Listener Crossword 4564: Solution Notes
There and Back by Stick Insect
Puzzle explanation
The puzzle celebrated the 50th anniversary of the first Moon landing, on 20 July 1969. Extra letters in clues for answers not entered in reverse spelt out “We came in peace for all mankind”, from the first plaque that was left on the Moon. The surnames of all 12 of the astronauts who have walked on the moon (so far) were given in chronological order in the grid’s rows. The 8dn column contained a jumble of “one giant leap”, from Neil Armstrong’s first words when setting foot on the Moon.
Clue explanations
Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal
| No | Extra letter | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Across | |||
| 1 | (W)hit | MARM | RAM < + M |
| 5 | h(E)ard | TRON | NORTH < − H |
| 8 | (C)all | GALLEY | ALL in GEY |
| 12 | OBIA | OB + I(ntroduce) A(n) | |
| 13 | se(A)t | QAWWAL | Q + A(mused) + W + LAW < |
| 14 | (M)ale’s | DRINK | D + RINK |
| 15 | NOCUOUS | NOUS around (CU + O) | |
| 16 | Aid(E)s | RADIANS | (AIDS RAN) * |
| 17 | PAH | HAP < | |
| 18 | go(I)ng | NIOBE | NI + OBE |
| 20 | VERBENA | BRAVE * around EN | |
| 21 | Ha(N)s | SHAIRNS | (HAS IS) * around R(otte)N |
| 23 | DRAPE | PADRE * | |
| 26 | TIMED | TIM + ED | |
| 27 | Ne(P)al | CHELLEAN | CHE + L + NEAL * |
| 28 | NEAT | (fi)NE AT(tire) | |
| 31 | Bed(E) | COTTA | COT + T + A |
| 34 | IDANT | ANT after ID | |
| 36 | (A)id | WIN ROUND | (ID NOW RUN) * |
| 37 | AARONITE | (A NEA(r) RIOT) * | |
| 40 | (C)raving | YOUNGER | YOU’RE * around NG |
| 41 | ARDRIS | WARD − W + SIR < | |
| 42 | corps(E) | DUKE | DUCK − C + E(lan) |
| 43 | ETNA | NEAT *; ref. 28ac | |
| 44 | pro(F)’s | CONCERNANCY | NANCY after (CON + CE + R) |
| 45 | b(O)y | RUMONSCH | RUM + ON + SCH |
| 46 | sho(R)t | MITTENS | (MIST NET) * |
| Down | |||
| 1 | ASHRAM | ASH + RAM | |
| 2 | APHASIA | (ideogr)APH AS I A(ssumed) | |
| 3 | Mo(A) | MOONIE | MO + O + NIE |
| 4 | fou(L) | SQUIRM | SQ + (fo)U + IR + M |
| 5 | Octa(L) | TACO | OCTA * |
| 6 | BOWR | W in ROB < | |
| 7 | (M)over | OWN | O + W + N(othing) |
| 9 | EDDA | ADDE(r) < | |
| 10 | PEDRAIL | (LIP-READ) * | |
| 11 | NEVSKY | VEN < + SKY | |
| 16 | HEAR | EA in HR | |
| 19 | OCHE | (cr)OCHE(t) | |
| 22 | Crime(A) | NISI | SIN < + I |
| 24 | Ala(N)’s | ALARUM | RUM after ALA |
| 25 | (K)not | MAGNETON | (NOT MEGAN) * |
| 26 | CRINED | CR + IN + ED | |
| 28 | RESENT | RENT around SE | |
| 29 | gra(I)n | NANDOO | NAN + DOO |
| 30 | RODE | ROD + E | |
| 32 | (N)ape | MONACT | MONA + C + T(rimmer) |
| 33 | SHERDS | SH + E + RDS | |
| 35 | CEDAR | RACED * | |
| 36 | (D)raw | WAUR | (RAW around U) < |
| 38 | UNIT | (t)U(r)N (f)I(f)T(h) | |
| 39 | SCAR | (famou)S CAR(buncle) | |