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One of the great things about themed crosswords like the EV, IQ and Listener, is that you get to learn all sorts of new and interesting things.

The theme of this one was new to me (aren't they all!?) but once I put the words made by the extra letters into Google, it came up straight away - then it was just a matter of matching the clashes with the requisite .........

Thanks to Ace of Hearts for an excellent puzzle.

25d - This is the only one I can't fully parse - I have the "recess" but can't match the remaining letters to "two thirds of enlisted women".

Hi Bren,
2 X third letters = en)L(isted + wo)M(en

OMG!! That is brilliant.

I spent over an hour scouring Google for military abbreviations!! Although, in all honesty, I would never have thought of that.

Many thanks Ginge.

On to the IQ.......:-)

I often that think that, of the weekend's Three Graces, EV is often overlooked for its ability to frustrate and entertain in equal measure. This was a super puzzle which did both of those in spadesful.

EV often beats the other two for difficulty and entertainment some weeks and deserves more attention. Perhaps the Telegraph could blow a trumpet on behalf of its flagship puzzle?

Hear Hear Ken:-)

A year or so ago The Telegraph announced the EV was ending, but Forum members on here contacted the paper to protest and thankfully the decision was reversed. It's also one of the main reasons I start an EV thread each week.

In that vein, we should all be in the habit of commenting on the puzzle at both fifteensquared and Big Dave's blog. The lack of comments on 15^2 (as well as the relatively small number of entries) was specifically cited by the editors as a reason for dropping the EV.

The price of keeping the EV is eternal vigilance!

......(as well as the relatively small number of entries) ........was specifically cited by the editors as a reason for dropping the EV.

Depends what you call a relatively small number of entries.
I made a point of looking up winners of the EV back over 2 years..(i know, i know, nothing better to do...!) and there were at least 90 different winners....hardly a small number for a top crossword...
wasn't it quoted somewhere that there were less than 30 entries most weeks ...obviously untrue on looking at winners facts alone.

Why would one want to make a point of going to 15x15 to make a point when it is discussed on here most weeks?

i also emailed the crossword editor at that time about the supposedly small number of entries.....no reply surprise surprise

Hi all, I don't submit any of the puzzles I do and I imagine I'm not alone in not doing so - enjoyment of the puzzle is sufficient for me.
However, after the "scare" it was also mentioned that a means of supporting EV for non-submitters who also don't wish to comment on 15² would be by emailing the EVeditor with comments after completion of puzzles which has the advantage of the puzzle being fresh in one's mind.
This I regularly do and have been delighted to receive responses from some setters who my email has been forwarded to.