Listener No 4392: A Conversation By Kevgar

[AHearer]

Nice straightforward clues, and a theme that never fails to raise a smile. Familiarity with the theme, guessed early, made is possible to see where some clashes were going to be before both contributing clues had been solved, but never mind. I enjoyed this, so thanks KevGar.

[starwalker]

Very generous clues. Once I had done a quick pass through them and then re-read the instructions, it all became clear. Wonderful theme. Thanks KevGar.

[Ruthrobin]

Yes, it yielded very quickly indeed and the clues were generous. Thanks KevGar.

[AndrewG-S]

Lots of fun and a theme I always enjoy. Less contentious than last week! Thanks kevgar

[sunny-dave]

Yes - a fun puzzle with a familiar (but well liked) theme. Backsolving a couple of the clashing entries for completeness was a nice final challenge.

Thanks kevgar - very enjoyable.

[fyellin]

Definitely a fun puzzle with a fun theme.

I'm still missing the answer to the longest cryptic clue that is resolved to a thematic answer. Obviously I know the thematic answer and so have a completely finished puzzle. But still it would be nice to understand everything.

[Scorpius]

Certainly the easiest Listener for a while, but very enjoyable. Like sunny-dave I also backsolved some of the trickier clues after getting the theme, which added to the pleasure of the endgame. I was forced to reconsider one of my answers, a perfectly valid alternative, that didn't leave a real word at the end.

[doctormatt]

Yes: fun for a rainy Saturday morning!

[olichant]

I also really enjoyed this. A nice example of a puzzle that doesn't need to be eye-wateringly difficult to be really enjoyable. Thanks, KevGar.

[jim360]

Was struggling with this one last night, but things more rapidly fell into place this morning. Still got maybe two or three clues to solve backwards, but a full grid so it probably doesn't matter. Thanks though, KevGar.

[emcee]

A nice puzzle to encourage the beginner. And still fun for the more experienced solver.

Thanks, KevGar.

[Philoctetes]

It helped that I guessed the theme when I first read the preamble. The clashes, as ever, added a level of frustration. Very nicely handled throughout and a pleasant stroll.

[upsetter]

In the same boat as 360 - it did seem trickier yesterday.
Enjoyable entry-level Listener, but we feel that the theme could have been more cleverly exploited, particularly having regard to the scope for depicting an actual denoument, where the six letters are actually rather than hypotheically removed (and possibly made to reappear thematically), still lleaving real words.
Highlighting was a bit of a clumsy compromise here

[pushmi-pullyu]

I'm in the same situation as you, Fyellin - puzzle completed but one of the original entries is eluding me. I particularly liked 34ac.

[s_pugh]

Great fun, nice and straightforward and a pleasant theme (for some at least!). Back solved the original answers to the clashes for peace of mind, like others the longest one proved the last to crack but I should've spotted it sooner as the clue is pretty simple and there weren't so many clashes. Thanks very much Kevgar, a nice puzzle.

[fyellin]

s_pugh: Thanks. That was just the push I needed.

[HappyUncle]

An easily guessed theme, with the checked letters of one conversationalist appearing en clair before the clue was (optionally) back-solved. A weakness that might have been avoided, as also with the other lengthy answer that some have already mentioned?

An enjoyable puzzle, though. Initially I chose the wrong one out of two possible and equally defensible answers to 8, but at close of play my mistake was, at least in one sense, unmissable.

[Cruncher]

Agreed Happy Uncle. 8ac could so easily have gone the other way

[Ruthrobin]

Yes, Upsetter - my thoughts exactly. A good final touch would have removed the item and left real words, not the highlighting compromise. I had the theme before solving a clue and spent an hour after the full grid hunting for clashes - the back solve was longer than the solve, but it was 'fun'.

[Ornis]

I narrowly missed being all-correct last year - got one letter wrong in No 4363. If anyone enjoyed reading that, well that's Schadenfreude for you.

[aldanna]

Yes, fun and not difficult. A lot of back-solving, and not being a purist, I didn't always check them forwards very thoroughly. I am in agreement with the opinions about the highlighting dodge, but still, thanks to Kevgar.