Listener 4728 - Bream By Check

[sunny-dave]

That was good fun - and a favourite theme for me too.

Nice clues, tricky extra letters and some interesting vocab - then a lovely moment of clarity as the grid was filled.

Thanks Check

[sunny-dave]

I think I've sold that a bit short - as I explained the four stages to gness and showed the evolving grid, she was very impressed and so was I - very neat indeed.

[Philoctetes]

Yup. A nice mixture of clues, with well-hidden missing letters, and a splendid endgame. Just what was wanted

[upsetter]

As old-timers, we rumbled fairly soon what was going on here, but why would it occur to a new Listener solver?

Great fun for us. Thanks Check.

[Scorpius]

A puzzle that sustained my interest and kept me working to the end. Some of the missing letters were certainly tricky to find. It took me some time to get a coherent series of steps, the last of which had me puzzled for a while as I tried to interpret it literally.

Excellent grid construction, and a cleverly worked out endgame.

[Philoctetes]

Why not, Upsetter? There is such a variety of themes in the Listener that we all come across some that mystify us, but others spot straight away (Maxwell's Demon still haunts me). There is enough in the puzzle to give everyone a start, and the instructions can be worked out.

[emcee]

This was an excellent puzzle and certainly a POTY contender later on.

The clues were just at the right difficulty for me. I, alas, was held up for some time by having a critical wrong letter in one of the items (even though the wrong item is actually feasible according to the net).

Consequently I was very slow completing the endgame properly but it all was perfectly fair and above board.

Many thanks, Check (not a new setter, surely?). I enjoyed this very much.

[HawkCrossword]

I’m going to have to up my game. This was certainly among the best so far this year. As with last week, the setter used some indirect (but fair) definitions to get around the very restricting clue gimmick. I found this particularly tricky, and I’m not sure the casual solver will get very far into it. A shame, as it’s one of the most coherent themes I’ve seen in this series. Many thanks, Check - a top-quality puzzle!

[Dim16]

Speaking as a new Listener solver, I certainly haven't rumbled what is going on despite having solved about three quarters of the clues, but what's new?

[Dim16]

Well, I've completed the grid bar one entry, and implemented the first three instructions.

No idea what the final step involves, so will leave it there.

Enjoyed identifying the missing letters.

Thanks, Check.

[Dim16]

Just for completeness I have at least managed to come up with an answer so as to complete the grid, even if I can't parse it (making several entries in this puzzle I can't parse, including unfortunately one where there is an alternative spelling).

I would have found it helpful if the preamble had specified the number of letters in the byproduct but of course it is up to the setter to decide how much info to impart.

[NickorWan]

A cracking puzzle, one of the best this year. Thanks Check.