Listener 4674 - Elusive Figures By Poat

[HawkCrossword]

The joy I had in finally completing this one was immense - thanks Poat, that was a real treat!

The only really picky thing was that some of the removal instructions were less than obvious, but my hunch got me there in the end.

[emcee]

I thought this was brilliant too. I thought the removal instructions were clever. I think they were deliberately worded to reward the solver with a particularly satisfying PDM.

Excellent, Poat. Thank you.

[NickorWan]

The only good thing about aging that I have discovered so far, is that I can enjoy the same puzzle more than once. I love this sort of grid fill and didn’t realise until I had finished it that I had in fact tested the puzzle some time ago. I failed on the endgame that time, but the instructions have changed since, so I can at least attempt to convince myself that the old instructions were the reason why I failed:)

Terrific puzzle from a terrific setter.

[Hagen]

It took me a long time to fill the grid, and it didn't help that I went wrong somewhere and had to start again. Superb endgame, unambiguous and satisfying. Thank you Poat.

[perseverer]

It really is a brilliant piece of construction, with so many constraints being met.
Only thing, I don't think the shading in different colours quite produces the desired effect.
Thanks, Poat.

[olichant]

Really superb. I think the shading is what I expected. Such a lot in there, with tonnes of thematic coherence and some really enjoyable clues to boot. Loved that, albeit the endgame took ages for me to get. Thanks, Poat. Great puzzle.

[Cruncher]

Perserverer - I guess there are different shades of grey...

[upsetter]

An excellent puzzle with bags of twists and turns although I don't think we quite got the bit about the extreme cells.
I had been thinking about this and similar shapes some weeks ago because of the title of an earlier puzzle and was helped by my addiction to Mad Magazine as a young lad.

[s_pugh]

Can't believe it has taken me till Sunday evening to complete a Listener but it was my birthday yesterday so lost a bit (?) of time there. I hate Poat with a passion after the damned hare but even I must grudgingly concede this was exceptionally good.

[olichant]

I have just been picking through this again as I think it's the first puzzle I’ll want to submit in a few years. It's really superb. Thanks again, Poat. This is what the Listener is all about.

[emcee]

I agree, Olichant. It's up there amongst the very best of the puzzles this year.

[sunny-dave]

Yes - very fair clues (some excellent ones) and a tricky, but not impossible, gridfill.

The final erasing and highlighting was not always as clearly explained as I'd like, but it was a joy to get finished.

Thanks Poat - a stiff challenge, but worth the effort

[Dim16]

On the plus side I managed more than I expected given the daunting nature of the preamble (I hate shapes). But despite completing the grid and (I believe) correctly erasing cells I have no idea how to identify the interlocking shapes, defined words, or thematic names. Despite this frustration I enjoyed the challenge. Congrats to everyone who completed it. Hopefully when I see the answer I won't feel that I am best described by one of the entries.