Stuck fast! Answer to 15a might get me going and would be appreciated. "Sport's greater rule:tittle tattle (8)???o???r? and contains surplus letter. TIA
Thanks Novalis. I'm afraid that's absolutely meaningless to me. So - any help you an give me including this and in identifying the participants of the exchange in Punch wold be much appreciated.
Ru (rugby union - sport) + more (extra + r (rule) U is not clued. A rumourer is a tittle-tatlle or gossip-monger. The theme is a poultry product only bits of which were good. 19 down is one of the people in the exchange. The title is the two words from the exchange which are not entered in the grid.
A bit more research shows the cartoon was first published in 'Judy' in May 1895 and then a similar one was published in 'Punch' in November 1895. It is the latter exchange used here.