Spectator 2585

[PiffPoff]

For Puzzle 2585, the instructions read "An anniversary (1A, three words) today offers ten unclued entries, all of whose unchecked and cross-checking letters spell out HAHA! DRY GINS ASSURING TRASHY ANAGRAMS." I know what unchecked letters are (between dark bars), but what are cross-checking letters? I've only recently started doing Spectator puzzles and haven't seen this instruction before.

[Lie-in King]

I presume they mean "crossers", where two answers intersect? Eg, the 1st letter of 1a is the 1st letter of 1d; the 3rd letter of 1a is the 1st letter of 2d, etc.

[Lie-in King]

Sorry, just in case my example is misleading - obviously, they're only using the crossers given where the *unclued entries* in the grid intersect.

[teacher1]

Help please ..... I am completely stumped as to the anniversary. Thanks.

[Farrwest]

A real tough one for a starter. See if you can solve any of the down clues from 1 to 8. Then google 'anniversaries' to see if any of them fit any of those starting letters. Best of luck!

[PiffPoff]

Okay, but it's a binary thing, right? Each unclued answer - and all answers for that matter - are comprised of two things: cross-checking letters and unchecked letters in these barred grids. Why differentiate between the two? Am I missing something obvious?

[Lie-in King]

I don't have the puzzle to refer to, but assume the anagram at the top is to give you something to check against when entering the unclued answers?

Perhaps one or more entry could be spelled differently & if the letters don't match the list given, you'd know which to use?

I'm guessing - you need a Speccy devotee & there are plenty of AB'ers that fit the bill :-)

[jazzgirl]

Hello. Although I did finally solve this puzzle, I needed to put it aside and return to it several times.
I do love Spectator crosswords, but found this very tricky.
The anniversary at 1a is three words (5,6,3) and will have its 75th anniversary on 10 December 2023 (I had to google )

[novalis]

As an example, the first letter of 15 down is cross-checked by the third letter of 14 across. The second letter of 15 down is unchecked, i.e. it is not crossed by another answer.