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 ……
Requests may be made here for help towards the theme. The 'help' should be on the gentle side - a pointer, nudge in the right direction, rather than anything too blatant. Anything - queries or replies - that is overly revealing, and that could spoil the puzzle for other solvers, is likely to be removed.

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


PS Malone asked me to post the thread this week as she is otherwise occupied today.

Hmm. After ploughing through the 12 lines of introduction, I thought that this one was going to stump me utterly. With no real hope of getting anywhere, I started to solve clues and then, when I got stuck, I tried placing my solutions in the grid. Now I’ve got a grid filled except for one unchecked cell. And I haven’t solved the very first clue yet. That’ll be tomorrow’s task!

Yes, I've also got one blank cell and suspect the last stage of the endgame must resolve it...
I can see how the answer to the first clue is entered and the next stage too, I think I understand what ''under the table'' means but after that I'm lost (although I've taken a wild stab at the brushwork).
I wish Arcadia's wife hadn't got involved, she's not very good with Listener preambles in my opinion.

I think you have to fill in the unchecked cell with the only thing that can fit. I don’t think the endgame resolves it.

I was also worried about the unchecked letter in the get comfy clue - wondered whether it was a verb or adjective. Plumped
for the former but thought both were arguable.

I loved the madcap preamble though and the line drawing - thanks Arcadia.

Having guessed what the wife was thinking (and when) I've put in the dubious pluralization to complete the empty cell. I don't agree that we 'don't need these' clues because I'd like to see how the setter originally clued the controversial entry. Chambers Wordwizard doesn't allow the word.
A single word in the preamble carries a lot of weight for the endgame and there are stray cells involved in the final move too, I think (others got a mention earlier, why not these?). And couldn't the earlier cell count have been better placed/more accurate? There's a lot of GWTWIT (and when) in this puzzle, I hope I've guessed right.

The only original clue I have yet to solve is the one about the woodlouse

You're not a woodlouse from Canterbury (NSW) then, woodlouse.

I'm in exactly the same place as will37 at post #2 was at the same time last evening. None the wiser this morning. First clue defeats me.

bobby - if you Google the 9 cells 4 lines thing you will see what you are aiming for and should be able to work out options for the likely placement of the 9 cells which might help

In terms of the clue, the last two words are the def

I went for the last 3 words as the def for the first clue as 'driver' is shown in brackets in Chambers.