Crossword Help Forum
Forum Rules

THE CLUES
Requests for help should normally include the clue itself, the number of letters in the answer and details of any you already have. Any special instructions or additional information should also be included. HINTS only should be given - no answers, please.

THE THEME
Help towards the theme may be sought here. 'Gentle Nudges' is hard to define, of course - but it's worth making the effort to provide something that will help without giving away too much. The theme itself should not be revealed under any circumstances.

Early solvers should avoid making any allusions - jocular or otherwise - to the theme. Something apparently innocuous can be more revelatory than anticipated!

The Listener is a unique puzzle and should be treated with the respect it deserves.

Could Forum members please email me if you have any concerns about too much info being given on the theme etc in any Listener post, there is no longer any need to first mention it on the Forum unless you wish to do so.

I decided to rescind my earlier request that complaints are first aired in the Forum before emailing me because it was pointed out that more harm than good could be done by telling the whole world to look at a certain post, particularly if I don ‘t get chance to amend it promptly.

My original complainant was concerned that users could email me anonymously in an attempt to settle old scores, I said at the time that children fighting in the playground sprang to mind. At the moment we have a very friendly bunch of Members so I don’t think this applies but I will watching out to make sure that this doesn’t occur.

Good fun, and an easier gridfill than I expect from Shark. I’ve no doubt there will be moans about grid staring, but it’s all unambiguous once you have it, in my view.

Not quite finished yet, but some great clues. You know when you're still a teenager at heart when clues like 39a have you in stitches! Only the NW quadrant to go then some grid staring by the looks of it. Thank you Shark...enjoying this one.

My eyes lit up when I read that the endgame included illustrations but, now that I've got a full grid and the 3 clashes, they're more crossed than lit - this preamble is going to take some serious unpacking 🤔

I'm exactly in the same place as you Brendan - and I hate grid staring!!

Lovely, concise clues.

I'm so close to getting this, but what you've said about it being unambiguous has given me pause, quisling. In the NW illustration I've got something that almost works, but it doesn't really fit in with the title - and while parts of it have mirror symmetry, the illustration as a whole doesn't. Can't be right, surely?

I can't see Shark doing all of that and then being sloppy on the final straight.

Full Grid. Theme identified. Initiator found. Three of the four illustrations sorted. NW quadrant causing serious headache! Hoping that posting will immediately bring clarity...
Wondering about the importance of the preamble "each illustration has an element of mirror symmetry"...for the NW illustration...

Ditto in every respect. Very frustrating.

I have a full grid but cannot see a column with the same letter in two unchecked cells and in two different entries. Am I missing something or have I perhaps made a mistake?