Listener Crossword 4707: Solution Notes
An Overt by Awinger
Puzzle explanation
The thematic answers clued by wordplay only were fictional bears (Boo-Boo, Biffo, Fozzie, Yogi) and synonyms of “necessities”, hinting at the song The Bare Necessities (sometimes referred to as The Bear Necessities), which Baloo and Mowgli sang in the 1967 Disney film The Jungle Book. The extra letters in clues spelt out “your strife” (across) and “your worries” (down), illustrating the song’s third line, “Forget about your worries and your strife”. The puzzle’s title consisted of WANT and POVERTY stripped of their outer letters, ie two “bare” words for “necessity”.
Clue explanations
Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal
| No | Extra letter | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Across | |||
| 1 | REQUIEMS | REQUIRE with EMS for ER < | |
| 7 | tin(Y) | FRANC | FC around RAN |
| 11 | STURDY | R(egion) in STUDY | |
| 13 | BOO-BOO | BO around (O + OBO) | |
| 14 | SHOELESS | (HE LOSES) * + (Kenyan)S | |
| 15 | zo(O) | ZOISM | ZO IS M(oving) |
| 16 | FESTS | (FAST with E for A) + S(earch) | |
| 17 | ca(U)ses | ESP | PE < around S |
| 19 | ACHOO | A + C + HOO(ter) | |
| 21 | gone(R) | SOIGNÉ | (IS GONE) * |
| 24 | Pole(S) | LOIPEN | (POLE IN) * |
| 27 | TEL | TELLING − LING | |
| 28 | CAJUN | CAN around JU(g) | |
| 29 | GIE | G + I + E | |
| 30 | BOOKS | BROOKS − R | |
| 31 | star(T) | ORE | (HERO − H) < |
| 32 | range(R)s | SAIGAS | S + AGAS around I’ |
| 34 | ACKNOW | C in WONKA < | |
| 36 | BIFFO | (OF + FIB) < | |
| 39 | cock(I)er | PET | 2 meanings |
| 41 | (F)or | ROBOT | OR < + BOAT − A |
| 44 | plan(E)ts | IXIAS | (I + AS) around XI |
| 45 | IMAGISTS | (MA + GIST) in IS | |
| 46 | ON VIEW | ON + VIE + W | |
| 47 | TEASES | T(h)E (b)A(t)S(m)E(n) + S | |
| 48 | NEEDS | (NET + MEDS) − T − M | |
| 49 | INTEREST | IN + TEST around RE | |
| Down | |||
| 2 | And(Y) | ETHIC | ET + HIC |
| 3 | h(O)ard | QUOTH | H after QUOT(a) |
| 4 | IDLE | (IDLE + EYES) = homophone of IDOLISE | |
| 5 | (U)sing | EYES | E(ton’s) Y(ear) E(leven) S(ing) |
| 6 | MUSTS | (SET + SUM) < − E | |
| 7 | FOZZIE | I in (F + (r)OZZE(r)) | |
| 8 | fine(R) | ROOK | OK after R(eboz)O |
| 9 | (W)in | À BIENTÔT | A + BIT around (EN + TO) |
| 10 | COMPULSIONS | COMMOTIONS with PULS(e) for MOT | |
| 12 | c(O)urse | REFOCUS | (CURSE OF) * |
| 14 | SEA SCORPION | SEASON around (COR + PI) | |
| 18 | SEEKS | KEE(p) < in SS | |
| 20 | YOGI | (GIE − E) after YO | |
| 22 | Ma(R)ine | MARAE | ME around ARA(b) |
| 23 | Pete(R)’s | EJECTIVE | (IV + E) after ((Pet)E + C in JET) |
| 25 | PEAK | PE(w) + A(r)K | |
| 26 | NOTITIA | IT in (AIT + ON) < | |
| 33 | ANISES | (org)ANISES | |
| 35 | lass(I) | WOMAN | OM in WAN |
| 37 | corps(E) | FOSSE | SS in FOE |
| 38 | FATES | FATTEST − T − T | |
| 40 | (S)aid | GAID | G + AID |
| 42 | BATT | BA(by) or BA(be) + TT | |
| 43 | OGEE | GEE after O | |