Listener Crossword 4056

[starwalker]

This weeks offering is ROC by Loda.

Thanks to my scattergun approach to clue solving, I spoiled this puzzle for myself by getting the theme after only three clues, and the nature of the curved lines followed straight after. Still, there were one or two tricky clues and a couple that would not be out of place in Private Eye. All in all I felt that this was a typical Listener and enjoyable for that very reason.

[turnerjmw]

I, too, enjoyed this. Not too tough, and the theme does fall very early, but some interesting wordplay to tease out.

[robinruth]

Yes, I made precisely that comment about the Private Eye clues. I didn't know the Listener let that kind through (good fun though). We had the good luck of identifying the quotation and speaker, and thus, theme very quickly but still have lots of spotting to do.

[AHearer]

I found this enjoyable. As did others, I spotted the theme quite early, but I took far longer than I should have to locate the five five-letter words.

It may be just my imagination, but I have an impression that the corrected second word in 19d has suddenly become more fashionable for this purpose. Perhaps purists might object either to the level or to the fact that Brazil is not in Australia or New Zealand.

[midazolam]

Nice but not overly long to complete this week. 43 across made me raise a smile. The quotation and thematic alterations were used in an enigmatic variations crossword only last year and so i am surprised this passed the editors. Although the thematic extras at the end did make it that one step above that previous effort.

[robinruth]

I would say I have spent overly long trying to spot the final two thematic items. Finally got there with help but what a struggle the wordplay has been. Undoubtedly very valuable Listener wordplay solving experience though!

[andrewvc12]

Well I've finished it. However, I don't understand the wordplay in 17d and 30d. Any hints would be appreciated.
Andrew

[x_word_fan]

Likewise andrewvc12 on those two - I also have no idea about 23a even though I have 4 of the 5 letters - a hint would be appreciated

[twencelas]

Ahearer - I don't quite follow your reference to 19d - the answer to the clue is in Brazil. I'm possibly missing something?
Andrew - I think 30d is a 3 letter measure surroundng a one letter a 3 letter word which is listed in Chambers as a secondary definition referring to a tertiary defintion of another word meaning to till ground. Sorry its a bit cryptic but with the answer use 1,5,6 for the first bit and 234 for the second bit.
I don't yet see the wordplay to 17d

[turnerjmw]

If you look the corrected second word in 19d up in Chambers you should see where AHearer is coming from. As for 17d, consider where the fourth word of the clue appears in your grid entry

[twencelas]

Thanks turnerjmw - such a commonly used reference that I had n't realised it should only be used by antipodean compilers

[turnerjmw]

No worries, twencelas. It was a surprise to me too!

[andrewvc12]

Sorry turnerjmw, still can't see 17d. Where do the 4th and 6th letters come from? I can't find them defined as "this". Andrew

[andrewvc12]

Sorry, I meant 4th and 7th letters. Andrew

[Eril]

foxed me too Andrew, but I think he means that you consider the remaining letters (after removing the 5/6ths) as a phrase - an instruction in fact. Possibly what the references to 'Private Eye' are about (not having tried that crossword)

[turnerjmw]

Sorry, I don’t care to be too obvious where hints are concerned. If the answer was “midazolam”, the clue might read “In this case ol’ Listener expert”. Or, if you're still stuck, expand the first three letters of the grid entry into an equivalent two word phrase (6,2)

[Clamzy]

That's the correct interpretation of 17d Eril. However I thought the "private eye" clues were 37ac and 43d.

[Clamzy]

Sorry make that 43ac.

[robinruth]

Have a go at the Private Eye, Eril - great fun - and totally pc - all that nookie stuff is in the male minds :)

[Mysterons]

http://www.private-eye.co.uk/sections.php?section_link=crossword&

[cruciverbali]

xwf - the first 4 words are the definition and refer to a hyphenated word used by The Bard
'raise' = ???? (think car)
remainder = ???? (Scots word)
'ship' = SS