Listener No. 4362: Spots, By Colleague

[AHearer]

I'm still a bit uncertain of the misprint for the fifth letter of the name, but have no qualms about the rest. Some nice clues, and a satisfactory endgame. Many thanks, Colleague. Now back to tracing Black Jake's route!

[jim360]

Ugh, grid-staring stage begins after a bit of a tricky grid-fill. Not quite sure what I am looking for or how literally it will be represented. Fingers crossed that the light will dawn fairly quickly.

[Ruthrobin]

I enjoy a crossword that reveals a light-hearted sense of humour. Many thanks to Colleague.

[Pasquin]

Well that required several large leaps of imagination and a willingness to submit to torture by humour. Nice clues and a totally unambiguous solution. Thanks, Colleague.

[s_pugh]

I was dreading a lengthy grid stare and worse still ambiguity but my fears were unfounded. A novel way of leading to the discovery total but totally unambiguous and made me chuckle once I got the joke. Thanks Colleague.

[starwalker]

Some tricky clues, but on the whole, a straightforward grid fill, with the added bonus of no staring for too long. Thanks Colleague.

[fallster]

I wish I were having as easy a time at grid staring most of you. Found something that fits theme, but clearly not it or not enough. I'll keep slogging away but so far have spent quite a bit of fruitless time in this one's endgame.

[Vagans]

Well, that brought a big smile to my face when the final penny dropped. Thanks, Colleague.

[Essira]

Don't worry, you are not the only one wasting time on grid staring. Wish I could give you a hint!

[aldanna]

Full grid quite easily, name seems meaningless, can't even start grid-staring. Probably another one for the "failed" pile.

[Cruncher]

PDM moment and loud groan from SW15

[Essira]

Now I see the answer but I am not chuckling about it, I cannot see the connection but never mind.

[perseverer]

Well, grid-staring eventually (and I mean eventually) paid off, and I get the joke, but it would have been much easier if I'd got the joke first and had an idea what to look for! A bit sneaky, Colleague.

[Cruncher]

Aldanna - you might try looking up the name in Chambers...

[olichant]

Full grid, and no clue about what to highlight! Hoping that posting here might help the penny to drop as it sometimes does. That, and listening Andras Schiff play the Goldberg Variations at the Proms courtesy of iplayer (highly, highly recommended for anyone who likes Bach).

[fyellin]

Still waiting for that PDM. I'm in the same state as fallster. There is an obvious something (10 letters), but is it just to let me know I'm in the right neighborhood?

[UglyUncle]

I have the name (after correcting a false assumption about the final letter). I can see something associated with that name, albeit not what was discovered. I can also see two symmetrically placed 5-letter words, although they're not obviously connected. One of them had me looking intently at the bottom row of the grid, but without reaching the hoped-for conclusion. I suspect a red herring, but I'm not getting the benefit of the rib-tickler yet.

The title is no help. Is it just a synonym for where one might end up?

[fyellin]

I finally see the "joke". I've no idea what its connection is with the main theme.

[tnap]

Finally, after 2 days of grid staring, and using every possible arrangement apart from the correct one, the penny dropped. Sorry to be a mope, but I don't think the arrangement was as representative as it could have been. Also I can't say I found the grid starting or PDM either particularly amusing or enjoyable; it has reinforced my aversion to that style of Listener endgame. A shame, as quite I enjoyed the grid-fill.

[Scorpius]

I might have appreciated the 'joke' more if I could see a thematic connection between the highlighting and the rest. It all seems a bit artificially contrived to me.

Olichant, if you want a hint, send me an email.

[olichant]

Thanks, Scorpius. The penny dropped last night. I don't really get the theme and I'm sure I must be missing something. I did enjoy some of the clues, though.