Listener Crossword 4530: Solution Notes
Gallery by Phi
Puzzle explanation
The grid represented a target in a shooting gallery, with each radial entry being an Inward or Outward shot and every letter O in a radial answer representing a bullet hole. The extra letters in wordplay for ring entries gave the Roman numerals IVXLCD (reading inwards), implying M for the bull, so each O scored 1, 5, 10, …, 1000, according to which ring it was in. The Inward total included two 500s, for the two shots that landed in the same place, from radial entries 13 and 14.
Clue explanations
Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal
| No | Answer | Explanation [extra letter] |
|---|---|---|
| Radials | ||
| 1 | EIDOLA | (ALOD + IE) < |
| 2 | ROTATE | ROE around TAT |
| 3 | DE TROP | DROP around ET |
| 4 | OPEN SEA | OP + ENSA around E |
| 5 | ATTORN | A + T in TORN |
| 6 | TAMARAO | RAMA < in TAO |
| 7 | LAPUTA | (A + PUT) in LA |
| 8 | LIFTED | LIED around (F + T) |
| 9 | DOLINA | DO + LIN(e) + A |
| 10 | ORISSA | IS in (OR + AS <) |
| 11 | RHOMBS | (forme)R (researc)H + M in OBS |
| 12 | SANTERO | TREASON * |
| 13 | EL NIÑO | (O’ + NILE) < around N |
| 14 | ALECTO | CT in (A + LEO) |
| 15 | LAOGAI | LA + IAGO < |
| 16 | OILLETS | OIL + LETS |
| 17 | ABATOR | OR after (A + BAT) |
| 18 | AEROBE | (BORE in EA) < |
| 19 | OATERS | A in (v)OTERS |
| 20 | STRAIT | S + TRAIT |
| Ring 1 | ||
| ADDS | CADD[I]S − C(olour) | |
| SEALS | STEALS − T | |
| RETARDANT | RED ANT around TAR | |
| Ring 2 | ||
| BAILEE | [V]AIL in BEE | |
| RATER | RATHER − H | |
| BALLAT | ALL in BAT | |
| Ring 3 | ||
| LIMN | I in (L, M, N) | |
| NEET | NE[X]T around E | |
| TATT | (no)T ATT(ractive) | |
| SMUT | SMOUT − O | |
| Ring 4 | ||
| DARN | DAR + N | |
| TAP | P[L]AT < | |
| FISTIC | IT < in FISC | |
| GLARER | LARE in GR | |
| Ring 5 | ||
| ALBERTITE | A[C]E around BRITTLE * | |
| TRAIN | (s)TRAIN | |
| SHENT | HEN in ST | |
| Ring 6 | ||
| ARIA | ARIAN − N | |
| SEPAL | SE[D] + PAL | |