Crossword Help Forum
Forum Rules

Good fun I thought. Found the top half far easier than the bottom, with the SW corner holding out longest. Fortunately I had the crossers in place before getting to 10a. I’m less of a fan of clues like 4d. Agree with Rainman, 19a is an editorial oversight, could easily be have been changed to ‘territory’ or something similar.

jonny @10
If you look up the naswer, you'll see that it's not a cock!

A fun puzzle with lots of clever clueing today.
Chrise - if what happened to a cock happened to a man is he not still a man??

On the train to football with limited WiFi so hopefully this gets through.

Not racing through this exactly. Finding it a bit slow going if i'm honest but SE corner is difficult to parse.

Not getting last 3 letters of 20d. Can't parse 29a though assuming it means first 4 words. Not sure I really get the cat ref in 24a either.

Hi Rocky,

20d last three letters - a four letter word for ‘test’ minus the first letter
29a yes re the definition, ‘on’ comes from the clue
24a cat’s-paw (Chambers shows it as hyphenated) should be read as one (I had to look it up to remember what it means and where it comes from)

I can add 4d to that list too

Thanks Jono. Completely missed the letter missing from test despite going through the entire alphabet

Thanks Jono. Completely missed the letter missing from test despite going through the entire alphabet

Don't know why that posted twice. Apologies all. GWR wifi. Have got 4d now. Very good clue in fact.

I loved this despite not being a huge fan of Paul - probably because I find his puzzles really hard! Got stuck a few times, but made it in the end. Brilliant clueing throughout. My COD is 4d, but many others to choose from.
FOI (12, 11), LOI 18.
Thanks Paul.