Spectator 1955

[mintyman99]

http://www.spectator....5831508/crossword.pdf

[kayakamina]

Thanks for the link mintyman.

More difficult than the last few weeks. As with this type of puzzle
it is a question of deciding which clues contain the jumble.
After dusting off my Brewer I felt a bit of a prune for taking so long
to get the phrase and the connected unclued lights.
Enjoyable.

[amtaff]

Thanks mintyman,

[Christiana]

Thanks as usuall, Mintyman

[Ruthrobin]

Fairly obscure, I thought, Kayakamina - but I am feeling a bit of a prune too.

[novalis]

Many thanks for the link Mintyman. Will look forward to attempting this later.

[novalis]

Won't say I felt a prune given that my face makes the late, great Sid James' look positively unlined. Very entertaining.

[bathtub]

Thanks for the link and an excellent challenge, best we've seen for a while. The scales, so to speak, might have been slightly more evenly tilted towards the second part of the phrase, but that's nitpicking.

[Helveticus]

Thanks for the link, Mintyman. After two relatively easy weeks, this one is much more of a challenge. I have managed to get it all except 14A, which is proving to be a tough nut to crack.

[kayakamina]

Hi Helveticus

14a Meets the second half of the theme and is the Latin name for a Sparrow.

[crucifernz]

Thanks for that helpful hint Kayakamina. I'm still puzzled by the unclued light at 6 DOWN

_ OU_HOU_ (8)

Does it fit the first or second part of the phrase? Any help appreciated.

[turnerjmw]

It fits the first part, crucifernz, and it's hyphenated

[crucifernz]

Thanks TurnerJMW - got it!

[turnerjmw]

No worries!

[zita-green]

Thanks, Mintyman. Just got home. Looks like a real challenge

[oldenburg]

With the grid otherwise complete & despite the hints above I still can't see what any of the (limited) possible solutions to 8A & 6D have to do with either theme.
What am I missing?
(Besides the relevant brain cell that is!)

[kayakamina]

Both refer to the first part of the theme.

[oldenburg]

Thanks Kayakamina. That's helpful. Are we talking more obscure reference than with the other theme words, which are all straightforward?

[kayakamina]

If you have a Bradford they are both there.

8a starts with N & 6d with R and is hyphenated.

[oldenburg]

Thanks again K. You're a star!
Will put a Bradford on my list.

[kayakamina]

Glad to help.

Bradford is almost as essential as Chambers.

Cheers K