Crossword solution

2488: Clueless - solution

30 January 2021 9:00 am

Unclued lights were games played in I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue: SOUND CHARADES, SWANEE KAZOO, CHEDDAR GORGE, PICK UP…

Christmas 2020 crossword solution

23 January 2021 9:00 am

The winners The first prize of £100, three prizes of £25 and six further prizes of Word Perfect by Susie…

2487: Birthday boys - solution

16 January 2021 9:00 am

December 12th was the birthday of Gustave FLAUBERT (1D) and Frank SINATRA (15). Examples of their work are MADAME BOVARY…

2486: Ghost Companions - solution

9 January 2021 9:00 am

Unclued lights are nicknames of works by Beethoven, born 250 years ago. The title referred to the Ghost piano trio,…

2485: Triplets - solution

19 December 2020 9:00 am

Each of the unclued lights includes the same letter three times in succession. First prize Tom Rollinson, Borehamwood, Herts Runners-up…

2484: Troubled - solution

12 December 2020 9:00 am

The unclued lights are characters in Much Ado about Nothing. First prize Keith Norcott, Cheltenham, GlosRunners-up Mrs E. Knights, Wisbech,…

2483: In my soup - solution

5 December 2020 9:00 am

Unclued lights are anagrams of animals: PRAENOMINA (1A: Pomeranian), MARTIAN (18: tamarin), LARBOARD (21: Labrador), SHORE (28: horse), PROTEIN (42:…

2482: Perm all five - solution

28 November 2020 9:00 am

The unclued lights each contain all five vowels once only, but in different orders. First prize Dr Stephen Clarkson, Hadleigh,…

2481: Octet solution

21 November 2020 9:00 am

The octet associated with CHERRY STONES (19) is: tinker (1A), tailor (40), soldier (20), sailor (15), rich man (6A), poor…

2480: Warning - solution

14 November 2020 9:00 am

Ten symmetrically placed unclued lights are synonyms for the warning ‘WATCH OUT’. First prize Andy Wallace, Ash Green, CoventryRunners-upCaroline Arms,…

2479: Shielded solution

7 November 2020 9:00 am

The unclued lights are heraldic terms. First prize J.P. Carrington, Denchworth, OxfordshireRunners-up David Shields, Merthyr Vale M.E. Bosence, Bournemouth Got…

2478: Namesakes - solution

31 October 2020 9:00 am

The lyrics of the perimetric I’M POPEYE THE SAILOR MAN and FALLING IN LOVE AGAIN were written by Sammy Lerner,…

2477: Rendezvous - solution

24 October 2020 9:00 am

The unclued lights take an extra letter to make BRAMBLING (1A), BUDGIE (12A), STARLING (14A), REDSTART (23A), BRANCHER (27A), TURACO…

2476: Playtime solution

17 October 2020 9:00 am

The unclued lights form pairs of famous soloists and the instruments they play; 1A/19, 5/34, 23/8, 31/39, 43/16A. First prize…

2475: Poem VI - solution

10 October 2020 9:00 am

The poem was The Brook by Alfred Tennyson. The words were HERN (8A), LINGER (20), BRIMMING (32A), FLOW (40), TROUT…

2474: Love Me Do solution

3 October 2020 9:00 am

In George Orwell’s 1984 WINSTON SMITH (31/3) worked for the MINISTRY of TRUTH (43/21). The MINISTRY of LOVE (43/34) got…

2473: May solution

26 September 2020 9:00 am

The unclued lights, along with Peter MAY in the title, are England cricket captains. First prize Harry Hyman, Streatley, West…

2472: All-inclusive solution

19 September 2020 9:00 am

The perimeter quotation is from Mahler. Remaining unclued lights were names of symphonies: 12A Mahler / Schubert; 26A Haydn; 39A…

2471: Inky solution

12 September 2020 9:00 am

The unclued lights can be preceded by BLACK. First prize Stephanie Reeve, Papworth Everard, CambridgeRunners-up Hilda Ball, Belfast; Peter Chapman,…

2470: Express route solution

5 September 2020 9:00 am

The unclued lights are places served by the Norwegian HURTIGRUTEN ferries from Bergen to Kirkenes. Tromsø (at 4D) overruns into…

2469: Breadth solution

29 August 2020 9:00 am

The unclued lights were: 12 CORNI, anagram of Corin (As You Like It); 23 MANDIRA, Miranda (The Tempest); 27 LARDOON,…

2468: noah entry? solution

22 August 2020 9:00 am

The puzzle’s number 2468 was printed above the grid, hence ‘The theme is confirmed by the information provided.’ Letters deficient…

2467: Girl Talk solution

15 August 2020 9:00 am

The unclued lights, 3/34, 12/31, 26/1A/33, 35/9, 39 and 18 PEAKE (an anagram of the red highlighted letters), are six…

2466: Gender bender solution

8 August 2020 9:00 am

The author was GEORGE SAND (19/26), whose original name was AMANTINE LUCILE AURORE DUPIN (25/40/5/16). The perimetric works are INDIANA,…

2465: Definitely amusing solution

1 August 2020 9:00 am

Unclued lights are Brewer’s ‘Chambersisms’ — words from that dictionary with quirky definitions. First prize Maureen Quarmby, Oldham Runners-up M.…