The Listener Crossword

[JMR27]

Just out of interest, do any of you do the Listener Crossword? We've taken the Times for years now and I've only ever finished it three times - and those must have been the easy ones - most weeks I don't even understand the instructions let alone finish the crossword...

[Quizmonkey]

Yes, have done it since the mid 80s - the true pinnacle of crossword excellence. Apart from the numerical ones (four a year) which I hate, I usually complete it and end up on the annual 'high scorers' table. It's really worth persevering - read the solutions every week and I'm sure (as you've completed some easier ones already) that it will become less baffling. But don't expect to see questions answered on here! Good luck.

[JMR27]

I'm very impressed, Quizmonkey! I certainly will keep trying even though I find it extremely difficult. I get a great sense of achievement even if I only get it half finished. No, I won't be asking any questions here - I'm sure I read somewhere that it's not the done thing to confer on this crossword. You mentioned a "high-scorers' table" - does this mean that each entry is opened each week and a record kept? Do they tell you where you rank on this table?

[Quizmonkey]

Yes, it's incredible. Every Feb-March you can send an SAE for the annual statistics (for the previous year's 52 puzzles) plus your own personal record. This handwritten sheet lists the entries you submitted correctly, the entries you failed to submit, and the entries you submitted which were wrong - the wonderful Mr Green of St Albans even writes out any mistakes you made! He has done this for years - without any computer help!

The general statistics document lists the best solvers, ie everyone who submitted 42 or more correct entries out of the 52 (I think).

The accuracy of all this record-keeping is the main reason why discussing the crossword is considered taboo.

[JMR27]

That's very interesting . I didn't know the results were kept. I can only presume that there can't be many entries each week - there are probably only a couple of dozen people in Britain capable of completing it so often. I certainly won't be keeping Mr Green very busy! However, I shall keep plugging away!

[Quizmonkey]

Well, when the puzzle was in the actual Listener magazine, entry was particularly low - sometimes in the single figures. Since it's been in The Times, and available internationally online, the average entry has obviously 'soared'. I think it now averages between 400 and 500 each week - but this obviously rises to a 4-figure number on 'easy weeks'. Every now and then a particular stinker brings this average way down!

There is a fairly new official website incidentally (www.listenercrossword.com) with loads of fascinating information - and puzzles are always discussed on the forum at www.crossword.org uk (after the solution is published, naturally!).

[JMR27]

Thanks for all the info, Quizmonkey. I shall certainly have a look at that website.