This puzzle is from the archive and was originally published on 21 October 2012 as ST4508.
Of the three Christmas Specials I found this one the hardest and actually had a couple of wrong answers which I’m ashamed to admit to, so won’t specify which ones. Jeff is still setting for the ST of course and he’s the one that most often catches me out with the simplest of ruses. I know David and Dean are tricky customers so I’m prepared for them, but Jeff, as in this one, sometimes catches me with my guard down.
If anyone wants to have a go at it, they can still access the puzzle here.
I’ve kept the blog basic as there doesn’t appear to be much interest in the Christmas specials, but if there are any questions please don’t hesitate to ask.
As usual definitions are underlined in bold italics, {deletions are in curly brackets} and [anagrinds, containment, reversal and other indicators in square ones]
| Across | |
| 1 | See 24 (7) |
| CUSHING – CUSHING See 24 | |
| 5 | Food with bread, followed by sponge (7) |
| ROLLMOP – ROLL (bread), MOP (sponge) | |
| 9 | Nasty pirate left in base (9) |
| REPTILIAN – Anagram [nasty] of PIRATE L (left) IN | |
| 10 | German painter reveals one of his articles about old city (5) |
| DURER – DER (one of his articles) about UR (old city) | |
| 11 | On bed find a collar (6) |
| BERTHA – BERTH (bed), A | |
| 12 | In spite of everything, being behind American lines (5,3) |
| AFTER ALL – AFTER (behind), A (Amercan), LL (lines) | |
| 14 | Start to lecture a French rustic without it being rude (10) |
| UNPLEASANT – UN (a, French), PEASANT (rustic) about L{ecture} | |
| 16 | Small can at back of pantry (4) |
| TINY – TIN (can), {pantr}Y | |
| 18 | Biting a type of pie (4) |
| TART – Two definitions | |
| 19 | Stupid cop alarmed tall African (10) |
| CAMELOPARD – Anagram [stupid] of COP ALARMED | |
| 22 | Extremely trendy suit (2,6) |
| IN SPADES – IN (trendy), SPADES (suit) | |
| 23 | Criticised journo following second drink (6) |
| SNIPED – S (second), NIP (drink), ED (journo) | |
| 26 | Goes off when retreating — before military’s first assault (5) |
| STORM – ROTS (goes off) reversed, M{ilitary} | |
| 27 | Great painter soon to leave school? (3,6) |
| OLD MASTER – Straight definition with a cryptic hint | |
| 28 | Refused to go topless and was thrown out (7) |
| EJECTED – {r}EJECTED (refused) | |
| 29 | Ambassador finally visits poor inmate in the Tower (7) |
| MINARET – {ambassado}R in anagram [very poor] of INMATE | |
| Down | |
| 1 | Copper carries a bone of small animal (7) |
| CARIBOU – CU (copper) carries A + RIB (bone) + O. Given the size of caribou, “small” must be referring to the abbreviated form of “of”. | |
| 2 | It’s great to drink with the Queen (5) |
| SUPER – SUP (drink), ER (the Queen) | |
| 3 | Man’s surroundings? (5,3) |
| IRISH SEA – Cryptic definition with reference to the Isle | |
| 4 | Look happy when dull work is nearly done (4) |
| GRIN – GRIN{d} (dull work) | |
| 5 | Position band may take at the match (4,6) |
| RING FINGER – Cryptic definition | |
| 6 | There’s large snake — run! (6) |
| LADDER – L (large), ADDER (snake) | |
| 7 | A girl put on weight but knocked back drink (9) |
| MARGARITA – GRAM (weight) reversed, A, RITA (girl) | |
| 8 | Discussion about small plant used in cooking (7) |
| PARSLEY – PARLEY (discussion) about S (small) | |
| 13 | What a car with speedo going crazy may turn into! (6,4) |
| ESCAPE ROAD – &lit. Anagram [going crazy] of A CAR SPEEDO | |
| 15 | Fairies manage tube with mirrors (9) |
| PERISCOPE – PERIS (fairies), COPE (manage) | |
| 17 | Spring in a futon needs altering (8) |
| FOUNTAIN – Anagram [needs altering] of IN A FUTON | |
| 18 | English school in dull Italian port (7) |
| TRIESTE – E (English) + S (school) in TRITE (dull) | |
| 20 | Philosopher’s leader in daily upset editor (7) |
| DIDEROT – D{daily}, anagram [upset] of EDITOR | |
| 21 | Rodent’s limb carried by climbing cat (6) |
| MARMOT – ARM (limb) carried by TOM (cat) reversed | |
| 24 | & 1A Horrific scene with upright actor [2-word answer] (5) |
| PETER (CUSHING) – Anagram [horrific] of SCENE UPRIGHT. The anagrind gives a hint of the genre the actor is famous for. | |
| 25 | Invented something to have with crackers (4) |
| EDAM – MADE reversed [up] (invented – geddit?) | |