Spectator 1990 Thursday November 11th 2010

[mintyman99]

http://www.spectator....6456343/crossword.pdf

[kayakamina]

Thanks for the pdf link mintyman.

I'm sure we had today's theme not too long ago, and except for 17d was a reasonably easy grid fill.

Not too sure if our overseas solvers will get the Jonathan Ross connection though!

[zita-green]

Thanks for the link, mintyman.

[Valanne]

Thank you for the link, mintyman.

[roslyn251254]

Thanks for the link mintyman. 17d took a bit of tracking down!

[slaney]

Thanks mintyman -
- just started this, but shouldn't that be Drones not Clones in 10d?

[tenflags]

Thank you mintyman as usual
I agree with you on 10d Slaney

[zita-green]

Cannot get the last unclued light at 44a. Have looked for tips in all my books.

[kayakamina]

I have emailed you Zita.

K

[zita-green]

Thank you, K.

[Helveticus]

Could some kind person explain how 16A works? I am confident that my answer is correct, but I can't for the life of me understand either the definition (since my answer was not Albert Finney's role, but another actor's) or the wordplay.

[kayakamina]

Albert Finney played the part in 'A man Of No Importance' & there is a character in Eastenders with the same name.

[Helveticus]

Many thanks, kayakamina! I have wanted to see "A Man of No Importance" for ages, as I have heard that it is an excellent film. A bit sly of Doc to go for a character in this film rather than the eponymous antihero of the film which I first had in mind.

[cruciverbals]

first two letters of albert and finney plus the e

[Helveticus]

True enough, cruciverbals, but just how is this wordplay indicated in the clue, and where is the definition? Sorry, but it seems like a duff clue to me. Maybe I'll email Doc for his explanation.

[bathtub]

It's not that duff if you're an EastEnders fan (I'm not, but Doc is or purports to be - I think there have been references in previous puzzles). Apparently the Alfie character has just returned to Albert Square: and K has already explained the Albert Finney connection.
Come on, you've got to be tuned into popular culture to do the Speccie... it's not all down to obscure words in Chambers or Brewers, you know!

[novalis]

A belated thanks for the link. Found this most acceptable as I have a keen interest in the theme. Agree with Bathtub about keeping abreast of popular culture.