Crossword Help Forum
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An enjoyable puzzle without having to dig too deep.

Deep as I dig, I still can't work out what is going on with the 'several thematic answers', which is quite amazing really given that I've a 2/3rds filled grid, the name of the main character and 5 of the others!

Take the one with a Z in the name for example, 15d is the only clue that contains a Z and yes, it's long enough thant you can make an anagram of the answer from some of the letters in it but there so many left over - am I supposed to subtract one of them minus (the extra letter) and the rest will make a synonym of the answer? I've done that and it doesn't.

I don't want to sound grumpy (good one Bren) but I'm quickly losing patience with this.

Can some kind soul please point me in the right direction, thanks.

Hi Brendan, in 15d, there is a 12-letter synonym for the clue answer. The is a similar word if you look up the first 6 letters in Bradford's.

Thank you so much Mattrom, I was slowly losing the will to live (alright Bren, don't overdo it).

I haven't got Bradford's but I just put the remaing letters in an anagram solver minus the last letter et voila!

Thing is, I'm sure I went through these exaxt steps prior to my post but got nothing - which is a tad concerning, now I think of it 🤔

I added an E to the name as well in my explanation, just to confuse you! Glad you got there.

I have the answer to these but there's a bit of the wordplay in both that I can't quite see.

Each clue has an extra letter.

17d - Secret oriental festival repeatedly stopped by upset European (9)

the answer is a French term meaning secret. I can see the "oriental festival repeated" and possibly "stopped by" 2 single letter "Europeans" after each but that leaves a single letter in the middle that I can't parse so I presume it goes with the extra letter as the 2 together can mean "by" but why "upset" - it's the middle so does it matter?

14a - Ordeal affected name of man’s famous ruler (5)

The answer is a "name of man" but why "famous ruler"? I've Googled the answer followed by his name but get absolutely nothing. I've even looked at a long list of other people with the same name but again, nothing.

Brendan,
in 17d., the festivals are stopped by "upset" (3), with extra letter, and "European".
I'm in the same quandary about 14a.

Of course, I always forget that 'food consumption' word for "upset" - I remember the first time I saw it in a barred puzzle and thinking really, it means that as well?

Thanks again Mattrom.

Brendan, Mattrom - 14 A is in Chambers, at that back section with names. And guess what it means... famous ruler.

Many thanks Malone, much appreciated,

Alas the Android version of the Chambers app doesn't include the section on names, although I think the IOS version does - It's an injustice it is 🐤

Jeez, I can't stop quoting films and TV shows this week!