Listener Crossword 4708: Solution Notes
Diamond by Karla
Puzzle explanation
The extra words in across clues could precede or follow “star”; those in down clues were similarly associated with “music”. The letters omitted in wordplay spelt out TWINKLE in a pattern representing notes of the first line Twinkle Twinkle Little Star (with successive grid rows taken to be a semitone apart). Letters spelling I WONDER similarly indicated the second line of the song. Any colours and relevant symbols, such as stars, diamonds and musical notes (or their letters), were accepted.
Clue explanations
Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal
| No | Extra word | Answer (unclued letter) | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Across | |||
| 1 | OCCIPUT | O + 1CC < + PUT | |
| 6 | ADEPTS | PT in HADES − H | |
| 10 | CANUC(K) | CU < after CAN | |
| 12 | G(L)UE | GUE | |
| 13 | TRIP | TRIP(e) | |
| 14 | (star) jumps | TARMAC | (M in TARA) + C |
| 15 | RAMP(I)ON | (ON + PRAM) * | |
| 18 | Dog (star) | OCELLI | (ILL + ECO) < |
| 19 | (star) fruit | ANISEED | A + IS in NEED |
| 20 | AWHILE | (c)HIL(d) in AWE | |
| 25 | (star)fish | NILGAI | AILING * |
| 27 | SEVENTY | EVEN in STY | |
| 28 | (star)burst | MOLTEN | TEN after MOL(e) |
| 31 | evening (star) | LEDGERS | EDGER in L(awn)S |
| 32 | (star) sign | ELDEST | (hot)EL DEST(royed) |
| 33 | KURU | (UR + UK) < | |
| 34 | TA(W)S | (s)TAS(h) | |
| 35 | MANTEL | MANTIS with EL for last two letters | |
| 36 | SPRYLY | R(o)Y(a)L in SPY | |
| 37 | MODISTE | MODI’S + TE | |
| Down | |||
| 1 | early (music) | OCTROI | OCT + ROI |
| 2 | CARACAS | MARACAS with C for M | |
| 3 | CRIME WAVE | CAVE around (RIME + W) | |
| 4 | PAVILIONS | (IS + P + IN OVAL) * | |
| 5 | UNCOILS | UNC(les) + OILS | |
| 6 | absolute (music) | ACTA | ACT + A |
| 7 | EGRESS | SERGE < + S | |
| 8 | TUAN | TU(sc)AN | |
| 9 | SEC(E)DE | CD in SEE | |
| 11 | UL(N)AE | U(nusua)L + A&E | |
| 16 | (music) stool | DISLODGED | GOLD-SIDED * |
| 17 | (music) master | SECATEURS | CURSES * around TEA * |
| 21 | PIMENTO | PI + MENTO | |
| 22 | PIERROT | ROT after PIER | |
| 23 | ASSE(T)S | ASSES | |
| 24 | HERESY | HERE + SY | |
| 25 | pop (music) | NYLON | (ONLY + N) * |
| 26 | sheet (music) | INSURE | IN + SURE |
| 29 | concrete (music) | SLAP | L in SAP |
| 30 | STAY | AY after ST | |