Listener 4219 - What's My Line By Mr E

[starwalker]

As is frequently the case with Mr E, I find myself with a full grid, I think that I have my "dodgy" letters and I need a break. The sherry decanter is beckoning and at the moment, the rest of the puzzle remains a mystery.

[Ruthrobin]

I have my coordinates too but am attempting to work out what they tell me I have a pretty good idea but, of course Mr E (whom we know from the Magpie - there's my Magpie plug) always introduces these mathy things, Fine, fair cluing so far anyway, thanks Mr E.

[Ruthrobin]

Got there, but the endgame was tougher than the solving!

[cluelessJoe]

Further to the RR plug on the subject of the Magpie, don't forget it's time to renew your annual subscription to secure next year's great value issues. And of course, if you don't already subscribe, then why not give it a go.

[TheBear69]

I wholeheartedly concur with Ruthrobin...That last step is hard! Thanks, Mr E!

[Texasetes]

Only four answers before mine? This must be a tough one.

I found my coordinates, lines and answers without too much trouble, but I struggled for a long time to tie up a loose end which was bothering me. I knew there was no point in going to bed, because I wouldn't be able to stop thinking about it, hence it's almost 3am. Mercifully, the PDM has finally occurred. Sometimes I wish my brain worked faster.

Goodnight, all. And thank you, Mr. E.

[contendo]

Finished the grid-fill over breakfast (fortunately Mrs Contendo doesn't expect too much in the way of conversation at that hour). Still perplexed by some of the wordplay though, eg. 23dn. No doubt they're the ones with misprints which I haven't spotted yet. I liked 25ac. Now for the difficult bit.

[teuchter2]

I don't usually get here this soon, but got the grid filled last night. I am missing one of the faux pas as yet, but if I am interpreting what I have got correctly, then the line can't be too long. I've also seen one possible name in the across entries, but I suspect it is a red herring, although there is a connection with lines of a sort. I think it will be better to pursue the type of theme suggested by Ruthrobin.

[aldanna]

Full grid without too much trouble, and twelve errors identified - probably (always a suspicious word in the Listener). But no idea what to do now. Himself is currently hunting coordinates, also without success so far.

[tenflags]

Yes I've been at that spot for a while Aldanna.....and lunch and taking the dog for a walk hasn't helped yet. Hmmm.

[fallster]

I am at the point where I have a full grid and what seems to be the right way to get two coordinate pairs, but the line implied by those is giving me no joy for the next step. Also my guess as to the answer the second question is close to, but not quite, to be found in the places specified. More thinking required...

[emcee]

Just paying a call to see how everyone else is doing.

The grid fill wasn't too bad - not for Mr. E anyway - I have the coordinates, and ... well, that's about it really.

[IainGrace]

Back in the groove, sort of, having fallen at the last hurdle in a couple of puzzles pre-holiday, missed a few while away, and not fancied 4218. Grid complete. Now for the difficult bit.

[Grubb]

Unlike Texasetes I had a good night's sleep, hoping that the loose end would be tied up in the morning. No such luck - but eventually all is clear. Why did it take so long? Must be old age.

[AndrewG-S]

Didn't think this was too bad but thankfully I stumbled across the answer quite quickly! This is one of those ones that could take 2 seconds or 2 days...

[tilbee]

Late start to this this afternoon, but grid fill was fairly straightforward, and coordinates quickly identified. Then it came to head scratching time - certainly took some time to decipher the answer to the first question. Now have second line also, but as already alluded to here there seems to be another loose end that still needs to be resolved.

[tilbee]

Ha..got it ! Very clever. No sleepless night for me it appears, unless I am tempted to return to the Magpie.

[perseverer]

I think this is a brilliantly constructed puzzle, with a whole succession of PDMs. All the clues are there - you just have to spot them.

[jim360]

We've sort of had this theme before haven't we? Still a nice variation on it and it was a mild surprise on drawing the first line to see an answer emerge from it so crisply.

Only gripe is that I can't figure out the bit about the answer being entered across as well (up to a misprinted letter). And, since technically I don't need to figure this out, maybe a slight sadness for the puzzle that it need not be "finished". On the other hand I am seriously tired so maybe am missing something blindingly obvious.

[perseverer]

Jim - don't worry about it - when the penny does finally drop you will almost certainly get a kick out of it, even if it is self-administered.

[Andcharall]

Indeed. Kick certainly provided by the final PDM and then duly self-administered.