A brilliant topically themed puzzle from Guy. Find it to solve online or download and print at ft.com/crossword
What can I say, this is nothing short of a masterclass in the art of setting a thematic crossword. From the layered wordplay of the first two across answers to the wonderful anagram at 19 across, it’s all superb. Bravo Guy!
| ACROSS | ||
| 1 | GARFIELD |
Orange fat cat president… (8)
|
| Two definitions – the lasagne-loving cartoon cat and assassinated 20th president of the USA, James Garfield
Overall, the surface points us to the current president… |
||
| 6 | SOBERS |
…makes serious billions on back of crypto — US learns periodically about that (6)
|
| B (billions) on the last letter (back) of cryptO, with alternate letters (periodically) of uS lEaRnS containing (about) that
…who is using his term in office mainly to make himself and his family rich The first two across clues also make up the full name of West Indian cricketing hero Sir Garry Sobers, who died this month aged 89 |
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| 9 | ADVERT |
Poster daughter covered with foil (6)
|
| D (daughter) covered with AVERT (foil) | ||
| 10 | TIE-BREAK |
Sinner’s deciding game, solitaire perhaps then snap (3-5)
|
| TIE (solitaire – a large, loose silk necktie) + BREAK (snap)
Italian tennis player Jannik Sinner retained his Wimbledon title this month – two of the four sets in the final were decided on tie-breaks |
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| 11 | TOTAL ECLIPSE |
Dark time for Bonnie Tyler fans? (5,7)
|
| Loosely cryptic definition
Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler, born Gaynor Hopkins, died this month aged 75. Her biggest hit was Total Eclipse of the Heart |
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| 13 | VILLAINS |
Football team in second, baddies (8)
|
| VILLA (football team) + IN + S (second)
Argentina were runners-up in the Fifa World Cup which took place this month, with the final notable mainly for unsporting behaviour by the Argentine players |
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| 14 | LATEST |
Breaking news from end of tournament: Spain in final (6)
|
| Last letter (end) of tournamenT + E (spain) inserted in LAST (final)
Spain were the team that beat Argentina in the final |
||
| 15 | FEEBLE |
Pathetic, recalling the Argentinian quarrel (6)
|
| Reversal (recalling) of EL (the in Spanish [Argentinian]) + BEEF (quarrel)
Safe to say that Argentina’s behaviour in the final didn’t earn them many new fans |
||
| 17 | COMPLAIN |
Lament old politician (large) taken by murderer (8)
|
| O (old) + MP (politician) + L (large) inserted in (taken by) CAIN (murderer)
Reference to the horrific murder this month of former Tory MP Ann Widdecombe, who was famously on the large side (she once took part in the Celebrity Fit Club TV series in which celebs tried to lose weight) |
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| 19 | CLACTON-ON-SEA |
Where a Con won’t stand, a Con can’t lose to Reform (7-2-3)
|
| Anagram (to reform) of A CON CAN’T LOSE
The mainstream parties have all refused to put up candidates against Nigel Farage in the forthcoming Clacton by-election |
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| 22 | VALIANCE |
Nerve of Vance, with burial of Khamenei? (8)
|
| VANCE containing (with burial of) ALI (Khamenei)
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was assassinated in the US assault on Iran |
||
| 23 | RATHER |
All that Taylor and Travis share managed by her? Oh, yes (6)
|
| Anagram (managed) of the common letters (all that…share) of TAyloR and TRAvis + HER
Singer Taylor Swift and American footballer Travis Kelce got married this month. They reportedly signed a prenup to protect her $2 billion dollar fortune |
||
| 24 | KEEGAN |
Newcastle manager backed bad horse, I’m afraid (6)
|
| Reversal (backed) of NAG (bad horse) + EEK (I’m afraid)
English footballer, once a striker for Liverpool and Hamburg in the 70s and 80s, later manager of Newcastle United, Kevin Keegan died this month aged 75 |
||
| 25 | TAPESTRY |
Record tax on small French loan to British Museum (8)
|
| TAPE (record) + TRY (tax) on S (small)
The Bayeux tapestry is currently on loan to the British Museum. Tickets to the exhibition are already completely sold out, as my wife found out when she tried to book the other day |
||
| DOWN | ||
| 2 | ANDY |
Keir’s replacement with Healey’s backing (4)
|
| AND (with) + last letter (backing) of healeY
Andy Burnham took over as leader of the Labour party and Prime Minister from Keir Starmer this month, naming John Healey as his Chancellor – the second Labour Chancellor called Healey in my lifetime |
||
| 3 | FUEL OIL |
Playing foul lie, it might go in the bunker (4,3)
|
| Anagram (playing) of FOUL LIE
The bunker is where fuel is stored on a ship, but the clue surface is a reference to golf – New Zealand’s Ryan Fox won the Open at the Royal Birkdale course in Southport this month |
||
| 4 | EXTRA TIME |
Taximeter running for the last thirty minutes (5,4)
|
| Anagram (running) of TAXIMETER
The aforementioned World Cup final was decided in extra time, having been stuck at 0-0 after 90 minutes |
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| 5 | DITHERS |
Flip-flops this red all over the place (7)
|
| Anagram (all over hte place) of THIS RED | ||
| 6 | STEEL |
Industry to be nationalised, Nick heard (5)
|
| Sounds like (heard) STEAL (nick)
As the government announced this month, British Steel is to be nationalised |
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| 7 | BARMPOT |
Northern eejit local to PM upset (7)
|
| BAR (local) + reversal (upset) of TO PM | ||
| 8 | READERSHIP |
“Is Harry endlessly peed off?” Daily Mail customers say (10)
|
| Anagram (off) of IS HARR[y] less the last letter (endlessly) + PEED
Harry and his co-complainants lost their privacy case against the Daily Mail this month |
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| 12 | GIVEN CHASE |
Changes I’ve cobbled together followed quickly (5,5)
|
| Anagram (cobbled together) of CHANGES IVE | ||
| 14 | LEMON DROP |
Sweet old American cyclist runs over Pogacar’s head (5,4)
|
| LEMOND (Greg Lemond, old American cyclist) + R (runs) + O (over) + first letter (head) of Pogacar
Current yellow jersey-wearer Slovenia’s Tadej Pogačar will be crowned winner of the Tour de France today as the three-week race holds its final stage in Paris |
||
| 16 | BLAZING |
Very hot, British having siestas? (7)
|
| B (British) + LAZING (having siestas)
The ongoing heatwave has seen temperatures in the UK regularly hitting the 30s |
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| 17 | CONCERT |
Copland’s overture broadcast, surefire winner for Prom (7)
|
| First letter (overture) of Copland + ON (broadcast) + CERT (surefire winner)
The annual Proms season at the Royal Albert Hall started last week |
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| 18 | LAERTES |
Father in The Odyssey climbing film scenery, not CGI? (7)
|
| Reversal (climbing) of SET (film scenery) + REAL (not CGI)
Christopher Nolan’s film adaptation of The Odyssey is currently proving popular in cinemas – though not popular with thin-skinned right-wingers in America |
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| 20 | TENON |
Small part of the cabinet Number Ten retains (5)
|
| TEN contains (retains) NO (number)
New PM Andy Burnham has taken a new broom approach to appointing his ministers |
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| 21 | FEAR |
Nerves A Fery mostly keeps hidden (4)
|
| FER[y] mostly keeps A hidden
British tennis player Arthur Fery reached the semi-finals of this year’s Wimbledon, despite being a wildcard entry to the tournament |
Thanks Guy and Widdersbel.
Very much enjoyed the puzzle and the blog.
It was fun as well as a learning experience.
Thanks again.
17d – Just to add that Prom 2 last Saturday, Prog Night, actually opened with Copland’s ‘Fanfare for the common man’
Does valiance occur in the wild, and is it different from valour … ?
Tremendous puzzle. The top row is absolutely top drawer, as it were.
Many thanks to Guy & Widdersbel
Totally agree with the blogger. This was a masterpiece. Perhaps 25A didn’t need “to British Museum” but that’s a tiny quibble.
I’m sure if we dug deeper we could find a northern eejit who is critical of Andy Burnham.
Thanks to Widdersbel and congratulations to Guy.
What baerchen said @4 – endorsed by TripleJumper @5 – stunningly good, with so much wit throughout.
As well as the brilliant anagram at 19ac, I was pretty impressed by EXTRA TIME, too.
My twopenn’orth of extra bits: in 15ac, I think there’s an allusion to the Argentinian players’ display of the banner in support of their country’s claim to the Falklands, in the semi-final against England.
Re 21dn: one of the most impressive things about Arthur Fery – a joy to watch – was his seemingly total lack of nerves / fear.
Superb surfaces throughout, as ever: I admired the succinctness of ANDY and TENON and loved KEEGAN – I always enjoy that use of EEK.
Re LAERTES: I’m looking forward to a crossword clue involving ‘theodicy’. 😉
This puzzle really made my day. Huge thanks to Guy and to Widdersbel – a brilliant team, as ever.