Spectator 2599 -Slow To Change

[Matakari]

Good morning,
A real challenge from Mr Magoo this week! Anyone completed it?
Gave it a rest yesterday, and am back at it today! A handicap with
no ODQ!

[gourami67]

Agreed. Mr Magoo's puzzles are some of the best. But as NAC says you don't need ODQ. Two days to solve unlike Doc's 3 to 4 hours

[Neveracrossword]

Matakari, if you're looking for a complete change... this week's Listener is from Chalicea, I think you enjoy her puzzles. It's very doable.

[electricnostril]

Just when I thought I was getting to master the Spectator crosswords and was usually finishing them reasonably speedily, along comes this!
Still got a few clued to get but will just ask for help with two as it's more satisfying to get the answers unaided.
23A) Wagner finally topped wicked musical ornamentation (7) ?E???SH
and
25A) Fabric used regularly to make pink pants (4) ????
As you can see, I've not yet cracked the proverb, so can I ask what the first letter of (unclued) 29A is?

[Neveracrossword]

25 is an oddish fabric, 'regularly' indicates that it's hidden in the clue.
23 Wagner finally indicates what letter you need, followed buy a word for 'icked', which loses its first letter (topped0. The answer is a term in music.

[electricnostril]

Many thanks for the advice NAC. Time to get my dictionary out!

[Neveracrossword]

THanks, electricnostril, I hope that's enough to help. PS - sorry about my wayward typing in the last post!

[electricnostril]

Got the quote now (although it appears in slightly different ways and is attributed to more than one source in my books - I don't own an ODQ).
I always enjoy the Speccie xwords and learn lots of new words rarely used in everyday life (e.g. an unknown meaning of"Dives" in 5d and the answer to 14a is a word I'd never heard of in all my years and will almost certainly never use it in the future!).
A happy easter to all.

[teacher1]

Help please ... last one. 14a. King advanced prince for local governing body. (5) ?ah?l

[klazomaniac]

K for King
Hal is short for Harry

[klazomaniac]

Def = local governing body in a Jewish community

[teacher1]

Thank you Klazomaniac.

[klazomaniac]

Just to clear it up.
The 'A' comes from Advanced [in Chambers]
E.G. Advanced Level = A Level

[klazomaniac]

You're welcome Teacher :-)

[Boethius]

Absolutely stuck on so many! Despite the helpful hint still can’t get 23A Wagner finally topped wicked musical ornamentation (7) Revil…? And 6D Greek aspiring to work in India. And is ‘Dives’ a reference to a rich person? !!!

[Neveracrossword]

Boethius - Rellish (wagne)R + (h)ellish.

[Neveracrossword]

... and yes, Dives does mean a wealthy person, I can't check Chambers right now.

[Boethius]

Thank you!

[ProfessorMaisie]

6d ITALIOT

[Boethius]

Thanks again!