Once again we have the pleasure of blogging a puzzle by Eccles.
We’ve said it before but we will say it again. There are often only a few comments for an Eccles crossword. Everything is clearly clued, there are sometimes a few unusual words but always smiles along the way. We guessed 21d partly from the initial letter and the definition. Bert started to write it in and then wondered about the spelling until he checked the parsing!
Thanks Eccles.
An anagram (‘after slip’) of HEATS UP around (‘welcoming’) L (last letter (‘end’) of Phil)
I (one) inside (‘wearing’) an anagram (‘confused’) of TRAMP
eFFLUENt (waste) missing first and last letters (‘exposed’) in A (American) CE (church)
A reversal (‘revolutionary’) of NINE (square) L (first or ‘original’ letter of leading)
INSEcT (‘perhaps ant’) missing or ‘ignoring’ ‘c’ (Conservative)
A reversal (‘sent back’) of GIRO (social security cheque) + IN + hAsTe (alternate or ‘regular’ letters) + E (earl)
An anagram (‘mobile’) of MOSELLE ON
A reversal (‘turned’) of GOD (Silvanus perhaps) reversed + GO (to leave) – we’re not sure why Eccles chose Silvanus as an example of a Good – there are a lot to choose from!
PE and SCI (abbreviations – ‘briefly’ – of two school subjects) – a reference to Joe Pesci, the American film actor
A play on the fact that if something is EXTRA VERT it could be said to be greener
An anagram (‘cook’) of RISES WITH
G (good) RAIL (public transport system)
B (second rate) + a reversal (‘returned’) of RIAL (Iranian money)
LIEN (right) inside or ‘entering’ RESIT (exam)
EVEN (flat) TS (first and last letters or ‘extremes’ of tedious)
CRUDER (more vulgar) about SA (a homophone – ‘on the radio’ – of essay)
SPAN (time) IE (that is) L (left)
LI (51 in Roman numerals) FT (paper) S (last or ‘ultimate’ letter of planes)
HOT ON (passionate about) around or ‘entertaining’ US (American)
GO (try) following TAN (beat)
R (first letter of Rotherham) ALLIED (united)
PEN (writer) above or ‘supported by’ TANGLE (ravel)
EL (‘the’ in Spanish) inside or ‘probing’ TANGO (4d)
SENT (broadcast) about DIME (foreign cash)
MATE (friend) around or ‘drinking’ ASTI (sparkling wine) and C (first letter or ‘beginning’ to crave)
OVERT (patent) on URN (receptacle)
P (priest) LIABLE (likely)
IN (at home) H (husband) + a reversal (‘going up’) of TIRE (tax)
GEL (setter) in ANUS (hole)
An anagram (‘around’) of RATTLES
WI’S (Women’s Institute’S – ‘group of women’s’) E (English) R (recipe)
A (ace) HEAD (boss)
I wonder whether Eccles chose Silvanus as a nod to another setter, once of these parts. Nothing from him since 2023.
Doggo was a bung and shrug, although having looked up the god, expressions like silvan (sylvan?) fields come to mind. Originate as transitive was a hmm? Otherwise, all pretty smooth, thanks Eccles and BandJ.
B&J have pretty much said it all. This was a high quality puzzle which was great fun to solve. Nice to see a nod to Silvanus too.
Thanks to Eccles and to B&J.
Occasionally smart setting, though I don’t personally think much of pointless inter-dependent solutions, like 8(d)+ 4(d).
Why do it?
A goodish puzzle, but well below par for an Eccles.
Some very lazy, clunky surfaces. 2(d) is awfully cringeworthy. It’s not alone, in that.
Not for me, but thanks to BAJ
Eccles can definitely be more obtuse, but I’m not complaining. Quite a lot to think about, in a good way, like peculiar spelling of EXTROVERT… needed the blog to clear up some loose ends, like HOUSTON… one has to be of a certain age to remember Telstar, and the accompanying composition that seared it into my memory…
Thanks Eccles and Bertandjoyce
It’s a good puzzle overall but there are, in my view, plainly satanist things like ANGELUS today, which I was disappointed to see as my LOI. And unfortunately I recall Eccles putting in similar clues before
Nice accessible (almost) puzzle, which suits me.
Having got the crossers, I vaguely remembered PESCI is Latin for fish – obviously in a school but I couldn’t get the actor or the subject connection. Coincidence or a little extra from Eccles?
Thanks B and J and E
Layman@6: Isn’t the ANGELUS a Christian thing?
Failed on 18ac and dn. I’d forgotten the actor.
Nice to see EXTRAVERT spelled correctly. A few years ago I included it in an Independent puzzle and the next day there were letters saying: ‘Your crossword setter can’t spell’.
And the next day there was a letter from the head of the British Psychological Association saying: ‘Actually…’
How many other words starting EXTRO- can you think of? But the existence of INTRO- means that the chances of correcting the error are now minuscule.
I remember many years ago on a course at work pointing out to the lecturer that she’d spelt extrovert wrong. I was quickly corrected.