Crossword Help Forum
Forum Rules

Had to look twice for theme after finishing crossword but it is there .

Thanks to all, I see the theme now. My hopelessness with themes continues...
I think I only read one or two of the themed books as a wee lad. Weirdly, one of them (2d) is a clue in this very puzzle, but I was characteristically oblivious until I'd read the comments here.

Just for completeness, I think 2D is the only themed solution not mentioned yet.

Hi Chrisxxx,

Yep, it is there but if Luko hadn't of pointed it out I would never have seen it simply because I can't recall ever reading any of the books - it makes me wonder what I did read as a child 🤔 I remember Chicken Licken and Janet and John but my next memory is of a James Bond annual!!

Last week we had Wolf Hall and Tutor history, today we've got Janet and John and children's graphic novels. Doesn't crossword solving takes us to fascinating places!
Even better than this week's theme for childhood reading are the magnificent Asterix books, to which I ascribe much of my love of bad puns and other wordplay

I haven't read those either Luko - I'm really starting to think I missed out on a big chunk of children's literature!

I'm in the same boat as you, Brendan. I had only heard of the main protagonist. Fortunately for us, the clues (apart from 23d.) stand in their own right, though, so a knowledge of the theme isn't necessary to complete the puzzle.

Hi Mattrom,

The one thing I do remember clearly is the voice and introduction, always the same sentence, at the start of the TV version of the books - but can't recall ever watching it.

Gang in 23d????

Hi Pca,

See Luko's post@7 where he/she explains that the "gang" are the other themed answers - 4,17 and 20,10 etc.