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This week's Prize by Vlad is every bit as difficult as we've come to expect from the impaler.

At times I feared a DNF but, bit by bit, the puzzle gave up its secrets.

There are still 2 I haven't fully parsed even though the answers are clear, namely 10a and 11a - but it's early days so I'll sleep on them.

COD: I have to go for 22,27 because it made me laugh out loud:-)

Thanks to Vlad for a fun but very challenging puzzle.

How did you get on? Let us know in the comments.

Stay safe:-)

Okay, just figured out the wordplay for 11a. That just leaves 10a to parse.

No sooner said than done - yipee:-)

Strange. I shockingly wrote in the top half (except the 2nd word of 4) and thought there might be an impostor in the Vlad slot. But I stalled out on the bottom half, finding it extremely difficult. So it's the Impaler after all. 😬 Still stuck on 15, 16 and the 2nd word of 4. Setting it aside for a while and will hope for inspiration upon resuming.

Hi Geeker,

I know you've set it aside and haven't asked for help, but I think it's only fair to let you know that 15a is a DD but one D is quite UK specific.

Thanks Vlad.

Superb, tough, prize-worthy.

Likes
1a/13a
22a/27a
24a
2d
20d
21d
24d

Not aware of the UKGK in top half.

Wasted a lot of time, bringing sword to a gun-fight metaphor...Lying through one's teeth etc.

7d/11a last two in.

Finally grokked the 2nd word of 4, which I'd written in but was unaware of the UK usage.

Got 15, which is neither so difficult nor UK-specific. Wrote in a solution to 16 (which would be LOI) but can't yet parse.

Thanks to Vlad for an interesting challenge. Was expecting a tough one after last week.

Hi Guys,

4d is an expression I might I've heard before, but I wouldn't be able to tell you when or where, that's if I've heard of it - and tht's a big 'if'!

Geeker, do they have that shop in America - I asked Google and it said no?