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. Any additional information or special instructions, common in Listener puzzles, should also be included.
Hints only, please, no answers.

The theme...
Help with the theme may also be sought and given here. The help should be fairly gentle in nature - just a nudge. a pointer in the right direction, and certainly not anything that would spoil the puzzle for others. Any posts which, even inadvertently, reveal too much of the theme are likely to be removed.

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

Thanks to the setter - an enjoyable, well constructed puzzle. Theme new to me, but the endgame is quite straightforward when you have the instructions.

It's good that you found the endgame straight forward, jbird. I'm a bit confused. Seems to be telling me to do two contradictory things with 13 cells. And I just seem to have two instructions (or arguably three) and no description of anything.

It is late when I've finished the gridfill (which I thought was very good), so maybe clarity will strike in the morning.

All clear in the cold light of day.

Good debut (I think) this. Gridfill was challenging enough but doable, message took a bit of unravelling, endgame clear enough after a bit of thought.

Have a couple of parsing loose ends that I'll leave til later in the week.

Harry, fer de lance are two experienced setters. Indeed, one of them is Serpent, the Times' crossword editor.

Interesting, thanks Kirsanov. Where do you access this info - I can't see this setter name in the list of listener setters?

They are regulars in the Magpie magazine.

Time more me to shelve this today. Struggling with the SE corner and the what the extra letters are meant to mean in the first group of down clues, I have 3 E's, but I think that that is wrong.

That should read " Time for..........."

The penny finally dropped just as England got their 5th wicket, but (like England) I still have a little to do. What is between me and the finishing post is 39A, where I can't decide which of the two entries which fit is the right one. I Think I can justify both of them, and I know the extra letter. Something to open my eyes would be welcome (as would getting that pesky opener out).