Listener 4138: The X-factor by IOA

[midazolam]

I looked down the list of letters thinking: no clue lengths, no clue numbers, no idea which is across or even, 26 numbers to choose from. Aargh! Luckily, once it gets going, things speed up and to a nice aesthetic finish. A debut in the sense that I have not solved either of IOA'a previous two Listeners (last in 2004), but this one I enjoyed - probably because it had a conversion and PDM to look forward to. Thanks IOA

[DaveTheHat]

Thankyou Jack, that's a kind offer, but I'd rather not post an e-mail address. I'm still slightly confused that a question/answer forum doesn't like posting answers about one crossword (People that don't want spoliers surely wouldn't look at the thread) but is happy to post answers about another (Times Jumbo cryptic for example). So, if I may respectfully ask what is the purpose of this thread? Is it just to say that you have completed it?
Please understand that I'm not being rude, I merely want to understand.

[JackDeCrow]

Hah! You're into deep water there, DaveThe Hat! You're absolutely right that Answerbank isn't really the right place for this particular bunch of people to have this particular conversation, but it's convenient and old habits die hard. I guess the number of people likely to want to chat about the Listener is so small that the thread can be largely self-policing (I'm sure if you read it regularly you'll know it doesn't always work perfectly). So, in summary, people try to stick to giving hints here rather than outright answers, particularly ones that are significant in completing the puzzle. And with this puzzle, the next few steps from where you are currently is pretty much the most important part of the whole thing!

[DaveTheHat]

Hehehe! I feared that I may be nearing deep water (which is why I wanted to emphasise that I wasn't being rude)

I shall stare at it for a little longer using the hints already provided - Many thanks again

[JackDeCrow]

No problem - if it's still doing your head in, drop me a line on [email protected]

[Clamzy]

DaveTheHat - The current situation on this thread was born in the heat of battle some four years ago. It makes interesting reading if you can access the archives.
Basically some setters and others connected with the Listener Crossword were outraged that blatant answers were being given to the world's hardest crossword.
Maybe thousands of people could give you answers to Jumbo crosswords, but that comes down to hundreds for the Listener and possibly just a couple of dozen who post to Answerbank. As Jack said those few have now settled for gentle hints only and it seems to work to most peoples satisfaction.

[Clamzy]

Even people's.

[DaveTheHat]

Thanks Clamzy, that seems entirely sensible that the setters don't want the answers posting.

Jack, you got mail! C]:0D

[AndrewG-S]

I thought this was an excellent puzzle. A bit tricky to find the start point, then a straightforward but interesting grid fill, which required a number of different approaches to whittle down the options. This was topped with an amusing finish. It also caused me to look up what X-Factor really meant and I thought it was just a TV show. Perhaps there should be an X-Word-Factor to compensate solvers for the disruptions to life from trying to do the Listener each week. From the minority that enjoys and looks forward to the numerics - thanks IOA.

[tenflags]

Brian from the magic roundabout here late to the party as usual.
I echo the sentiments of Clamzy and AndrewG-S.
When I first looked at the title I also wondered if Mr Cowell would be making an appearance somewhere. Although I was glad it was logic rather than mega quadratic / simultaneous equations or strange mathematical terms. Nice change. Back to the hard wordy stuff next week .... oooh er!

[Clamzy]

That makes three of us. We'll soon have enough to make a minority:-)

[sohcahtoa]

Message for JackLeCrow - please help me get started as offered. Email address [email protected]

[borealis]

Nice puzzle which yielded to perseverance after a late start. Liked the logic, and like others scratched my head over the last words of the instruction. Thank you, IOA.

[DaveTheHat]

Phew! I finally made it after Jack set me on the right course. I doubt very much I shall get even one of tomorrows wordy effort. Thanks Jack.

[Philoctetes]

As usual, finished it much later than wordies, simply because I only do Listeners in short (20 minute) bursts, and a lot of the time is taken going over previous logic. But this does mean I get a lot more pleasant brain exercise in numerical weeks.
Belated congratulations to Bellabee - I bet you can't wait for the next numbers now!

[silversolver]

Been busy this week so only came to this one late. The numericals are not my favourites but I quite enjoyed the logic challenges in this puzzle (in a masochistic sort of way...). A lovely construction and a satisfying conclusion. Now on to 4139...

[tilbee]

Little time to spend on this last weekend (too busy with work during the week to spend anytime on Listeners). However now 4139 out of the way, will come back to this.

One hint if possible - does it follow that across and down for same letter are in normal a/d order or is this random ?

[Eril]

Assume they are in random order Tilbee (can't remember now if they actually were but did solve it using that assumption). Good luck!

[bellabee]

sorry to disappoint philoctetes but the 'smiley' was in response to speravi's very funny [i thought] joke - it was the 'smiley' itself that i'd 'never done...before.' i've done 3 maths ones in about 20yrs of listener solving 2 were right [amazingly] and my third solution didn't have a single correct number in it somehow! - oh, and that 4th one 'the doughnut' - found the return of clever wordplay a joy today but i'm having a bit of a rest from the bank for a while - just had to set the record straight. sorry for the confusion and best wishes bb.

[Apemantus]

Hello to all from a lurker for the past 14 months. Encouraged by the comments here, and a previous run of 4 puzzles solved (a personal best), I persevered, and have cracked my first numerical. I like the fact that one can see here that the puzzle has been solved by others, without the danger of overt hints and answers spoiling the satisfaction of lesser mortals. Thank you, IOA, for the most enjoyable logic sequence I have ever done.

[AndrewG-S]

Welcome Apemantus, that is a long time to lurk and a bit of a tentative toe in the water given this week's thread is up and running! Hope you get on OK with An Unsettled Spell which is quite tricky.