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Well, let me start by saying that I thoroughly enjoyed this Everyman. I did find it quite a bit different in style than those of recent weeks, but that's no bad thing.

There were some really clever clues, 8d, 15a and 26a to name just a few.

18a did make me laugh and is as good a clue as I've seen in a while.

2d and 7d are perhaps scarcities, homophones that will prove uncontroversial?

There were a few anagrams but that's all. That does lead me on to my one minor quibble though. It's just my opinion, obviously, but I think it's unfair to make a clue like 3d an anagram, when the answer is obscure and/or a proper name or title. I think these type of clues should be of the 'charade' type. At least that way, if it's unknown, there's still a way to work out the answer.

Other than that there were a couple of definitions - the answer to 1a and part of the clue in 21a, I was unsure of, but I looked in Chambers and everything checks out.

Overall, a lot of wit and clever cluing, so well done and thanks to the setter.

As always, please feel free to leave a comment and ask for a hint if you get stuck.

Hi Brendan,

I liked it today. Had to crank up the gears to get it done. I struggled with the top right for some reason.

I liked 15a, 17d and 26a. 24a had me stumped for a while because I was overthinking it. 5d was the same. I like the link between 7d and 8 d.

I think 1a parsing might be the obvious one but as its early on in the peace, I don't want to give away the answer.

I worked out 3d but had to check online because I'd not heard of it before.

I'd never seen 27a as a plural before.

I liked 20d but that may be the egotist in me. Nice to be part of the puzzle.

Enjoyed it, although I spent ages on 8d. Clue says “most of” bible which had me trying to pull an answer from the word “bible” - then a “doh” moment when the penny dropped after ten minutes of head scratching.

I thought 3d as an anagram was absolutely fine, hadn’t heard of it but was able to work it out fairly easily. Quick google of the answer to check the second word was as expected and not inadvertently a river 🙂

Favourite clue was 6d, brilliant.

Overall standard has been great in recent weeks.

Yes, indeed. All done apart from 8d, and I'll keep coming back to it until that penny drops....

I've enjoyed this one.

I am a little confused

For 26a Special sci-fi device that´s used by Banksy (5,3)

I have S?R?Y ??? - something for graffiti artists fits, but then i have
?C?A for 23d and nothing fits that.

Where am I going wrong please?

Also, I have an obvious red fruit for 1A but what is the salad bit in the clue please?

23d. The A is incorrect. Think of a shade.
26a. is a piece of equipment.

Interesting forum, as I'm definitely out of step with the majority opinion this week. I thought quite a few of the clues were poorly constructed and unfair, and for the first time in a while the setter seems to have reverted to type by demanding too much knowledge of popular culture (it's meant to be a word game, not a trivia quiz). I found the synonym in 8D particularly annoying, even after locating the (tertiary) definition in the depths of a dictionary. In 4D, since when has 'catching' indicated anagram? 13A strikes me as a good idea for a clue that didn't quite work, so the setter resorted to using a rarely used alternative spelling for the answer. (Surely it would have been better to work the Women's Institute, or possibly the West Indies, into the clue!) The clues for 1A and 9A are just plain lazy. And, finally, I'm pretty sure Banksy uses cans!

The sci-fi device is a weapon! There’s another 3 letter word for something Banksy might use though, it mislead me for a while.

23d is an unusual (to me anyway) shade of colour. Think I’ve only ever experienced the word in crosswords.

For 8d - we get a lot of it from politicians!

Ok mattrom and richardk, got them. Thanks

5d is driving me mad ! B*N* I think. Any pointers would be welcome.