Guardian

[Jozeph]

Where is the guardian prize crossword today?

[Saladdays]

Page 62 of the main paper and it’s a horror!

[JJ109]

It is under "cryptic". It is a large double one compiled by Maskerade

[zhozho]

I'm struggling to understand "the 26 alphabetical letters so used are to be added alternately to these across and down anagrams". Does this mean the extra letters are used in (say) the first of a pair of clues, then the second of the next pair, then the first, and so on?

[JJ109]

No each clue is split into two parts the one that goes in the left and in the right
The first dictored answer for 7a goes is the first part and goes in the left and an ordinary clue in the right
The second doctored clue is the second part and goes in the right whilst the first part is ordinary
and so on alternately as you go down the clues

Then as far as the letters are concerned
7a = A
8a = B
10a = C
11a = D
and so on

eg clue 12a = E and the docored bit = FSFSF (first)
Its for through traffic, by the way first call parses as
Ringroad (its for through traffic) by the way (road) first call = ring
Then as it is a doctored answer you must add an E
ringroad + E (anagram) = RIO GRANDE to be entered in the left
MEMORANDA (rome backwards) inside (A)manda - goes in the right

[JJ109]

^Memoranda answer "to topless girl about Rome brought back reminders"

[JJ109]

zhozho - sorry I've read your answer again - and I misinterpreted it. Yes it will have that effect!

[zhozho]

JJ109 - many thanks for that

[pnin]

https://uploads.guim.co.uk/2019/08/22/27908_BH_Special_(2).pdf
Thanks to JJ109 for clarification but typos make it a bit obscure.
E.g. clue 12a = E and the docored bit = FSFSF (first)
What is FSFSF?

[JJ109]

Doctored bit, first half, clue 1 second half clue 2 first half clue 3 second half clue 4 first half clue 5 second half clue 6 and so on.....

[JJ109]

So as it is the 5th clue 12a has an extra E to the parsing (5th letter of the alphabet. Therefore as the doctored clues go First half, second half, first half etc in order, as this is the 5th clue, it is the first half that is doctored

"it's for through traffic, by the way - first call to topless girl to Rome brought back reminders"

The first part is doctored!
Its for through traffic, (ring road) by the way (road) first call (ring)
Now add the E and anagram it to form an answer 3,6
RINGROADE anagram = RIO GRANDE

The second part of the clue going in the right hand grid is ordinary
MEMORANDA = Rome backwards "in" (A)manda

Hope that all explains it better!

[mirandamoon]

You've completely list me!! Time to bin it, I'm afraid. Good luck to all who persevere

[mirandamoon]

Or even lost me