Crossword Help Forum
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THE CLUES - Requests for hints on the clues should normally include the clue itself, number of letters in the answer and details of any you already have. Any relevant information or special instructions should be given, if possible.

NB HINTS only, no answers please.

THE THEME - Requests may be made here for GENTLE NUDGES only towards the theme. Do NOT reveal the theme, nor discuss it in a way that discloses significant information.

Remember too, that the Listener is a unique puzzle. Please treat it with the respect it deserves and do not give away too much when answering requests.

PS Malone has asked me to post this week as she's on a bumpy train. I would also like to take the opportunity to thank you all for the courteous and well mannered way in which the Listener thread has been conducted this past couple of weeks, nice peaceful discussions with no acrimony whatsoever. Please keep up the good work everyone.

Well this is bizarre. Full grid, foreign synonyms found, third location found, names located and missing name known and duly written below the grid. But……what is going on with these synonyms? No idea. Got the name and noun on the diagonal, still no idea. We shall leave it to greater minds.

If you have the family name, it's really a choice of two first names - and the right one of those might see you home

... and massive thanx to Agricola. Just about right toughness for my liking.

I agree, tatters. After last week's gentle start to 2022, I was expecting a stinker this week and this one isn't such a beast.

simplesimon, I don't want to give too much here but 1d was a word which is familar enough but was new to me as a synonym for the word the clue gives you. I made a lucky/informed guess having concentrated on 2 across and remembering that it's the second part of the name of a park.

Now I'll get some sleep and perhaps wake up able to parse the 5 or so solutions which at present elude me and to fret about the names which I reckon MUST be 39 cells, although could be 38 with an alternative spelling; I don't see how they could be Agricola's possible 40!

I think the preamble has to be followed to the letter, will37 - either/both ''39 or 40 in total'' being possible.

It was trying to go to sleep that let my brain solve it!
You’re right Tatters, it was picking the not so obvious name that led to the link and then the synonyms were reverse engineered from that. Will37, also not familiar with 1dn but it works. Lovely puzzle, thanks Agricola.

I'm sure you're right, drxx, that the preamble has to be followed to the letter. That's what Saturdays are for - finding out what precisely that means and, conversely, what it doesn't mean. Now I really am turning in!

I live in a place known to Grimms fans for bashing Wombles, so the synonyms and connection stood out to me almost at once. The answer is not David Wool.

Once again being driven up the wall by the endgame. After much effort I have successfully parse every clue, 8d and 41a being, for me, the most stubborn. 21d is a nasty trap in the waiting, but I finally escaped it. I have the first location, but am struggling with the others. Time for a rest and I'll have another grid stare later on. It's about time someone set a crossword about groundhog day, I'd probably do that in no time whatsoever.