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, please, no answers.

The Theme...

Help with the theme may also be sought here. The help given should really just be a nudge or two, pointing the solver in the right direction. - and without giving so much away that it spoils things for other people. Any queries or answers which - even inadvertently - reveal too much may be deleted.

The Listener is a unique puzzle and deserves to be treated with respect.

I need a post Dry January stiff drink to decipher the instructions: hopefully, all will become clearer then...

I am deciphering the instructions to mean delete the entire puzzle apart from 33a. Off to the post box.

I know Listener puzzles are meant to be challenging but this has too many layers of complication. I’ll follow the thread and take my hat off to anyone who works it out.

It’s ok once the theme becomes clear but agree that it is pretty tricky before then!

I quite like the idea of having different words being defined in the same clue like this - might open up a few more thematic options.

Thanks Brock

Well, the theme was spotted quickly but I still found it very, very hard to tie up all of the loose ends. A real novelty, though, and fun (I think).

Please help me to understand the wordplay to 16d. I think I have the answer and the extra letter.

Bananabean, I think it is 1-4-1 all backwards, with the first letter of the 4 being redundant. I have answers (I think) for 1a,1d,13a and 18a but cannot parse any of them. I have 4d, but the other 3 of the 4 like that are currently defeating me.

Thanks, Gitto. You are correct.
You must not forget to recycle.

bananbean - in 1D think of the last two words, not the last on its own (a red herring)