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I believe there is a Times convention that a solution is never the name of a living person.

13d Group for example, east European, appearing in Greek city (3,3,4)

THE BEE GEES

With Barry Gibb still alive the convention obviously doesn't extend to groups.

There was a living person in the Sunday Times cryptic a few weeks ago, but I can't remember who it was.

Paul

I didnt know about this convention. PM is often used in a clue so I can now discount all living ones. I dont know who the BGs are

You're quite right that The Times has a rule (rather than a mere convention) not to use living people's names, apart from ER. They admitted a slip a few months back when Giscard d'Estaing was an answer - shouldn't have happened.

Yes, it’s definitely a rule in the Times. Not so in the Guardian and certain others

will37
I missed the Giscard d'Estaing slip - wow! 15 letters, the full span of the grid. Sometimes this is how I get the news that a person is dead.

Btw I think apostrophes are a bit of a cheat in crosswords, but if the Times says they are ok, they are ok by me. We had MAITRE D'HOTEL recently.

paulhabershon -

Perhaps The Times could have been forgiven for the slip-up over Giscard - after all, he's 94 and had not been in the public eye for years - except that just a couple of weeks before that crossword appeared some sexual harassment allegations had been levelled against him; so suddenly he was back in the news.

Paul

I like apostrophes in crosswords, fo'c's'le is my favourite (in an EV a few months ago)

Will37

So it is rule, didnt know that. Thanks. The mistake was not as bad as the clue which had Bolton as a city.

At least the apostrophes ca'nt! be put in the wrong place!

I think it might have been Bill Gates, it was someone like that.