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Clue is:
Loud blast that proved fatal for Claudius (6)

Answer is: EARFUL

Can someone explain why? Which Claudius does this refer to?

Got the answer now! It refers to Claudius in Hamlet.

ell
looked at that but can't see what it refers to?

Poison was poured into his ear

not according to one source
he was killed by Hamlet by poisoned sword, then made to drink the poison. nope none wiser

Maybe it was fatal for Claudius in that he was successful in pouring poison into Hamlet's father's ear - still not a good enough clue though

Hi.

The text of Hamlet has the following stage directions at the point at which King Claudius is killed:

"Anon comes in a fellow, takes off his crown, kisses it, and pours poison in the King's ears, and exit.".

JimC

Actually.....

The ear-poisoned 'King' in these stage directions seems to be a character in a play-within-a-play.

JimC

Claudius did murder Hamlet's father by pouring poison in his ears while he slept in his orchard.

However, I am wondering if the clue is a reference to Claudius giving the order to start the duel between Hamlet and Laertes which would end with the death of Claudius, as well the two duellists (and Hamlet's mother who drinks the poisoned drink that Claudius intended for Hamlet, should Laertes's poisoned sword tip fail.)

Claudius gave the order by saying:

"Give me the cups;
And let the kettle to the trumpet speak,
The trumpet to the cannoneer without,
The cannons to the heavens, the heavens to earth,
'Now the king drinks to Hamlet.' Come, begin:
And you, the judges, bear a wary eye."

Is the clue referring to the loud blast of the trumpet?