Listener Crossword 4421: Solution Notes
Post-it Note by Tramp
Puzzle explanation
The letters shared by clues’ extra words and their answers spelt out LARKIN (in reverse). The grid represented the first verse of Philip Larkin’s poem Annus Mirabilis:
Sexual intercourse began In nineteen sixty-three (which was rather late for me) — Between the end of the Chatterley ban And the Beatles’ first LP.
The first line was traced out by letters omitted from wordplay, in the shape of a large 63. The row above that contained CHATTERLEY BAN. The row below contained PLEASE TWICE ME to indicate Please Please Me, which was released by The Beatles in March 1963. The puzzle’s title suggests “after-sex comment”.
Clue explanations
Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal
| No | Extra word | Answer (omitted letters) | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Across | |||
| 1 | NECROTOMY | (COME ON, TRY) * | |
| 8 | GAIR | GAR around I | |
| 12 | ELAPSE | (E(nvisage) S(top) + PALE) < | |
| 13 | CHATTER | CH + AT + T + ER | |
| 14 | LEY | L + E + Y | |
| 15 | le(N)gth | BAN | B + AN |
| 16 | DO(OC)E | E after DO | |
| 17 | E(TN)EAN | E + SEA + N − S | |
| 18 | ARG(U)LI | GAIR * around L | |
| 20 | (RE)JO(I)CE | JOC(k) + E | |
| 22 | PAR(L)E | PARE | |
| 24 | SEA(S) | (goodby)E in SA | |
| 25 | (NA)XOS | SOX < | |
| 27 | (A)IAS | I + AS | |
| 28 | DW(E)LL | D(rew) W(on) L(ost) L(ost) | |
| 33 | BUSY (BE)E | US in BYE | |
| 36 | T(EX)-MEX | X after TIME − I | |
| 37 | PLEASE | SE(x) after PLEA | |
| 38 | hom(I)ly | TWICE | TWI + CE |
| 40 | LUG | 2 meanings | |
| 41 | SUN | NUS < | |
| 42 | TANAGER | TAN + WAGER − W | |
| 43 | ORDERS | ((Valentine’)S RED RO(ses)) < | |
| 44 | TUBS | STUB with letters “cycling” | |
| 45 | GYROSTATS | STORY * in STAG < | |
| Down | |||
| 1 | (K)eep | NICKAR | R after (NICK + A) |
| 2 | gi(R)l | EXHORTED | (RED-HOT + (s)EX) * |
| 3 | CLAD | LA in CD | |
| 4 | RETO(UR) | RE + TO | |
| 5 | ORT(O)LA(N) | (f)LA(g) after ORT | |
| 6 | ORRE(R)Y | ERRO(r) < + Y | |
| 7 | MÊLÉ(E) | (ti)ME; LE(nnox) | |
| 8 | GAY(N)OR | GAY + OR | |
| 9 | ISAAC | ISA + A/C | |
| 10 | RENNETS | TREES * around N(inetee)N | |
| 11 | DE(C)IM(A)L | LIME * after D | |
| 19 | F(A)ther | GNAWS | WANG < + S |
| 21 | (IL)I(U)M | IM | |
| 22 | PO(S)T-WAR | (RAW + TOP) < | |
| 23 | EASEMENT | (AS MEN TEE) * | |
| 24 | chi(L)dren | SUBPLOT | (B + US) < + PLOT |
| 26 | SE(E)INGS | SS around (EIN + G) | |
| 29 | (E)YASES | ESSAY * | |
| 30 | (G)ETTER | ET + T + ER | |
| 31 | O(X)CART | OC + ART | |
| 32 | EXERTS | EXES around RT | |
| 34 | ULURU | (L)ULU + RU | |
| 35 | (E)ENSY | EN + SPY − P | |
| 39 | EGMA | EG + MA | |