Time taken: 9:55, but with one error.
Own silly fault – I had an entry that I knew was incorrect because I had to change a crossing letter, but didn’t fix it up right away, thinking I would get back to it when I had finished the grid. Of course with the changed letter what was in there was a word, so I didn’t bother checking the clue again. Whoopsy!
Fairly straightforward puzzle with a few tricky ones. Hope you enjoyed it!
Away we go…
| Across | |
| 1 | Cats maybe fight Melody Maker in case (7,3) |
| MUSICAL BOX – Cats is a MUSICAL, then BOX(fight) | |
| 6 | Echoing submarine captain’s signal (4) |
| OMEN – reversal of captain NEMO | |
| 9 | Fried cakes group returned after game (10) |
| CROQUETTES – SET(group) reversed after CROQUET(game) | |
| 10 | Crow runs into trap? (4) |
| BRAG – R(runs) inside BAG(trap) | |
| 12 | He impedes outside broadcast furore, one blocking streets (14) |
| OBSTRUCTIONIST – OB(outside broadcase), then RUCTION(furore), I(one) inside two ST’s(streets) | |
| 14 | Queen right to take time in finding one of her victims? (6) |
| MARTYR – Queen MARY and R(right) containing T(time) | |
| 15 | Playful sketch this, after edit (8) |
| SKITTISH – SKIT(theatrical sketch) then an anagram of THIS | |
| 17 | Better men succeeded in the Open (8) |
| OUTDOORS – OUTDO(better), OR(men), S(succeeded) | |
| 19 | Con tearaway? (3-3) |
| RIP-OFF – double definition | |
| 22 | Possibly needing a shawl cut? (4-10) |
| COLD-SHOULDERED – the cold shoulders could use something to cover them up | |
| 24 | Company perhaps regularly ruins city centre (4) |
| UNIT – alternating letters in rUiNs, then the middle letters in cITy | |
| 25 | Berlin quartet worried about possible source of mutton roast (10) |
| VITUPERATE – VIER(German for four), and ATE(worried) containing TUP(possible source of mutton) | |
| 26 | Superiority claimed by landed gentry (4) |
| EDGE – hidden inside landED GEntry | |
| 27 | A large enclosure with standard support for climber (10) |
| ALPENSTOCK – A, L(large), PEN(enclosure) and STOCK(standard) | |
| Down | |
| 1 | Send up topless overall (4) |
| MOCK – remove the first letter from SMOCK(overall) | |
| 2 | Slaver‘s keener to acquire second of plantations (7) |
| SLOBBER – SOBBER(crier, keener) containing the second letter of pLantations | |
| 3 | Property of nobleman with rosy hue, blitzed? (7,5) |
| COUNTRY HOUSE – COUNT(nobleman) and an anagram of ROSY,HUE | |
| 4 | Books and letters providing material for test (6) |
| LITMUS – LIT(literature, books) and Greek letter MUS | |
| 5 | Pass completed scene in film? (8) |
| OVERTAKE – OVER(completed) and TAKE(scene in film) | |
| 7 | Caribbean island exports what French drink (7) |
| MARTINI – the island is MARTINIQUE, remove QUE(what, in French) | |
| 8 | Workers in the dark altered fittings around first hotel, later hospital (5,5) |
| NIGHT SHIFT – anagram of FITTINGS surrounding one H(hotel) and another H(hospital) | |
| 11 | Regret one voting against dull head (12) |
| CONTRITENESS – CON(one voting against), TRITE(dull), NESS(head) | |
| 13 | Medic that’s sore in French river mouth (10) |
| EMBOUCHURE – MB(medic) OUCH(that’s sore) inside the French river EURE. Not a river I knew, had to look it up for the blog | |
| 16 | One stops weapon test to do with bearings (8) |
| ARMORIAL – I(one) inside ARM(weapon), ORAL(test) | |
| 18 | Impressive tango by pianist who’s lost weight (7) |
| TELLING – T(tango) and the pianist is Duke ELLINGTON missing TON(weight) | |
| 20 | Old ass, upset, leaves in stew? (7) |
| OREGANO – O(old) then ONAGER(ass) reversed | |
| 21 | Produce trousers left for rider perhaps (6) |
| CLAUSE – CAUSE(produce) containing L(left) | |
| 23 | Dealer uses this floor (4) |
| DECK – double definition, the first being a DECK of cards | |
Liked it a lot. Great clues; smooth surfaces and a couple of PDMs
Rather liked VITUPERATE as one of a few good un’s
Thanks George and Setter
As to the rest, good fun so a qualified Thanks Setter. Please take note of my Pointer!