The instruction was ‘SEND IN THE CLOWNS’ (21D/14) from A Little Night Music by Stephen Sondheim. The remaining unclued lights were COCO (12), ANTIC (24), ZANY (43), FESTE (1D), COSTARD (5D), JOSKIN (30) and YORICK (33). SONDHEIM (diagonally from 21) was to be shaded.
The puzzle marks the centenary of the death of a person whose name is formed by two unclued lights. Five unclued lights (three of which consist of two words each) are titles of 24 by the person in question. Across 1 Language in queue around noon (5) 11 Fly low and pass round lake (10) 13 Gets excited about good idea to produce aubergines (9) 15 Growl resounded around (4) 16 Specific attempt to restrict drip (7) 17 Empty space behind label apart from mark like a birthmark (7) 18 Cross and tense, short of time (3) 19 Hibiscus, some arranged completely in line (10, two words) 21 Old vinegar in bottles I left (5) 27 Fever uncertain?
Extra letters in clues give CONSTABLES, defining 7, 21 and 39. Other unclued lights are CONS (12, 16, 18) and TABLES (9, 20, 30). First prize Roland Rance, London E17 Runners-up Nigel Dobbs, Carrickfergus, Co.
Each of ten clues comprises a definition part and a hidden consecutive jumble of the answer including one extra letter. Extras in Across clues spell a definition of three unclued lights, and extras in Down clues spell a definition of three unclued lights; these definitions combine to spell a definition of three unclued lights. Across 1 Provided police report, quite emollient (8, hyphened) 8 My mistake, very big, about work (4) 11 Deprecators doubted nuclear survival (12) 14 Nervous man among drunkards returning jar (7) 17 Study odd parts of test for negative effects (5) 22 Tasted cabbage, mostly acceptable with wine (8) 23 Sailor has worked in Cornish town (7) 24 Hemingway?
Corrections of misprints in clues give INSIDE OUT. Thematic entries at 2, 15A, 25, 30 and 39 are defined by 5, 28, 11, 21 and 12. First prize Belinda Bridgen, London NW8 Runners-up S.J.J.
Each of nine clues contains a misprinted letter in the definition part. Corrections of misprints spell a two-word phrase. Clues in italics are cryptic indications of partial answers; in each case, the indicated part must be placed as suggested by the thematic phrase to create the full answer to be entered in the grid. Resulting entries (one of which is a two-word name) are defined by unclued lights.
Perimeter words are names of the most recent GEOLOGICAL PERIODS. First prize J.P Green, Uppingham, Rutland Runners-up Paul Jenkinson, Zollikon, Switzerland; Sebastian Robinson, Glasgow.
Six words (one with American spelling) read clockwise in sequence round the perimeter. Each of seventeen clues comprises a definition part and a hidden consecutive jumble of the answer including one extra letter; the extras spell a two-word definition of the perimeter words. Letters in corner squares and those adjacent to them could make STEPS RING, SA.
Bill Shankly said: ‘Some people think football is a matter of life and death … ( I can assure them it is much more serious than that)’. The unclued letters in the grid spell LIFE AND if read downwards row by row, and ANFIELD if read across column by column.
THE SHOP AROUND THE CORNER (99) and IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE (20) – whose DIRECTORS (37) were ERNST LUBITSCH (61) and FRANK CAPRA (35D) – are FILMS (53) in which the ACTOR (78) playing the CHARACTERS (68D) of ALFRED KRALIK (79) and GEORGE BAILEY (45) is JAMES STEWART (1A 5A). One film’s title suggests the shop around the corner of the grid; the other film’s setting is BEDFORD FALLS (112 113). The winners The first prize of £100, three prizes of £25 and six further prizes of Dent’s Modern Tribes go to the following. The first four winners each also receive a bottle of champagne. First prize Brenda Widger, Bowdon, Cheshire Runners-up Michael Polley, Taunton; R.K.
99 (five words) and 20 (four words), whose 37 were 61 (two words) and 35D (two words), are seasonal 53 featuring the 78 whose name is formed by two unclued lights. Two unclued lights (of two words each) are the names of the 78’s 68D. In nine clues, cryptic indications omit reference to parts of answers; these parts must be highlighted, to reveal an item suggested by 99. Each of twelve Down clues consists of definitions of two words of different lengths. In seven cases the shorter word (produced when a letter 113 from the longer word) is the entry; in five cases the longer word (made by adding the appropriate letter to the shorter word) is the entry. Numbers in brackets refer to lengths of entries.
In eight clues, cryptic indications omit reference to parts of answers; these parts must be highlighted, to reveal a word that defines each of the unclued lights. Two unclued lights consist of two words each.
In PYGMALION (21D), ELIZA (32) said NOT BLOODY LIKELY! (7A/9/12). Synonyms were NEGATIVE (24), RARE (35), ODDS-ON (20). GB SHAW (in the second row) had to be shaded.
Each of eleven clues comprises a definition part and a hidden consecutive jumble of the answer including one extra letter; the extras spell a three-word phrase. Clues in italics consist of cryptic indications of partial answers; in each case, the indicated part must do as stated by the phrase to create the full answer to be entered in the grid. Definitions of resulting entries are supplied by the remaining unclued lights. Elsewhere, ignore three accents.
Concealed Shakespearean characters were Rivers, Celia, Celia (again), Hamlet, Costard, Polonius, Snug, Hero, Gallus, Martius, Pistol, Collatine (The Rape of Lucrece), Bushy and Hermia. ‘Disguises’ spelt Midsummer Night. First prize John Honey, Brentford Runners-up Geran Jones, London SW1; D.
Seven words read clockwise round the perimeter, in alphabetical order. Each of eighteen clues contains a misprinted letter in the definition part. Corrections of misprints spell two words; the first defines six words in the perimeter, and the second defines the last word in the perimeter. Letters in corner squares and those adjacent to them could make OUR TREK MAGIC.
21 and 41 are definitions of SUMMER; RECESS defines each of the other unclued lights.
In eight clues, cryptic -indications omit reference to parts of answers; these parts must be highlighted, to reveal two words. Two unclued lights are definitions of the first word; the second word defines each of six unclued lights.
Answers to clues in italics are Clockwise (16), mondial (25), smugly (26), mushroomed (15) and pantable (32), each of which is subjected to LOSS OF FACE (8) to produce grid entries defined by, respectively, 4, 11, 1D, 30 and 39. First prize Tim Hanks, Douglas, Isle of Man Runners-up John Kitchen, Breachwood Green, Herts; L. Coumbe, Benfleet, Essex.
Answers to clues in italics are to be subjected, before entry in the grid, to the treatment indicated by one unclued light (three words). Definitions of the resulting entries are supplied by the other unclued lights.
