Guardian Cryptic #29397

2024-05-31

Solve on Guardian →

Across

9a

Old TV station introducing original character of Phoebe to Friends (4,5)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

definition: reference to Alexandra Palace television station [wiki] (and the surface references the character Phoebe in the sticom Friends) first/original letter of P-[hoebe], inside ALLY ALLY=two allies=/two "Friends"

10a

Knocked about and flayed, most feverish fight (3-2)

flowerflowerflower
11a

Weed guzzling vodka initially, then claret, hung over (7)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

HOE (in a garden)="Weed" + around V-[odka], plus RED wine="claret"

12a

A meat cut for seafood (7)

flowerflowerflower
13a

Stone in middle knocked out of game (4)

flowerflowerflower
14a

Some idle chat about nation in western Europe, leader bringing democracy to country further east (4,6)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

definition: Polish politician Lech Wałęsa [wiki] some letters from [id]-LE CHA-[t], around WALES="nation in western Europe"

16a

Figure detailing the pain of spelling? (7)

flowerflowerflower
17a

Essentially vocal void, national anthem (1,6)

flowerflowerflower
19a

Prison meal, awfully cold (10)

flowerflowerflower
22a

See 3 Down

24a

Ground where building of a hotel interrupted by flock of geese? (3,4)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

definition: the home ground of Surrey County Cricket Club anagram/"building" of (a hotel)* around V=flying formation of a "flock of geese"

25a

Beethoven’s Fourth eclipsed by the one beforeexciting stuff? (7)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

EROICA [wiki] is Beethoven's Third Symphony; around "Beethoven's Fourth", the fourth letter of [Bee]-T-[hoven]

26a

Red flag appropriated by Centre, Labour heading to the right? (5)

flowerflowerflower
27a

Really a lagoon needs emptying out – 99%? (6,3)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

anagram/"out" of (Really a ln )*, with ln taken from l -[agoo]- n emptied out

Down

1d

Scrooge’s nemesis, perhaps, from Thatcherism’s far right? No! (6,9)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

anagram/"right? No!" of: (Thatcherism's far)*

2d

Where radioactive material handled, zero fed to British beef? (5,3)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

definition: a container with special gloves built into the sides for the handling of radioactive materials LOVE="zero", in GB OX="British beef"

3d
22a

Corporation in fight, yet switched on (5,4)

Generating...
4d

Fifty during shift working for club (8)

flowerflowerflower
5d

Why parking has blocked English city back road, say (6)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

Y="Why" (e.g. in text-speak) + P (parking); both inside BATH="English city"

6d

Capital wretched under leader in Sunak, a country upset about that (9)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

BAD="wretched", after all of: S-[unak] inside all of A MALI="a country" reversed/"upset"

7d

Content leaving skirt and dress, flasher? (6)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

S-[kir]-T without its inner letters/its "Content"; plus ROBE="dress"

8d

A warren circled by bears and bull, OMG! (5,10)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

A MAZE="a warren", inside all of TOTES=carries="bears" + BALLS=nonsense="bull"

15d

Needle in crypt cut through stone (9)

flowerflowerflower
17d

Headless shape, disembodied woman often asked in for test (4,4)

flowerflowerflower
18d

Singular inequity ultimately in redistribution of capital (8)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

ultimate letter of [inequit]-Y in anagram/"redistribution" of (capital)*

20d

Policeman, stripper (6)

flowerflowerflower
21d

Something brewing perhaps in Licence to Kill epic (6)

flowerflowerflower
23d

Very merry marine (5)

flowerflowerflower