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Trying to follow last week's belter of a puzzle was always going to be a difficult but I think Everyman does a great job and this is another first-rate effort.

My FOI was 9a and that was followed by 9a.

It's hard to judge the difficulty level because some caused quite a bit of head-scratching, actually 14a still does, whereas others like 1d were write-ins.

If you do get stuck, in addition to 1d, there's a very long anagram in the downs along with an easy hidden and another long anagram in the accrosses.

COD - There are some really great clues this week, I particularly liked 19d and 8a (once I'd looked up the meaning of Scordato) but I have to pick 23a which, as well as having a silky smooth surface, is LOL funny - I can just imagine seeing it as a tabloid headline in the same vein as the infamous Freddy Star Ate My Hamster 🤪

Feel free to leave your thoughts on this week's Everyman and/or ask for a hint if you get stuck - or help someone else if they do 😉

Stay safe:-)

Just seen 14a - classic example of me not paying attention to 'every' word in the clue - very good.

Correction to typo...

FOI was 9a ........ followed by 10a (not that it matters)

still can't see 14A. -i-s right?

Hi Tim,

14a is definitely tricky and was my LOI (Last One In) - "expressed" is sort of doing double duty, it's a homophone indicator but could also be part of the definition. The definition is "(expressed) pretentiousness" and is a word that sounds like what the 'eldest children in a family usually are'.

PS - Your letters are correct.

This one went fast, compared to yesterday’s unfair torture !

Hi Mathi,

I didn't do yesterday's Prize puzzle by Paul as it wasn't interactive, but I've had a look at it and read all the comments - looks like it was real brute!

This must have a been stroll in the park by comparison:-)

Thanks. got it. and groaned!

I know what you mean Tim, I'd thought about telling you the initial letter of the homophone word but then realised that would probably be more confusing than helpful.

In the past I've been guilty of seeing 'hidden' things in crosswords that aren't actually there - but I can't help wondering if some of the answers relate to a certain US politician.....

He's certainly had a 4d, is both 21a and something of a 24a - he's currently complaining bitterly about a lack of 9a and when it's finally resolved I think he'll demand a 17d. Many Americans think he is just 15d but others say he is 11a and look upon him 16a

What do you all think - am I seeing things 😉🤪

Lol.