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There's been an interesting discussion on fifteensquared about this Guardian clue (from Tuesday):

One of those who makes a film host? (5)

The majority think that it should be "make" rather than "makes". What do the Pedants think?

If that part of the sentence referred to "One", then "who makes" would be fine , but I think it refers to "those" so I'm in the "make" camp.

Talking of sports commentators, I heard a football manager being interviewed on the radio before an important game. He was asked what his tactics for the match would be. His reply was "We're just going to try to be as offensive as possible". I presume this meant more swearing and gobbing phlegm on the pitch than usual.

When anyone says "passed" or "passed away" when they mean died, I usually say something, especially if they are referring to my husband.
Once some government department kept asking me why the sales of our software company (I only did the books, not the code) were falling so rapidly. Eventually I wrote "My husband is still dead". That fixed it!

The only way I can see 'makes' being correct is if the there was a comma after 'those', but then the sentence would take on a different meaning.

Thanks for everyone's ideas. I must confess that I find this very confusing!

As it is written, Chrise, you can only really read ' those who makes a film host' as a nounal phase'. So it is 'One of those (with more info on what those are)', and it has to be 'make'.

This problem arises often when surveys are taken. For example:

One in ten cats prefer(s)...

There is no general agreement as to whether it should be prefer or prefers; it just depends on how you think of it. There is no ultimate authority on the English language and style guides offer differing advice. So just go with what sounds better to you.

I don’t think that you can just go with whichever you prefer in this case though, Orson, as they have quite different meanings. Compare ‘One of those who form a company’ and ‘One of those who forms a company’. They are quite different as are ‘One of those who make a film host’ and ‘One of those who makes a film host’. Only the first says what is needed by the clue.

According to the BBC, Sajid Javid has resigned `suddenly` ... can`t see how he could have gone gradually.