Spectator Crossword 1880

[Rapparee]

This week's offering is Baker by Ascot

[kayakamina]

Thanks for the link.

[Spaghetti]

Many thanks again for the link

[GetOverIt]

Thanks for the reminder. I have just " run out " of crosswords to do !

[mad max]

many thanks for link

[Spaghetti]

Pretty straightforward this week, but I can't find a word to fit in at 28ac that fits in with the other unclued lights - unless it's a place where you might use all the others?

[kayakamina]

Or the 'colour' of them.

[turnerjmw]

I don't have a problem with 28ac. The wordplay for 17d has me baffled, though the answer is clear

[Spaghetti]

ma is the IVR for Morocco

[turnerjmw]

Thanks, Spaghetti. A bit surpised by the plural policemen, but that makes sense now

[Spaghetti]

And belated thanks to Kayakamina for the hint. I couldn't find the required meaning in Chambers, but a quick Google revealed all!

[DocHH]

Thanks for the link Rapparee, you have to be quite clever not to get hooked on that one!

[Christiana]

Thanks for the link. Only just got round to looking at Answerbank. Have been filling in an income tax form - give me crosswords any day.

[Rapparee]

Thanks to Ascot for this excellent puzzle which cast a strange attraction over me.

And I notice from the early postings here that some of you managed to fly through it very quickly indeed. Well done.

Thank you all for your comments and particular thanks to Kayakamina for his timely hint without which I am sure I would have been crawling up the wall.

[jamesah]

The clues are straightforward enough but I confess I can't see the theme. I suppose it's one which you either know straightaway or not at all. I see that there are some hints in the above comments but they are much too opaque for me.

[GetOverIt]

I'm still working on this one, too jamesah, but DocHH, has now solved it for me !

[jamesah]

Hint no longer required! Very obscure theme however since I know absolutely nothing about the related activity.

[midazolam]

had chance to have a go at this one because of an easy listener tonight

all i can say is "hairy mary"!

[DocHH]

Hello Midazolam
I hope you are not fishing for compliments, on this and the Listener.