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Clues by Tramp and Grid by Gin
Theme: I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue, Radio Four Programme first broadcast April 1972
The winners of the April puzzle are Monica Jeffrey & Denise Brocklehurst of Weston Under Wetherley.
We were told that this puzzle celebrates a 50th anniversary. At each level there are two 8-letter solutions which cross the dial. The two central letters are placed together in the circular core. Both solutions share the same two letters, though not necessarily in the same order. The two other 5-letter diametric solutions at each level employ only one of the two core letters.
The completed grid contains 14 core letters which anagram to the theme (2,5,1,6,{1},{4}) except for the last two words, which are (appropriately) missing (though our calendar is full of such things). This phrase must be submitted with your entry. Twelve asterisked thematic clues lack thematic definition. Eight of these are characters associated with the theme, three are thematic activities and one is the home of the theme.
Setting as Mang I have created a number of 7-dial grids for the calendar. I’ve always felt that the core solution reveals itself far too easily, often without the need to solve its clue. Gin has, with this grid and the two core letters at each level, found an inspired and elegant way to avoid this weakness. I shall certainly use something along theses lines in future 7-dial designs.
I made good progress on the normal clues but struggled to get into the asterisked clues. In fact clue 7 44di-3* Short, bottomless river (3) totally confused me for some time. It seemed to solve as a normal clue with DEE as the river and short bottomless DEE(P) as the word play. This interpretation however conflicted with the ‘no definitions’ element of the rubric. I put it to one side and a short while later solved clue 40 RUSHTON which, coupled with DEE and stealing PD’s apt contribution in the comments section, I thought “I know where this is leading”.
As a long time fan of the ‘antidote to panel games’, I loved the theme and each of the asterisked solutions as they emerged. Like lots off you, I missed Tim Brooke-Taylor and dear old Humph but there is a limit to what can be fitted into a grid and Gin packed lots into his.
A clue I had trouble with was Clue 35 33di Tart with room: working model in NY village (8), which was also the picture clue. After a string of recent successes with the picture clue, I drew a blank with the priest and his boat shaped speech bubble, so no joy there. Likewise I struggled with the written clue (although in retrospect I shouldn’t have) and eventually, armed with a few letters, resorted to an internet list of NY villages in order to complete the grid.
Once again lots of positive comments and praise for both Gin and Tramp, and thoroughly well deserved too.
Grid Solution
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