During my time as a professional crossword setter I’ve been interviewed by newspapers and radio hosts many times. Sometimes it’s as a result of a crossword making the news in some way, but mostly it’s a media person who thinks it would be a good idea to find out more about this “mysterious” pastime. Interviews tend to be cyclic, that is, the same sort of interview by the same newspaper/radio station happens every couple of years. Newspapers are the easiest – just a chat on the phone or a visit by a reporter at home. They always look for an angle: “Who’s the best?”, “Are Australian crosswords as good as the ones in the UK? If not, why not?”. You never really know what’s going to be printed until it comes out. Talking on the radio by phone I like the least – I much prefer a studio interview so I can see and interact with the host.
Preparation for any crossword interview on radio is essential: be armed with key details, have some stats and milestones available, and make sure the day’s major crosswords have been solved and understood as the host and/or listeners may ask for clues to be explained. All interviews tend to have common elements and I can be sure certain questions will be asked. What do you think these question are? First: “How did you get started?”. I like this one because there’s quite a story and if I’m not careful the answer would use up most of the interview time. Second: “What comes first, the words or the grid?”. Easy to answer. Third: “How long does it take to write a cryptic crossword?”. I can waffle on about this for a while. Fourth: “What are some of your favourite clues?”. A tough one. There are lots of other common questions that could be asked but time is always a limiting factor. One thing is for sure, lots of people will mention they heard me. I had no idea how popular listening to the radio still is.
Across | Answers and Clues | Explanations |
1 | PERIPHERAL | |
Minor cut spotted by her in ring (10) | (RIP + HER) inside PEAL | |
6 | ACER | |
Type of maple, or a cherry, oddly (4) | A + ChErRy | |
10 | RAVER | |
Party animal’s endless courage? (5) | B)RAVER(Y | |
11 | TRIFOCALS | |
Special glasses of retired craftsman primarily used in experiments (9) | [OF reversed + (C)RAFTSMAN] inside TRIALS | |
12 | LANDMARK | |
Feature with Bond’s boss involved in carefree adventure (8) | (AND + M) inside LARK | |
13 | ACTING | |
Part of Australia elected head of government in a provisional role (6) | ACT + IN + (G)OVERNMENT | |
15 | LEAD | |
Primary conductor of electricity (4) | Double Definition | |
16 | REARRANGE | |
Change position of back row (9) | REAR + RANGE | |
18 | ACTRESSES | |
Female performers, a cast originally with Hair? (9) | A + (C)AST + TRESSES | |
20 | OUCH | |
Tip cut off finger that hurt (4) | TOUCH minus T | |
23 | TREBLE | |
Experience fear or anxiety with loss of male singer (6) | TREMBLE minus M | |
24 | FALLIBLE | |
Weak story about turnaround of misfortune (8) | FABLE outside (ILL reversed) | |
26 | ESSENTIAL | |
Vital broadcast, one offered in tailored sale (9) | (SENT + I) inside anagram of SALE | |
27 | GIRTH | |
Right around? (5) | Anagram of RIGHT | |
28 | SENT | |
Shipped money as specified by auditor (4) | Sounds like CENT | |
29 | TENDONITIS | |
Painful condition – nurse in operation is behind it (10) | TEND + ON + (IS after IT) | |
Down | Answers and Clues | Explanations |
1 | PARTLY | |
Paintings, say, fixed in thickness to a certain degree (6) | ART inside PLY | |
2 | REVENUE | |
Takings are discounted by a chosen location (7) | (ARE minus A) + VENUE | |
3 | PYRAMID SELLING | |
Organisation of daringly simple trading scheme (7,7) | Anagram of DARINGLY SIMPLE | |
4 | ENTERPRISE | |
Go into prison, giving up on drug business (10) | ENTER + (PRISON minus ON) + E | |
5 | ARID | |
Dry and bitter but not cold (4) | ACRID minus C | |
7 | CLARION | |
Instrument timeless trio played in band? (7) | (TRIO minus T) inside CLAN | |
8 | RESIGNED | |
Defeatist extended a contract (8) | Double Definition | |
9 | SOCCER HOOLIGAN | |
Disruptive sporting fan is very much taken with new coaching role (6,8) | SO + anagram of COACHING ROLE | |
14 | MARSHALLED | |
Damage everything in shed lined up (10) | MAR + (ALL inside SHED) | |
17 | TARTNESS | |
A number of diners sent ratatouille back with a bitter taste (8) | dinerS SENT RATatouille reversed | |
19 | TREASON | |
Disloyalty shown by leader of the debate (7) | (T)HE + REASON | |
21 | CABARET | |
Court limiting a nude floor show (7) | CT outside (A + BARE) | |
22 | LECHES | |
The French game involving men, mostly dirty old men (6) | LE + (CHES)S | |
25 | HIVE | |
Hummers are regularly seen in here (4) | Cryptic Definition |
Had ‘resigner’ for 8dn. I should have spotted that one.
Right, now David we eagerly await The Answers!
by the way I went with re-signed.
regards Richard Sternes