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A thoroughly enjoyable offering this week from Everyman which I'd say leans towards the harder end of the scale, although I thought that about yesterday's Prize only to find most of you sailed through it!

One of the great joys of cryptic crosswords is seeing the myriad of uses to which experienced setters can put to our everyday language.

Everyman brilliantly demonstrates this with the following simple and elegant clue:-

Playwright having chicken after Christmas (4,6)

Apologies in advance for not remembering the name of the poster who mentioned a few weeks ago on this blog or the Prize that a good clue was akin to a fine wine in that it should be savoured rather than rushed. and I wholeheartedly agree:-)

Thanks to Everyman for a wonderful diversion to enjoy on our Sunday.

What were your highlights? Let us know in the comments.

Stay safe:-)

Thanks to Everyman, I also enjoyed this.

Started out very quickly, the left side seemed quite easy. But slowed on the right side, particularly NE quadrant, so it wound up slightly over average difficulty. But better clues than usual with lots of clean surfaces.

FOI 1a. LOI 10, which took a long time to see for some reason.

Good field of COD candidates. 16, 4 and 3 are the top tier. Also liked 15, 14, 5 and 18.

Quicker solve for me than my median for Everyman. FOI was the rather obvious 1a, LOI was 22. Just blanked until I had the crossers, then was annoyed with myself for not seeing it sooner. COD has to be 15 for every Madness fan, including me. Not just for the reference to the band, but the surface makes perfect sense to a fan.

Totally agree Darla and can't believe I left that out of COD consideration.

Saw them a couple of times at the early Madstock gigs - man they were crazy!

When I first started learning sax I pretty much had "One Step Beyond" on repeat!

Good challenging but do-able Everyman, LOI and still unparsed 16a. There's only one literary meanie who comes to mind and fits the crossers, but I have no idea where Tolkien or the twisted conceit come into it!

Otherwise, spotted the rhyming pair, liked the initials clue, but no spoonerism which is s shame. Fewer anagrams than usual I thought.

Hi Justsolve,
Read 16a in reverse, 3 then 4.

Anyone see a clue for 16a somewhere else this week? ;-)

Good day. Two rhyming pairs (almost) I think. Agree on the parsing of 16a, assume its a four letter word for monster, don't know Tolkien apart from my kid's interest so cannot comment, and then some letters from conceit, but only one solution. Liked the different primarily. Not yet got 22d but that's me being slow. Liked the hidden at 19.

Jono, 16a, of course, neat.

I found this trickier than usual, especially the NE. Favourite 2nd last in 5d.
I would have preferred "most" to "extremely" in 3a.

Quite agree about 3a, Chrise. Otherwise an excellent puzzle, with 15a (the Madness one) getting my vote for COY, as well as COD - it's brilliant!