Iq 1656

[hankir]

Hints please:

1a. Ratted American leaves pooped (8)

17d. Single digit handicap (after divorcing wife) (5)

22d. 2 Austin, say, attempts ballad in three stanzas (7)

Seems like a British politics theme, but I could be wrong.

Thanks.

[Neveracrossword]

1 A word, a proper word, for Pooped, with the A,American removed.

17 A six-letter word for handicap, burden, loses the Wife...leaving a single digit/numbers.

22 Austin = vehicle+ attempts, a famous ballad.

[Lie-in King]

17d (w)Eight - divorcing 'w(ife)'

[Neveracrossword]

Hankir, you're half right with the theme....

[Neveracrossword]

Hints?

[Lie-in King]

Sorry, I missed the "hints please"

[Neveracrossword]

Thanks, Lie-in King.

[ProfessorMaisie]

As you're not resident here, hankir, the British theme might be a bit obscure (you should have a better idea of the one from other place) so it might help to know that the southern area is just a surname once the 4 unchecked letters are changed (the name at 1d is both).

[hankir]

Thanks NAC and LIK.

I now have all except 33d and 38a.

I have completed the grid and all the silvered blocks.

1d was ridiculed for writing 38a.

I am not sure what is meant by :
Restore the contents of Northern block to reality.

[hankir]

Thanks ProfessorM.

Did not see your comment before my last comment.

When I googled the event, the list is quite big and includes both 1d and lower silvered block name.

[ProfessorMaisie]

That's a handy list, hankir.

For 33d it's an obscure word meaning to 'use hemp seeder' 6 letters, but only using the first 4 (giving an equally obscure word for a fistful of Scottish grass).

I guess your list also gives the replacement Northern English delicacy?

[hankir]

Thanks ProfessorM.

List which includes 1d and the lower silvered block name are all recipients.
No English delicacy yet.

Yorkshire Pudding or some such thing.
But I will never figure it out without help.

May be a description of it.

[Neveracrossword]

Hankir, the delicacy is the same colour (and consistency) as the thing it's replacing...

[hankir]

Thanks NAC.
What are the first and last letters.

I doubt if I would have ever heard of it.

[Neveracrossword]

Hankir, if you Google the name in the bottom silver section and the original for the top silver section, the story should come up. But just in case... two words, begins M and ends S.

[hankir]

Thanks NAC.

I don't think M---S dish is made here.

[Neveracrossword]

Hankir, glad that helped. In my opinion, you're not missing out on a treat! (Many people love the dish.)

[ProfessorMaisie]

It goes well with some pies and is almost essential with fish and chips.

[ProfessorMaisie]

...best add a good splash of vinegar if it's with the latter.

[Neveracrossword]

PM, I'll swap your 'almost' (essential) for 'never' - sorry!

[ProfessorMaisie]

Neveracrossword, I'm guessing you're either too far north or too far south - the dish doesn't travel well!