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I've got all the normal answers, but have ground to a halt with the Playfair codeword. Can anyone nudge me in the right direction?

I'm in the same position, Peter, and as I only have answers to three of those which have to be encoded, I'm not in a position to start drawing speculative playfair grids.

Do you have the 'real' answers to all six?

Yes, cmk, I've got all the real answers. Let me know if you need any help. I can therefore work out lots of the encoded pairings, but there are too many gaps to make any headway. I always find these Playfair puzzles hard work.

A nudge for 1 across would be very helpful, Peter.

I agree about all the gaps, though. Makes it very difficult, though I know I've managed Azed 's 'playfairs' before. Sometimes, you just need an inspired guess for the keyword.

For 1ac, think internal organ. I'm not 100% sure which of the 2 italicised clues supply the hint. I'm assuming it's 1 and 5.

Thanks for that. Re the keyword - yes, given the answer to 5 across as well, the keyword may be of an' internal' nature.

May have to put on hold for a bit, as getting distracted by Doctor Who on BBC3.....

Google "quinapalus playfair cracker". That might help.

http://www.quinapalus.com/playfair.html

Thanks s'lover. It worked. Feel a bit of a fraud, though. I would never have been able to work it out an certainly could never have guessed it.

Thanks S'lover and ditto, Peter - I feel a bit of a cheat now. Could I have managed without? I don't know.

It seems to me that more and more puzzles (including what used to be the great St Wiliam's School Christmas quiz in the Guardian each year) are now compiled with the implicit assumption that all participants will use the web. Seems a shame. And don't get me started on pub quizzes.

I think you're being a bit unfair on Azed: he's been compiling puzzles like the "Playfair" one since long before the internet came into common use. All his puzzles are solvable without the use of the internet...........as long as you've got a copy of "Chambers", and are prepared to delve into it.