Crossword Help Forum
Forum Rules

THE CLUES – Requests for hints on the clues should normally include the clue itself, numbers of letters and any letters you have.
NB. Hints only should be given, no answers please.

THE THEME – Requests may be made for GENTLE NUDGES ONLY towards the Theme.
NB Do not reveal the Theme under any circumstances.


Just remember that the Listener is a unique puzzle, please treat it with the respect it deserves and do not give too much away when answering requests for help.

Norah - thank you for your valiant efforts to keep us all satisfied and in order - hope it works this time.

Malone - thank you for the prompt posting in Dropbox -
for anyone new to this, Listener 4690 can be downloaded now, and the new Listener at ~16:00 every Friday from: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/da784csxw7o0cob/AADQOuar0HrKyRkO2kCw1ZDUa?dl=0

Thanks also to Tatters for setting this up .

- will 4690 be a Toguh?? Here goes...

Thanks, Norah. I'll return to starting the thread when the next Listener appears... next year, I think.

Quixote, thanks for the dropbox info - and 'thanks but no thanks' for the Toguh mention. I'm sure someone as erudite as you must have heard of pots calling kettles.... and people in glasshouses...?

Well, you know what they say. People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw orgies.

I've done most of the solving, have the names from the across clues, have them theme. Totally stuck on the 3 bars needed / possible answers.

I don't want a hint yet beyond just asking if it's really obvious and I just need to sleep on it?

Kindred2. Took us a while, but read, read and read again the bit of the preamble concerning answers and questions.

Thanks! I will reread preamble with fresh eyes tomorrow!

To answer your question, kindred2 - it is fairly obvious.

I'm stuck on 20d, where my 3 letters -E- -AT don't lead to anything useful, as far as I can see.

I'm also puzzled by the parsing for 16ac.

I've got the 4 names, and the surname, but can't see the relevance of the 3 bars. Time will help, I'm sure!

Hi Dylan,

16a - Is hidden

20d - I'm not totally convinced I've parsed this correctly yet myself.