Crossword Help Forum
Forum Rules

The clues...
Requests for help should normally include the clue itself, the number of letters in the answer, and details of any you already have. Special instructions and/or additional information are common in Listener puzzles, so any details should be included.
Hints only, please, no answers.

The theme...
Help towards the theme may also be sought here. The 'help' should be of a fairly gentle nature - a nudge, a pointer in the right direction... and definitely nothing that would spoil the puzzle for others. Any posts which, even inadvertently, reveal too much are likely to be removed.

The Listener is a unique puzzle and should be treated with respect.

Easy puzzle this week, IMO. Some very obvious answers. Surprised you could more-or-less finish the grid without knowing the 5-word 'challenge', or the 'subject'.

Agreed jBird54. The only bit that held me up was puzzling what MARK was 'appropriately involved' and then 'clang' the penny dropped.

Yes; as it wasn't symmetrical having a 3-letter word for the 18th clue would have made an unch in the unclued entry that matters, and that would have made thought necessary. A stinker next week, no doubt.

What an odd Listener. There's not really any requirement to show any understanding whatsoever of the theme is there? Oh well, simple enough at least.

Love it. Every time I finish one of these, this thread is full of comments about how easy it was… ;-)

Really enjoyed this! Thanks, Franc!

All done except for figuring out where "MARK" fits in but hopefully inspiration will strike soon.

I read the "puzzle subject's" Wiki page a few weeks ago and was very disappointed to learn that 99% of what was portrayed in "the five word challenge" was completely fabricated by him.

The "veracity of claims" section is particularly interesting.

I think a look at the unches in the entries referred to in the preamble's penultimate sentence will assist you, brendan.

Is there a misprint in the "Cope ultimately..." clue? It is my only missing answer, but I only have 13 misprints!!