Guys, is it possible that we are giving away (WAY) too much information here?
I know this is a debate that has been done to death before; and fundamentally, it is a free country - and this IS a crossword help forum - so I guess that you have all the arguments on your side.
But, speaking as someone who occasionally compiles thematic crosswords - I am totally biased, I admit - I think these kinds of discussions are just a bit disrespectful to the compiler. Leaving aside the fact that these are open competitions (and for what it's worth, I don't think the Listener is unique in this respect - I'd feel the same about any open competition) it really does take ages to put these things together. And it's not done for financial reward. The aim is to bamboozle the solver for a bit, sure, but to make sure that the "penny dropping moments" are a thing of delight. That kind of disappears if people simply blurt out the theme and elements of the end-game. It's obvious once you've got there yourself, but it's not obvious if you are still working through it.
I know that you could simply say - don't google crossword solution sites if you don't want spoilers. And I'd agree with you, up to a point. But just think of the poor setter for a few seconds before doing so?
I'm sure some may disagree with me, and I hope they are not offended by this post. And a Happy New Year to everyone, regardless.
Oli