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Jigjag,

Thanks for your post. I am glad you liked the Hucksteress clue, and I'm sure Grunger would have appreciated it too. A week or so later, I did a crossword where 'huckster' was the answer - the previous experience meant I got that one pretty quickly. There was another '-ess' clue in one of the weekend puzzles, but I won't say too much in case it's still being tackled. Grunger might have had a little 'tut' or raising of the eyebrows earlier tonight, if she'd watched University Challenge. One contestant, one female contestant, described herself as 'an actor'.

Brendan, Chrise, I really don't like the Everyman clue. I seldom enjoy Spooner stuff, but it's also a rather inelegant clue anyway, slightly clunky.

Re the female University Challenge 'actor'.

Whatever the actor said to the bishop was scarcely worth recording.

While I'm here - The Times had 'publically' in a news report recently. I assume it's not a valid alternative.

I think publical and publically are rare alternatives to public and publicly. They do seem to jar.

I wonder whether it's time for Jeremy Paxman to step aside on University Challenge. When someone interrupts a question he should stop immediately but he always carries on for a bit, giving the interrupter an unfair bonus. It's as though it takes a short while for the buzzer to register with him. Also, last night there was an odd pause when someone answered incorrectly and he had to think what to do next, namely offer the question to the other team.

They're all signs of ageing, perhaps. But on top of that he doesn't always pronounce uncommon words and names properly. He should do his homework before the programme starts.

At least he's better than John Humphrys was on Mastermind. He would always respond to a correct answer with a "yup". Clive Myrie is very good.

Paxman has been slurring his words in the Christmas series. Either he has been overindulging in the green room beforehand, or he is showing signs of neural deterioration.

Jeremy was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, he mentioned it in a farily recent interview (in one of the weekend supplements).

Thanks malone. That explains it.

Thanks, ChrisE. My post was pretty short as I was rushing out then. I've since investigated a little. In May, Jeremy said he'd been diagnosed, was receiving 'excellent treatment' and that his symptoms were 'currently mild'. I did think he looked slightly stilted, slow at the start of one episode- and that's when I remembered reading something about the Parkinson's.

ChriseE

Thanks for the answer. I dont like it either but I do like "seeresses". Agree it is not a Spoonerism.

Malone

I saw the episode with the female "actor". It sounded ridiculous, and I was surprised that Paxman did not correct her. Thanks for the info on his Parkinson's disease. I didnt know about it and am sorry to hear it.

Paul

I like the bishop/actor joke.

Just been watching Masterchef. John Torode - he of "toomeric" - has found another way to annoy me. He keeps referring to a "ballontine", when the correct word is "ballotine".

Did you select Ping, chris?