cryptic 2492

[ceilog]

am i the only one having bother with this crossword today?!!!!!
7d medicinal plant short-lived king used without success? V???A?N thanks

[Lie-in King]

7d Vervain - (li)Ve(d) + R(ex) + vain

[pbeach]

The answer is right, but the explanation is a bit iffy...
This is a better one from dr b.

The short-lived king is Edward V (ERV). Without Success - in VAIN. ergo V (ERV) AIN

[Lie-in King]

:-)) Fair enough! I just looked for a typically daft Tel clue, & they've stooped lower than that in the past...

[pbeach]

Maybe, but the sunday setter is brand new, and he is very good.

[dwil]

They changed the setter when they introduced the new format - for the better I thought. They seem to have reverted to someone whom I find too difficult.

[pbeach]

The previous Sunday setter was a problem, clues were often sloppy and imprecise. However that is not an issue any more.
I (personally) have always believed that the Sat and Sun prize crosswords were far too easy. Cynically, perhaps so - to sell more copies of the newspaper.