Crossword Help Forum
Forum Rules

The only thing I haven't worked out is the 'Borough' clue, although I know it must be the one that's the same as the surname of a person who has to go 'to the right'. I see jagomel asked for help with this but didn't get it. I'm always annoyed when I finish a puzzle without having parsed every clue.

Can offer help if needed in return for help received.

The duo, the title and the resolution of the ambiguities all jumped out at me when I saw how the central column was shaping up. To those who found the theme obscure, all I can say is it helps if you were around in the 70s. I didn't bother to do the meticulous counting, which *was* unnecessarily obscure.

ionacarr - NOT = 'polled' and MERE = 'boundary'

I had wondered if Verlaine was unsure about the correct left/right orientation for the entries.
Both subjects are stuck in the middle, and the lyrics suggest that it is their left and right and not the viewer's that dictates the placement of the ambiguous entries.

I have gone for clowns to the left from my point of view but you and Verlaine have identified an ambiguity I hadn't considered.

I think I'll stick with what I've got. I think it would be a bit unfair if it were interpreted the other way.

I take it as clowns to the left of me rather than clowns to my left. If so I think the interpretation is the clowns we see on the left of the setter. I'm probably wrong as per usual!

I've gone with djawhufc's interpretation but the lyrics are ambiguous...

I did the same but I don't send them in, and even if I did I wouldn't change it.

Thanks drxx for the explanation. I don't send an entry either, but I do like to be able to consider a puzzle fully solved.

I hadn't seen the ambiguity, which reminds me of the recent reporting of the fate of a Francis Bacon painting under similar circumstances. Bacon's viewpoint seemed eccentric. How are we to know which way the setter is facing?

Even the idea that some of the answers have to be identified as A and some as B, when A and B are basically synonyms, gets my goat!

On balance there doesn't seem to be any doubt where to place the 4 thematic entries. Two are clearly defined in Chambers as clowns and must (by convention) be placed to the left of the central column, the other two are well known comedians, hence jokers to the right.

Can some kind soul explain to me where the J comes from
As in Joe Egan
There is no J in any answer?
Thanks