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Apropos of nothing, I remember the time when there was a lot of fuss about whether this site was being too generous when it came to giving away answers for the Listener, as compared to another site, and there was a lot of battling between the two. Glad to see that change, but wondering what the story was there?

Also, seems a shame that the community on "the other place" is much less active these days.

Thank you, Cagey that was a real challenge, one of the toughest for some time. Apropos the reference to 'Manhunt' by Shark, this prompted me to look up the legendary Puzzle no. 3240 from 12 Feb 1994, 'Squaring the Circle' by Amicus which yielded just 8 correct solutions (I guess there may have been a few more with a correct solution who did not submit and maybe there were fewer entrants in those days? I'm not sure). I have the puzzle in my copy of 'The Listener Crossword' (pub.2002) which lists 60 of the most testing puzzles in order of difficulty, 'Squaring the Circle' is no. 60!! I have often tried to steel myself to tackle it but never quite summoned up the courage!!

This may be the best Listener puzzle I have ever done in over 15 years of solving. Better than Manhunt, in my opinion, although that was a great puzzle and Shark is a great setter. But this one was perfect, surpassing even Cagey's fabulous Magpie effort where they hid their own name in the grid via use of blocked out cells that made letters when you stared along the top of the page (I'm sure there's a proper term for that, but I hope you know what I mean).

And what a finish! Let me add my voice to those encouraging people to stick with it - it's amazing.

I am plodding along with this in between the garden and other things. I am putting the codes in the grid - ok so far. I have cold-solved all but b and as it's a double I think it may be holding me up. I've got b*. Any nudge would be gratefully received. Apologies if it's already been mentioned. Good puzzle, best for a while definitely.

defn is the last three words, "gray" as in "dismal" if that helps.

Thanks claretgold - got it now.

Just finished. That construction is utterly mind-blowing and I thoroughly enjoyed the solve. Chapeau to Cagey! Surely a shoo-in for POTY?

I'm wondering why Cagey has written "... will not be penalised for wrong information in the box below the grid."

I have solved the puzzle, found the "further instructions" - and I would have thought that there is only one correct word to write in the box below the grid. So - surely, if you do not write correctly in the box below the grid you should be penalised?

If you look at the Wikipedia page for the purported source, it is discussed in the "misattributed" section; the purported source may not have actually said it. I suppose the "will not be penalised" just hedges the risk that someone will bring that up.

Let me add my admiration for this monster of a puzzle - more logic problem than crossword (and thus somewhat like a numerical) but an unbelievable construction.

Good to read a comment with a sense of perspective after the intemperate praise this 'thing' has elicited. Yes, it is very like a numerical, or a perverse sudoku at best - it hardly counts as a crossword to have to cold-solve clues for a load of 4 letter words.
I'm in awe of the word-puzzle solvers who decided to dump this 'thing' from the off - I resent every moment I've spent working on it (and I didn't appreciate the 't' joke either - not exactly helpful was it?). Maybe I stuck to it because there's a numerical due and I was feeling a bit ripped-off as it was.
Anyway, yes - I'm sure it'll be the winner this year, given the excitement it's generated amongst those who can lay their hands on every mechanical 'aid' in the book, but it was a horrible experience for me + pen + paper (and anyone else with a taste for themed crossword puzzles I'm sure).
There are too many mathematicians editing, setting, solving crosswords these days. If they hadn't invented anagram solvers it would never have come to this!