Listener Crossword 4559: Solution Notes
G by Xanthippe
Puzzle explanation
The grid depicted a classic scene from Only Fools and Horses. The first part, shown here, with one choice from the clashing letters, showed RODNEY and DEL holding a BLANKET, ready to catch a LOUIS XIV CHANDELIER when it is unbolted. The letters missing from across clues gave two instances of STEPLADDER, on which Rodney and Del were standing. The second part of the scene showed GRANDAD having dislodged the BOLT from the (wrong) chandelier, which has crashed to the floor, its letters forming the writer’s name SULLIVAN and new down words. The extra letters in down clues spelt out words for fools and horses: “Bottom, nit, ass; dun, Red Rum, nag”. The title of the puzzle referred to the episode’s title, A Touch of Glass.
Clue explanations
Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal
| No | Removed/ added letter | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Across | |||
| 1 | bea(S)t | STAG | TAG after S |
| 4 | BOLT | B + (COLT − C) | |
| 8 | me(T)al | ABORE | BA < + ORE |
| 13 | L(E)ad | CHORIC | R(ye) in CHOIC(e) |
| 14 | (P)aid | ERNES | homophone of EARNS |
| 15 | co(L)d | RELÂCHE | (L + HERE) * around (A + C) |
| 16 | Me(A)n | AVAILE | AVE around AIL |
| 17 | Agree(D) | OONT | ON around O + T |
| 18 | title(D) | LAUWINE | (IN EU LAW) * |
| 21 | sprit(E) | CION | ICON with first half reversed |
| 22 | (R)and | RERAN | (swo)RE RAN(d) |
| 23 | NOUS | NO US | |
| 24 | (S)he | DEIRDRE | DR DRE around EI; ref. Deirdre Barlow of Coronation Street |
| 25 | (T)urn | GOOLIE | GO + O’ + LIE |
| 27 | (E)motion | DOYENS | (E)motion in SYNOD * |
| 29 | (P)lace | TYMBAL | (LAB + MY + ’T) < |
| 30 | PUMPS | PU + MP + ’S | |
| 33 | BLANKET | BLANK + ET | |
| 36 | S(L)ave | OILS | TOIL + S − (Ti)T(ian) |
| 39 | l(A)id or are(A) | LARIDAE | (LAID ARE) * or (LID AREA) * |
| 40 | Bran(D) | LONG ON | LOGO around N + N(orthants) |
| 41 | wee(D) | E-CIGARETTE | (TARGET + I + C) * in ((rang)E + (rang)E) |
| 42 | D(E)ad | LA TÈNE | LATE around EN |
| 43 | (R)Aging | ERNIE | IRENE * |
| Down | |||
| 1 | bar(B) | SCROD | ’S + C + ROD |
| 2 | L(O)ad | THEOLOGY | THEO + LOG + Y |
| 3 | (T)at | GRATIS | AT in GRIS |
| 5 | over(T) | OCH | CH after O |
| 6 | her(O) | LEE | REEL < − (he)R |
| 7 | war(M) | TRAWLED | T + WAR < + LED |
| 9 | Angola(N) | BEANERY | AN in BEERY |
| 10 | ru(I)n | OSIER | IE after OS + R |
| 11 | (T)reads | RELEARNS | (LARRY SEEN) * − Y |
| 12 | (A)head | EVENNESS | EVENT with NESS for T |
| 18 | (S)on | LOX | O’ in XL < |
| 19 | block(S) | ANVIL | ANIL around V |
| 20 | enslave(D) | UNDERKEEP | UNDER + KEEP |
| 23 | Cal(U)m | SETTLE | S + METTLE − M |
| 26 | Georgia(N) | OBLIGE | BOIL * + GE |
| 28 | game(R) | EPIGON | EPI(c) + GO + N |
| 30 | P(E)ace | PELTS | (STEP around L) < |
| 31 | (D)one | LONER | homophone of LOANER |
| 32 | (R)ace | CACA | A after (CA + C) |
| 33 | Sco(U)t’s | BRIT | B + RIT |
| 34 | (M)end | CARE | CAR + (engin)E |
| 35 | To(N)e | ROTE | (TOE + R) * |
| 37 | se(A)t | LOTI | I after LOT |
| 38 | son(G) | SNEE | KNEE with S for K |