Solution to Tan Goes So Stripey by Vismut

 Tan Goes So Stripey by Vismut - Solution

The titles are LIFE OF PI, THE JUNGLE BOOK and WINNIE THE POOH, the brand is FROSTIES all off which feature tigers. RICHARD PARKER, SHERE KHAN, TIGGER and TONY. The title is another tiger and brand TANGO ESSO. The message from the down clues is GRID ORANGE FOUR NAMES BLACK and the first letters of these down clues read TIGERS CAN ROAR BUT CAN’T PURR.

Crossword Centre Prize Puzzle May 2025 Gig Economy by Wan

 Gig Economy by Wan

36 clues include an extra letter in the wordplay part of the clue which much be removed to enable solving. The extra letters in across clues tell solvers a) what should be shown by changing one entry and highlighting it along with two entry numbers and b) what should be shown in the grid by changing a further 16 cells. The extra letters in down clues provide helpful information.

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Across

  1 Stint in Quebec shop (8)

  6 Unwell after eating one food (5)

10 A rival shortened name for Lady Gaga? (5) 

13 Too advanced, ahead of orchestra (4)

14 Sword happens to be returned with note (4)

15 Need to burst into short tremulous sound for shoot (7)

16 Player leaving arena desperate to come back (5)

17 Tires breaking twigs in the sticks (4)

18 Birds coming from the east for about two pounds (4)

20 Rhino in SA, lost among trees (5)

21 Rejecting hospital where fangs might be lost (6)

22 Spain native plugging drugs sensing device (5)

23 Dick contributing to gooey mess (3)

24 Heard to break stiff back in golf driving violently (7)

26 Young louse returned money (3)

27 Pulls apart snail, putting head at the rear (5)

31 US main deputy cleared on number for cipher (6)

33 Ruby repaired old box (5)

37 Fashion display putting second half first (4)

38 See uncooked animal's stomach (4)

39 Hero avoided lust going west, that is excellent (5)

40 Crushed cans look painted? (7)

41 Saving skin, twit without tissue gets small bunch of straw (4)

42 Wealthy grass's shot for ecstasy (4)

43 Bats need iodine compound (5)

44 Arsenal winger takes time for Hindu worshipper (5)

45 Begs for food after rent reforms (8)

Down

  1 Part of Cuba's trapped port city (5)

  2 Windows OS causes topsy-turvy lesson (6)

  3 A-list lout in evening dress (5)

  4 Keyboards people try, defective in sufficient quantity (7)

  5 Fuels occasionally jellied at bottom of tanks (6)

  6 Stroke pup on street in spring (5)

  7 Blast from producing dried fruit (6)

  8 Judge clouts son (6)

  9 Assume over clocked up more bouncers (6)

11 Wan's positive, but beginning to expect charge (6)

12 Hang aide and stay at sea for a week (11, 3 words)

19 Arab’s suave king corrupted master in East London (4)

22 Once returned with sufficient for elders (4)

23 Prime suspect held in confines of emptiest compounds (7)

25 Twin lied about abode (7)

26 Wino, drunk, stops to kick citizen (6)

28 One son turned helper for feast (6)

29 Mountain-dwelling Greek priest carried by deer climbing height (6)

30 Strap-like halter to learn when shortened (6)

32 Fails to support Adele with high notes (6)

34 Sheath, original cover, mostly black (5)

35 Little sheep in Perth that is hiding end of cry mournfully (5)

36 Offend at least seven users (5)

Entries
To enter this competition, input your solution into the website at https://cc.vellender.com before 8th June 2025. The first correct entry drawn from the hat will receive a book from the Chambers range, which has been donated by Chambers.

Crossword News April 2025

 Crossword News April 2025

The March Prize Puzzle was RR XVII = Round Up. Extra letters produced by wordplay in the clues give SEARCH WITH FOUR SYM ENTRIES – TITLE OF BOOK – THE FEAT. The four symmetrical entries are FRANK HEATH GYPSY MOTH. Solvers had to change five entries to provide the title of Heath’s book FORTY MILLION HOOFBEATS and the feat FORTY-EIGHT STATES. The title cryptically suggests going round on horseback.

Here are some of the comments from solvers.

An ingenious puzzle with a theme previously unknown to us - very entertaining. Though not requested, we felt the need to highlight relevant entries.....We found the clues to be generally challenging with each contributor submitting a 'prize-winning' clue. The variety of clueing styles added to the trickiness, but all were fair and we think we've sorted them correctly.  Thanks to the setter and all contributors - good fun.

As usual with the Round Robin puzzles, this was a real mixture of clues which does make for an entertaining solve. I found a few of the extra letters difficult to tease out, making the end message a bit difficult to decipher but I got there in the end. The 4 most likely candidates for the book title soon leapt out and a bit of internet research provided the rest of the information. This was a totally new subject and interesting to read up on. The grid construction is impressive with the changed lights retaining real words which helps to confirm a correct solution.

Another great challenge, I completed the grid a fortnight ago but the final step eluded me until yesterday. I have to admit to a scientific approach of taking all the symmetrical quads then testing them with a google search, as I had never come across this pioneering story before! I'm glad I have now, because it's intrinsically interesting.

 

There were 41 entries, of which 15 were marked incorrect. 11 of the 15 errors involved ARIES for ARIEL...probably overlooking the wordplay - "bunch of letters" - that led to ARLA (Association of Residential Letting Agents) - not just a random bunch of letters.

The lucky winner, picked from the electronic hat, was Andrew Varney, who will be receiving a prize of Chambers Crossword Dictionary, which was donated by the publishers.

Solvers were asked to vote for their favourite clues. The clear winner, with 20 points, was the clue to DOWNBEATS by Jugular, Tim Coates.

Two bad ones, surprisingly they are the opposite of arses

2^nd SECRETA 15 points Geri Cashell
3^rd FRISKAS 14 points David Whyte
4^th TESLA 14 points Terrence Brennan
5^th MOORISH 11 points Colin Thomas

I will be sending Tim a prize copy of Armchair Crosswords by Afrit. Thanks are due to Wan for designing the grid and to all the volunteer clue-writers who make the Round Robin such a unique puzzle. The next Round Robin is already accepted for next year. This was the final puzzle for marker Robert Teuton and I am sure we would all like to thank him for his sterling work.

As usual, we welcome submissions of puzzles.
There is a solution at https://crosswordcentre.blogspot.com/2025/04/solution-to-round-robin-xvii-round-up.html

You still have time to solve our April puzzle, Tan Goes so Stripey by Vismut. The new entry system is working well and we have 27 entries so far. For anyone having problems entering a solution on a phone or tablet, you can now enter the answers and there is a box where you can describe the final grid.

https://crosswordcentre.blogspot.com/2025/03/april-2025-prize-puzzle-tan-goes-so.html

The May Prize Puzzle will be Gig Economy by Wan.
***
The 47^th American Crossword Puzzle Tournament took place on the first weekend in April. The winner of the event was the 2024 champion, Paolo Pasco, who completed the final grid in 3 minutes 40 seconds. All the results are here https://www.crosswordtournament.com/2025/index.htm

A more personal account is from Adam Roberts.
https://amateurgourmet.substack.com/p/i-went-to-the-american-crossword
***
The Azed 2750 lunch will be held in Oxford on Saturday 3rd May. If you are unable to be there, Dave Tilley has volunteered to stream the event on Zoom.

Viewers should be able to tune in to see Azed and the guest speakers from around 15:45 using the following link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6528014392?pwd=aTF4ZnY1R0RsNkp3NmFocjltOSttQT09&omn=82029835893

Meeting ID: 652 801 4392

Passcode: 9673
***
Jane Teather has now put the Table Quiz from the Listener Dinner on her website.
https://www.jetdoc.co.uk/crossword-and-quiz-links
Shirley Curran has allowed us to see all her photos from the Dinner and in the pub on Flickr
https://www.flickr.com/photos/194321761@N03/albums/72177720324458416/
***
LISTENER STATISTICS, plus a personal solving record, for last year may be requested by email to marker@listenercrossword.com, or by sending a stamped addressed envelope measuring at least 230mm×160mm (overseas stamp exempt) to N Aspland, 19 Fairfax Drive, Pontefract, WF8 1NU,
***
And finally, was there an April fool crossword this year?
https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/crossword-blog/2025/apr/07/the-guardians-april-fool-crossword-explained-plus-the-other-papers-fooling

Best wishes
Derek Harrison

Solution to Round Robin XVII - Round Up

 RR XVII Round Up - Solution

Extra letters produced by wordplay in the clues give SEARCH WITH FOUR SYM ENTRIES – TITLE OF BOOK – THE FEAT. The four symmetrical entries are FRANK HEATH GYPSY MOTH. Solvers had to change five entries to provide the title of Heath’s book FORTY MILLION HOOFBEATS and the feat FORTY-EIGHT STATES. The title cryptically suggests going round on horseback. 

April 2025 Prize Puzzle Tan Goes So stripey by Vismut

 Tan Goes So Stripey by Vismut

Every across clue has a redundant word to be removed before solving. Read in normal clue order the first and last letters are merged titles and a brand, all of which feature a character of the same heritage. Every down clue yields an extra letter from the wordplay not to be entered in the grid. Read in normal clue order these identify how and which cells to fill.

PDF copy

Across   

    4    Swallow frightful humour in posh pub (6, 2 words)

    13    Dressing mad billionaire inventor leaving Berlin in disarray (5)

    14    Currency seen in Frisco off in a gents (7)

    15    Coarse Egyptians belonging to sect? (6)

    16    Scale and slow viol putting first tango couple in last place (6)

    17    Grass, heroin and ecstasy - Fibonacci with space for whiskey (7)

    18    Dad and Georgia eavesdrop daughter called for (5)

    21    Cut mix of Yes and INXS cd to include cover of Touch (7)

    23    Peterborough’s widest wingers run about and have a shot in social division (7)

    24    German songs and Heidi story from the right socialist (6)

    27    Nuisance pochard caused terrible kerfuffle initially (7, two words)

    30    John tense after brothers brought back disease (6, two words)

    32    Supporters swap sides in impromptu runs (7)

    33    Most like chicken product nibble with longest limbs trimmed (7)

    37    Light tackling rule dropped for university match (5)

    39    Flying attack from Lindbergh frightened Irish hiding fighter plane (7)

    40    Estimate half of Orkney Island inside The Old Terrier (6)

    41    Bishop larked about, as light lowers for writer (6)

    43    Ask briefly inside Ocado about emergency room restorer  (7)

    44    Colder, more risqué Othello not without issue (5)

    45    Overlooking last of homework photos, dusk across Norway not posted (6)

Down

    1    Texture without note in African music (3)

    2    Idiotic Chile porn in cards (8)

    3    Giving up last month in failed drug administered (8)

    5    Era after lots crowned (7)

    6    Rodents spinning marble and rolling up lead eggs (9, two words)

    7    Something old-fashioned in Iceland’s images (5)

    8    Children decapitated mustelids (4)

    9    Access to north of the border gentian flowers (6)

    10    Noise from the tickled prisoner, that’s disgusting! (5)

    11    Round’s two under, score finally awry at St Andrews (5)

    12    Oddly overlooked shifted location’s old lock arrangement (9)

    19    Another open heart surgery, but not raging hunger for this! (9, two words)

    20    Raised amount to get a house in Provence (3)

    22    Below clue about priest I read about family of swimmers (9)

    25    Uncharitable grasping granny putting up old penny lavatory outside (8)

    26    Teases terribly hosting Aussie news for curvy stars (8)

    28    College god leading vibrant bands (7)

    29    Adolescent slid downhill, not the first (3)

    31    North American cocktail puts out 50% of lights (6)

    34    Turn lad protecting Earth sentimental (5)

    35    Parochial makes faces splurging out pig shed (5)

    36    Upside down lid over prince and wild goats (5)

    38    Razor found in Vandyke central (4)

    42    Rook’s piercing peck topped fluff (3)

Entries
To enter this competition, input your solution into the website at https://cc.vellender.com before 8th May 2025. The first correct entry drawn from the hat will receive a book from the Chambers range, which has been donated by Chambers.

Crossword News March 2025

 

Crossword News March 2025

The February Prize Puzzle was Defeat by Chalicea. Extra letters gave ‘DIED FOR YOUR WEE BIT HILL AND GLEN’ Scotland’s unofficial national anthem, sung by the CORRIES, refers to Edward’s defeat by Robert the Bruce’s men at Bannockburn. They ‘sent him homeward to think again’

Here are some of the comments from solvers.

Chalicea always provides entertaining fare. We were delayed a while in looking at the lyrics of the Corries' 'Bannockburn' before realising we needed to look elsewhere - we didn't know the Corries also wrote 'Flower of Scotland'! An enjoyable solve.  Thanks to Chalicea and the Crossword Centre.

Some clever touches from Chalicea, unco as an anagrind for example.  With the multiple Scottish references in the clues, including Robert the Bruce, and especially if you were familiar with the thematic song, the unclued perimeter and entries were easily filled, all making the puzzle slightly too easy.

Amazed by how many Scottish words Chalicia managed to squeeze into this crossword as well as all the thematic words. Her skill as a setter keeps getting better. Unfortunately I hate that song! PS I'm Scottish.

There were 58 entries, of which 4 were marked incorrect. The lucky winner was David Gogol, who will be receiving a prize of a copy of Chambers Crossword Dictionary, which was donated by Chambers.

There is a full solution and notes at https://crosswordcentre.blogspot.com/2025/03/solution-to-defeat-by-chalicea.html

There is still time to solve the March puzzle, Round Robin XVII and email your entry. Do not forget to vote for your favourite clues. https://crosswordcentre.blogspot.com/2025/02/march-2025-prize-puzzle-rr-xvii-round-up.html

The April puzzle will be Tan Goes So Stripey by Vismut. Entries for this must be submitted via a link on the puzzle. Adam Vellender has devised an amazing utility for marking entries and recording comments. We have been testing it and it works beautifully. My advice would be to solve the puzzle with pencil and paper and then copy it into the grid for submission. We were the first to accept email entries and I think that this will make the marker’s job much easier.

We would still welcome any crossword submissions for later months.
***
The 2025 Listener Crossword Dinner was held in the Waterfront Hotel, Southport on the 15^th March. After the dinner it was time for the speeches. Jim Coulson (Jago) began with a tribute to John Green, who had been the marker for Listener crosswords for almost 40 years. Unfortunately, John was not present to receive his award of an engraved real ale tankard and a cheque for £8000.

Jane Teather read the excuses for absence and announced that there would be four obituaries.

Sadly, Charles Curran had died in November. He was an avid crossword solver and had won, with his wife Shirley, the Silver Salver in 2017.

There was a tribute to Andy Stewart (Dysart) who died last year. Starting to compose quite late in life, he had a prodigious output, with 20 Listener, 15 IQ, 6 EV and 22 Magpie puzzles. He had moved to Thailand and enjoyed his hobby of photographing birds in his trips into the jungle.

Mick Hodgkin gave a tribute to Richard Rogan who had died of a heart attack in June. As well as being crossword editor for the Times, Richard composed crosswords for the Times and for the Listener as Aragon. Some of the best of his crosswords were published anonymously in the Times following a rule that Richard insisted upon. The Times Crossword of Friday 14 March was one of Richard’s, a puzzle that gained much praise from Simon Anthony. His Listener puzzles showed incredible ingenuity and variety. Mick pinpointed one, Pub Crawl, with its superb preamble and execution.

Shane Shabankareh stood up to present the awards. The Radix Auditorium is awarded to the most successful new solver and this year it went to Joe Baldwin. He solved his first Listener at no. 4812 and followed with 29 correct entries.

The Solver Silver Solver is awarded to the solver with the longest record of all-correct solutions who has not been a winner previously. This year with a record of 241 correct entries the winner was Keith Williams who was not present.

The fourth obituary was for Alan Scott (Ascot) who died in May. It was he who awarded the Ascot Gold Cup. From 1977 he set 23 Listener crosswords plus 2 in collaboration with Mass. In the mid-80s he took over the Everyman puzzles in the Observer from Alec Robins.

21 all-correct solvers voted for their favourite puzzles of 2024. Shane read out the results in reverse order.

10 Free for All by Toffee
9 Summertime by Harribobs
8 A Royal Tour by Agricola
7 Parentage in USA by Tringa
6 Brilliant by Brock
5 Second to Last by Karla
4 Creature Feature by Sabre
3 Ready Now by ‘Eck
2 Bygone Characters by Shark

And the winner was By George! By Enigmatist, the puzzle based on the mathematical titles of albums by Adele and Ed Sheeran. An emotional John Henderson received the Ascot Gold Cup.
The table quiz was based on the fact that Lee Mack and (the novelist) David Mitchell were born in Southport which was also the home of Red Rum. Tables were asked to write a clue to John Green. Table 8 won the Bronze Casket with this clue.

Can my knight capture rook, checking king

There is a copy of the quiz on Fifteen Squared. https://www.fifteensquared.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Listener-Dinner-2025.pdf

Finally, Steve Bartlett was awarded the Inquisitor prize for his puzzle, Battle of the Sausages.

There was a hint that next year’s venue will be on the south coast. Rumour has it that Listener statistics will be issued by email.

Thanks to John and Jane for organising such an excellent event. It was a pleasure to meet up with lots of friends in a fine hotel.
***
Phi published his annual APEX (A Phi Every Xmas) puzzle in December. It was a Playfair crossword and solvers had to write a clue to CANDY STORE. The results are now published.

1st Source of sweets - or centre for dental decay, sadly John Hood
2nd Actors deny working for US establishment that targets kids Mark O’Connor
3rd Try a second brittle here Mark Oshin

My clue came 5^th out of the 37, just behind 4^th placed Richard Heald.
***
The American Crossword Puzzle Tournament will be taking place for the 47^th time on the weekend of the 4^th to 6^th April. It will be directed, as usual, by Will Shortz. You can find all the details at this link. https://www.crosswordtournament.com/
***
The Azed Slip with the results for ANCIENTS is now on the Crossword Centre. The winner was A. Plumb:

Cineast sadly screening last of golden oldies
(n in anag.)

http://www.crossword.org.uk/Azedslip.html
***
Sowmya Ramkumar has sent me details of the World Cryptic Crossword Championship.

Extra C, the organization behind the Indian Crossword League (IXL) is delighted to invite you to the World Cryptic Crossword Championship (WCCC), a premier global event for cryptic crossword lovers. This exciting championship will take place in London and promises a day of challenging puzzles, camaraderie, fun, and prizes for solvers of all levels.

Event Details
• Date: 28th June 2025 Online Individual Championship on crypticsingh.com
• Date: 29th June for the Team Championship (World Cup)
• Venue: The Nehru Centre, 8 South Audley Street, London
• Eligibility: Open to all crossword enthusiasts worldwide• Website: wccc.crypticsingh.com

What to Expect:
1. Individual Championship:
Test your individual skills against the best solvers from around the globe. Show off your talent and compete for the coveted title of Individual and Team WCCC Champion!
2. Team Event:
Participate as a one-member team, collaborate and solve challenging puzzles together, and showcase your collective brainpower.

How to Participate: Visit wccc.crypticsingh.com to register as an individual for the online contest on 28th June or as a one-member team.
***
Best wishes
Derek

 

Solution to Defeat by Chalicea

 Defeat by Chalicea - Solution

Extra letters gave ‘DIED FOR YOUR WEE BIT HILL AND GLEN’

Scotland’s unofficial national anthem, sung by the CORRIES, refers to Edward’s defeat by Robert the Bruce’s men at Bannockburn. They ‘sent him homeward to think again’

Across: 9 Noma, 10 Lee, 12 Orca, 14 Ill-used, 15 Omrah, 16 Afaras, 17 Nirled, 18 Think again, 19 Assert, 24 Sneesh, 25 Emir, 26 Deism, 28 Bannockburn, 30 Iratest, 31 Tarrow. 

Down: 1 Omlah, 2 Waur, 3 Elsan, 4 Rees, 5 Flong, 6 Simian, 7 Corries, 8 Oral, 11 Edward, 13 Cheese, 20 Smirr, 21 Erato, 22 Reney, 23 Tense, 24 Sects, 27 Murl, 29 Kae. 

Across: 9 D: NOMA[D], 10 I: L(o)[I](T)E(r)E(d), 12 E: OR + CA[E], 14 D: [D]ILL USED, 15 F: (HARM O[F])<, 16 O: AFAR [O]ASIS less IS, 17 R: RINGLEADE[R]* less AGE*, 19 Y: (STA[Y]ERS)*, 24 O: S[O]N + first letters, 25 U: EM[U] I R, 26 R: DE[R] ISM, 30 W: (ARTIST [W]E)*, 31 E: T[E]AR ROW. 

Down: 1 E: (HAL[E] MO)<, 2 B: ([B]RAW (lo)U(ts))*, 3 I: (AL[I]ENS)*, 4 T: [T]REES, 5 H: [H]F LONG, 6 I: [I]S (t)IMI(d) AND less D(aring), 8 L: [L]ORAL, 13 L: CE around HEE[L]S, 20 A: SR around M[A]IR, 21 N: (esp)ERA[N]TO, 22 D: (NERDY E)*, 23 G: [G]EST< around EN, 24 L: SS around [L]ECT, 27 E: MUR[E] L, 29 N: (s)K(i)[N](c)A(r)E.