘The Who’ devoid of an M (one M … is missing) where M (M) is the letter represented by Mike in the NATO phonetic alphabet followed by MIND (take heed) as a verb meaning to take heed of or pay attention to something
19a Where gamblers are attracted to young female boxing star (3,5)
LAS VEGAS: The definition of the famous casino and resort city located in Nevada is arrived at from LASS (female) as a female sweetheart or a girl or young woman, especially one who is unmarried covering or taking inside (boxing) VEGA (star) as one of the brightest stars in the constellation Lyra
21a Could this be standing, mostly, on sculpture’s base? (6)
STATUE: The definition of a three-dimensional form or likeliness sculpted, modelled, carved or cast in material such as stone, clay, wood or bronze is reached from STATU[S] (standing) as a relative position or standing of a person, especially in society that is having most of the letters (mostly) followed by (on) the last or the tail letter (base) of [SCULPTUR]E (sculpture’s)
23a Useless type hit Crouch after header for England (4,4)
LAME DUCK: The definition of an ineffectual or unsuccessful person or thing is got from LAM (hit) as to strike or hit hard followed by DUCK (crouch) as to crouch down or lower the head of the body that is preceded by or coming after (after) the head or initial letter (header) for E[NGLAND]
24a Spicy beef is tapas bar’s last piece? I’m devastated! (8)
PASTRAMI: The definition of a highly seasoned and spicy smoked beef prepared especially from shoulder cuts is obtained from an anagram (devastated) of a combo of TAPAS, the last letter (last piece) of [BA]R (bar’s) and I’M
25a Decorated knight’s boring talk (6)
ORNATE: The definition of an adjective meaning heavily or elaborately decorated is obtained from N as the official standard abbreviation in chess notation of knight (knight’s) piercing or going inside (boring) ORATE (talk) as to talk pompously
26a Celebrities occasionally singing Aquarius? (4,4)
STAR SIGN: STARS (celebrities) as distinguished or glamorous celebrity, often from the entertainment world followed by the occasional or alternate letters (occasionally) inside [S]I[N]G[I]N[G] from the clue takes to the definition of a sign of the zodiac, an example of which is Aquarius, the eleventh astrological sign in the zodiac, originating from the constellation Aquarius
Down
1d Constant drinker in the end, this writer’s nose mostly turning red (7)
CRIMSON: A combo of C (constant) as an abbreviation for constant as used in maths or physics and the end or last letter (in the end) of [DRINKE]R followed by the writer’s nose mostly turning i.e. most of the letters (mostly) of NOS[E] overturning or coming up from the south as a reversal in the down clue, that is, SON of I’M (this writer’s) as of or belong to the setter of this puzzle referring to themselves, precisely written as I’M SON leads to the definition of a rich deep red colour inclining to purple
2d Lie with nothing on for picture (4,5)
LOVE STORY: STORY (lie) as an informal term for a lie or false statement preceded by or having above in the down clue (with … on) LOVE (nothing) as O or nothing i.e. the score of zero in a game of tennis guides to the definition of the 1970 American romantic drama film adapted by Erich Segal from his 1970 novel
3d Kindly 6 Down, maybe one with good name (6)
BENIGN: The definition of an adjective meaning gentle and kindly is reached from BEN (6 Down, maybe) as referring to Ben Elton, a British comedian and writer who has written and produced for television, radio, films, novels, theatre and musicals and whose full name is Benjamin Charles Elton; surname being the forename of John and answer of 6 Down followed by I (one) as the Roman numeral for one and (with) G (good) as the abbreviation for good and N (name) as the abbreviation for name
4d Running wildly, no hero, cat character in film (3,8,4)
THE COWARDLY LION: An anagram (running) of WILDLY, NO HERO, CAT leads to the definition of the giant feline character played by Bert Lahr in the iconic 1939 musical movie ‘The Wizard of Oz’
5d Pressure’s on richest out-of-form baseball players (8)
PITCHERS: Pressure’s taken as ‘Pressure is’ where P (Pressure) as the symbol for pressure as in physics is placed upon (on) an anagram (out-of-form) of RICHEST in the down clue, leading to the definition of the baseball players on the mound who throw the ball to the batter
6d Some misspelt onomatopoeia for John? (5)
ELTON: Part of or hidden inside (some) [MISSP]ELT ON[OMATOPOEIA] takes to the definition of the forename of the celebrated British singer, songwriter and pianist who is the most successful solo artist in the history of the US Billboard charts and the first solo artist with UK top 10 singles across six decades and whose full name is Sir Elton Hercules John
7d You may need a rest before you address me (3,4)
CUE BALL: The definition of the usually white ball a player strikes with the cue, as distinguished from the object balls is cryptically arrived at from a rest or a mechanical stick with a shaped head used to support the cue when the cue ball is too far away to reach comfortably by hand that one needs in billiards, pool or snooker (you may need a rest) before addressing that is aiming at and preparing to strike (before you address) the cue ball (me)
14d Fan tended to dither about one facing allegations (9)
DEFENDANT: An anagram (to dither about) FAN TENDED takes to the definition of someone alleged to have caused harm or violated an agreement or accused of a crime in a criminal prosecution and being sued in a civil lawsuit
15d Bookish intellectuals half-heartedly refuse a note (8)
LITERATI: The definition of a plural noun referring to bookish intellectuals or persons of scholarly or literary attainments is attained from LIT[T]ER (refuse) as small refuse or waste materials carelessly dropped, especially in public places devoid of T or one of its centrally-placed letters (half-heartedly) followed by A from the clue and TI (note) as the seventh note of the scale in sol-fa notation
17d Working with Brown, as Marge might be (2,5)
ON TOAST: A charade of ON (working) as working, functioning or operating and TOAST (brown) as to heat and brown, for example, bread by exposure to radiant head guides to the definition describing something that is spread on bread, an example of which is marge, a short form for margarine, a butter-like substance made from vegetable oils and fats etc that is literally a spread on toast
18d Lucky charms Rod’s holding firm (7)
MASCOTS: The definition of the plural version of a person, animal or thing that is supposed to bring good luck, especially one linked to a particular organisation or event is reached from MAST’S (rod’s) as of or belonging to a mast, that is a sturdy upright pole or a long, usually round, rod of wood or metal or plastic keeping inside (holding) CO (firm) as the abbreviation for Company
20d Sign percussion instrument can be heard (6)
SYMBOL: The definition of an arbitrary sign, written or printed, that has acquired a conventional significance or that is used in mathematics, science, music etc, to represent a quantity, phenomenon, operation, function etc is fetched from a homophone heard by the audience (can be heard) of CYMBAL (percussion instrument) as a percussion instrument consisting of a concave brass plate that makes a loud clashing tone when hit with a drumstick or when used in pairs
22d Old king preceding old queen’s coach (5)
TUTOR: TUT (old king) as referring to King Tutankhamun who became pharaoh of Egypt in 1332 at the age of nine coming before (preceding) O (old) as the abbreviation for old and R (queen) as the abbreviation for regina, the Latin word for Queen yields the definition of a coach or a private instructor for a student, singer, actor etc
There were several clues that I liked in this puzzle such as 4a, 12a, 16a, 19a, 23a, 2d, 4d, 7d and 22d; 7d being the best of the lot. My prayers to the Almighty for the eternal rest and peace of BD and my thanks to Twmbarlwm for the entertainment. Looking forward to seeing you here again. Have a nice day.