Listener 4148 - More Collusion by The Magpie

[starwalker]

Having seen the setter(s) I thought that this would be a real problem. Surprisingly, despite some tricky clues, it all fell into place quite quickly.
I notice that these days they omit the instruction to use a pencil first, but then I always take that for granted.

[Ruthrobin]

Joined you in the Friday club, Starwalker and quite agree; it was not the nightmare I expected from the Magpie gang (seeing, for example the number of D grades in the new Magpie). Great fun with a fine double pdm.

[AndrewG-S]

All done, quite an awesome construction and very enjoyable. I think that makes me a smartypants.

[midazolam]

When I saw that this was from the Magpie and the time it took me to complete part I, I thought it was going to be equally a tough challenge. However an excellent construction does not need to be tough. Very clever and an entertaining (but rather quick) solve. Back to The Magpie then...

[AHearer]

I was a bit late starting this, having spent my time on the train whilrling words round the Crossword Centre's August offering. The first-level clues have been fun and not too challenging, but sorting out what clever clogs does with the extra letters and how smartypants resolves it all will have to wait until tomorrow. From Ruthrobin and AndrewG-S's comments, I'm looking forward to it.

[contendo]

Filled the grid apart from 16a and 28d which seem to resist all logic. As yet no idea where to substitute the extra 35 letters.

[easylistener]

Well done to you Friday nighters. I'm stuck at first base. Cold solved a few but looking for a pdm to help me. [email protected] would be glad of any hints. (I don't submit so don't worry about competition!)

[tilbee]

Found grid fill very straightfoward and completed in just under an hour. Will take rest now before trying to work out how to use the unnecessary letters.

Like Contendo not sure about wordplay to 16a, but definition seems to fit (all allowing for extra letter).

[iamamoose]

easylistener - isn't that a touch defeatist? first base isn't so bad - it's only Saturday....you've got a whole week still !

[tilbee]

Explanation for wordplay for 16a came to me over a lunch-time pint (Doh!). Replacement of letters came much quicker than I anticipated, but now seem to be in for a long stare before realise how to change the plan. No smartypants as yet.

[tilbee]

Penny finally dropped. Think I would have been staring for a long time if I had not worked backwards after deducing the 'reason' first.

[aldanna]

Enjoying this so far, not had a lot of time this weekend but I am very nearly a bright spark. Identifying the extra letters has proved much easier than I expected. Maybe the rest of it will fall into place when I come to the lateral thinking parts..... Well, maybe.

[cluelessJoe]

Well, comments here encouraged me to leave this at the end-of-part-one stage last night, and expect an easy run today. And so it was - a leisurely finish whilst listening to Stuart Broad's heroics this afternoon. Great in both respects.

[bobbycollins]

First base here too. Some very tricky clues for me - particularly 28d & 17d. I'll have a little rest I think.

[Cruncher]

Very clever - and rather easier than its predecessor if memory serves me correct. Still no idea about 16ac but it doesn't seem to matter.

[TheBear69]

I did not find this as easy as some but managed to muddle through. The basic idea was ingenious - two clues for the price of one, so to speak. 16a involves a nasty trick (IMHO) which has been used in the Magpie a few times now, as one of the words in the clue has to be interpreted in a non-standard way. I had high expectations when I saw who the setters were and I was not disappointed.

[Clamzy]

Yes 16ac and some other cues were devilishly clever as one would expect from this source, and the solve was very enjoyable. However the cleverness didn't end with the clues as I thought the preamble joined in the fun. Was it not deceptive to guide us through steps one to four in order when, as Tilbee noted above, 1,2,4,3 may be the way to go?

[borealis]

Fun. Sparks on Friday, clogs Saturday morning, but 24 hours on the pants bit. Trying too hard for a "reason" in a different direction. As usual, humbled when the reason jumped out at me from where I had been looking. Some lovely clues, especially as they had to incorporate the extra letter and still work. A few "looser" than usual too, more Araucaria than Listener, but the indirect definitions are likely to disadvantage those who rely on the electronic BRB, and I like that! More collusions, please, Magpie; there must be at least two of you, since this was a joy.

[dead-eye]

.......I agree.

[contendo]

Yes, TheBear, I see what you mean about 16a, having finally tumbled to the answer. It's bordering (I nearly used another word) on the naughty, especially as the definition of the unshortened version is not really kosher. I remain stuck at the next stage, fiddling about with 5x7 grids having got me nowhere.

[Speravi]

16a, 17d, and 28d all much appreciated - very creative. I think I've achieved the clogs stage, if "new words" includes acronyms - if not, then I have a problem identifying the unnecessary letter in 1a. So far, so enjoyable.