Author: branch

Today’s setter did some delightful “sleight of hand” with words that deceived the solver. The definitions in 12d and 14d looked like something entirely different; I smiled at mention of the playmaker in 17d too.

I got through this relatively quickly, until I found myself staring at 9dn wondering what could possibly fit there. Eventually, the crossers suggested the relevant comic book hero, and presto!

References here to all parts of the globe. Reasonably straightforward, I felt. Some general knowledge required but nothing too taxing.

A nice puzzle for a Saturday, although I’m sorry I can’t find the previous discussions of the “terms” in 9ac.

The fox appearing in 1ac put me in mind of the pangram in the headline. This isn’t one, but I wonder why pangram solutions are remarked on. Can anyone shed light?

Some vocabulary challenges in this one. I struggled to remember 9ac – a word that’s in the outer reaches of my crossword vocabulary, and definitely not for everyday use. Also, the bread sticks at 11ac definitely hadn’t stuck in my memory!

I was struck by the colloquial vocabulary scattered through (or should I say, thru) answers and wordplay.

I was a bit sceptical about 2dn describing the King as “former”. Then, now and always, surely! Still a classical Saturday challenge, with what seemed an unusual number of clues involving adding, subtracting or replacing letters.

Nice to see Champagne getting a mention in the NYE crossword. A medium difficulty puzzle, that should have left you all well set up for the evening to follow!

I remember a fascinating film years ago about how London cabbies acquire the “Knowledge” of London streets. Unlike them, I struggled with the knowledge to get through this puzzle.