Crossword Help Forum
Forum Rules

We need to include the “?” in the definition for 1a as it’s definition by example.

Absolutely Jono. It doesn't work at all otherwise.

Made me think of two things subsequently. Why was it ever called that? Secondly, quite rightly, when did it stop really being used as a term because frankly it is ludicrous.

Thanks for all the responses to my queries. I got the 18s myself and have finally got 1d - what a convoluted clue! I didn't know the abbreviation for lunchtime.
I'm not sure about 11ac. Someone said it was a hidden, but that produces a word I've never heard of, neither has my musical husband.

The Thunderbird clue is a mystery to me and I'll have another go at 2d. Meanwhile my husband wants to watch Edge of Darkness again.

Chris, no it wasn't Knighthayes, but High Garden, which is in Kenton. It will definitely be open next year as an NGS garden on 15 June. The trees were looking amazing today. It has lots of unusual plants. It was at Knighthayes I first saw a Tetrapanax. If only I had a garden that could accommodate such an amazing plant. I saw one today at High Garden.

Meanwhile my FOI was 10ac, but no LOI as yet. CODs 1ac, 25ac and 19ac. I'd never heard of 14d, despite it being one of my favourite birds.

Mmmm, roof. I saw Tetrapanax in New Zealand, where it's a bit of a weed!
It's the beak for 14d.

Well I finished, but despite the hints I had trouble with 2d. I did eventually get it after getting 11ac - backwards I see. And I got 9ac, but my last one in was 7d, which I can't parse. I see many of the theme words, but can't be bothered to look them all up.

So mostly an enjoyable puzzle, with a few impossible answers.

Hi, roof. 7d is a homophone.

I found most of this quite straightforward, including clues that several people have indicated difficulties with. My LOI was 7d. I actually thought of the correct solution at an early stage, but for some reason failed for a very long time to pick up what, now that I've got it, is a totally obvious homophone. * I have no idea about the theme. As I often do, I have held back from posting here overnight, in the hope of managing without help, but I've finally decided to give up. Is it something to do with popular entertainment, that I may never have heard of? Evidently, from what people have said, 20d has a strong relevance to the theme. I have a solution for 20d which I was confident was correct, but if it is then I think the clue's not very good, so just possibly I've got that wrong. Is it something I might aim for?

Micky, “is it something to aim for”, no. I know the word you are thinking of but it’s not that. The answer is a specific prize and parses 4 (go), 2 (on about).

I totally agree A1Philosopher , unfortunately this insensitive clue spoilt an otherwise delightful crossword. Managed to complete without help from forum !
FOI 22
LOI 8
COD 25 with fond memories and he never resorted to school boy humour.
Enjoyed theme and the necessary research.

Thank you, Jono. Once I read your hint I got 20d easily, and then from somewhere in some subliminal part of my memory 15-1d-17 came back to me.