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After recent straightforward ones this the challenge of this made a very pleasant change.

I agree, alwayspuzzled. There have been some very disappointing puzzles recently, this one felt more like the 'old' Spectator puzzles!

I agree. I found it a stimulating and vocabulary-expanding challenge.

There is an unusual spelling at 35 which I could confirm only in Collins.

Will37, at least you checked the word, I just assumed it was fine. Even in the days when the puzzle gave Chambers dictionaries as prizes, the puzzles included non-Chambers words.

A very classy puzzle, most pleasant to solve.

Finally finished this morning, after almost giving up; then inspiration came. The ODQ had one of the men, but no mention of the other.

I hadn’t tried the Spectator before. From some of the comments it seems I was lucky to have picked this one. Great fun. 16d has long been a favourite of mine. Thank you, Lavatch.

I have been looking at some of the Spectator crosswords from much earlier years and they appear to be on the same
difficulty level ((for me) as this one which I did enjoy.
Some of the recent ones have been almost too easy.
Something in between would be good

Thanks, jazzgirl. I sometimes wondered if I was looking at the past with rose-tinted spectacles, remembering some tough, challenging and fun Spectator puzzles. I'd be quite happy with the more arduous ones, even if it meant I'd be struggling to finish them!

Malone, this one took me ages. I set it aside a few times and even overnight ! It was early on Friday am when a vital clue suddenly dawned on me!! Still no Bradfords here. It may have speeded things up somewhat I guess ;)