Listener Crossword 4545 Polyfilla By Ifor

[perseverer]

Thanks to Ifor for reminding us of a controversy from a few years back. I don't think too much of a problem should arise here.
It could not have been easy to find words to match the requirements of the down clues.

[contendo]

15A is quoted as 10 letters in the on-line version, with only space for 9. Is this an error?

[Hagen]

Apologies to Perseverer for starting another thread - this one didn't appear in the search when I posted.

A tough grid fill, followed by one of the most straightforward endgames that I can remember. I can't help thinking that there must be a subtle thematic significance to the unusual nature of the down entries which has escaped me. I did get rather lost matching up the bits and pieces with their entries and cheated a bit by working backwards from possible answers to the longer down answers. The final revelation was a nice surprise and justified all the fiddly stuff that went before.

There is no error in the puzzle.

Sad news - as some of you may already know, John Harrington (Schadenfreude) died recently. His superb puzzles will be much missed, and my condolences to his family and friends.

[djawhufc]

No Contendo. It makes sense when you substitute 8d at the end.

[djawhufc]

Sad news about Schadenfreude. I always enjoyed my tussles with his puzzles. Some of the ones published in The Magpie and CAM are among the best I’ve ever solved. He will be missed.

[emcee]

I shall miss Schadenfreude's tough puzzles. My condolences to his family.

As for Ifor's puzzle I thought the method of entry was ingenious. An enjoyable solve and (mercifully) not as difficult as some of his past offerings.

Thanks, Ifor.

[Hagen]

Now that my head's stopped spinning from the tricky grid fill, I've gone back over the down entries and now understand how clever Ifor has been. Amazing!

[12barblues]

Just feeling stupid over not noticing the apparent issue in 15ac until I’d solved everything else. An interesting variation overall. Many thanks

I also am saddened about the news of Schadenfreude. I hope there are still a few puzzles in various pipelines for us to enjoy. My condolences.

[upsetter]

Brilliant puzzle.

RIP Schadenfreude.

[inanna1729]

i have to agree with contendo that a 10-letter 15a gives a different letter in 8d than the one specifically referred to in the hidden instruction. what am i missing?

[icynorth]

A very enjoyable puzzle, thanks Ifor. I’ve not come across one like this before, and the grid and clues were excellent.