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Yeah this was straightforward again after last week was quite tricky.

Was going to ask about the parsing of 22D but I've worked it out now.

I was going to ask about 27A parsing as well but worked it out just prior to posting as well, so clue of the day for me :)

And I see someone explained 15D earlier in the thread so all is good now.

Busy day, so not quite finished. I think 18a should be said with a Michael Caine accent. I got it straight away, but maybe it's because I'm a Londoner ....

I thought it was the "bloody doors off", warden!

Hi all, first time on the forum for me but been following over the weeks. Usually to look for clues! Enjoyed todays puzzle and as others, completely missed the obvious of 27 Ac.!

Welcome woody947
This is a very friendly place, with lots of helpful people and interesting discussions.

Very late posting today but keen to say how much I enjoyed all the comments. I finished without too much difficulty. I think I have even now just worked out the 'distant' part of 23a. If I'd seen that earlier I would have finished it sooner- was struggling to understand how the second biggest economy could fit and wasted ages dwelling on that and the correct answer. Good puzzle. Welcome to new posters.

Yes, I took this as a relaxing refresher (& reassurance that my brain was not completely decrepit) Inn the middle of Paul's monster Prize.

The Muppets might suggest that people who struggled to parse 27a hadn't frankled enough!
Enjoy the week, take care and see you all next Saturday

Cheers for the weclome. You seem a friendly & helpful bunch! Got through this ok though failed to parse 3d. I'm not familiar with subtractive anagrams and would love to know what goes through a setter's head to come up with a clue like that. I Also missed the singer & now have an earworm - Thanks!

The Guardian runs a "Meet the Setter" series, which has excellent setter interviews/profiles:

https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/series/meet-the-setter

Probably won't find much on subtractive anagrams, but some fun reading...

Hi Geeker,

Did you notice the title of Agadmator's video yesterday? "The Beast of Baku Awakens" - what a coincidence 😃

Hi Paul,

You're more than welcome and we look forward to hearing from you next week:-)