Listener Crossword No 4371 -- Our Announcer By Ploy

[jim360]

Well I suppose it's possible that I've gone a little wrong somewhere (made a couple of mistakes in counting in the across clues first time round, for instance), although I don't think that the introduction revealed by down clues is quite right. Possibly a variation. Anyway, it's clear enough what's intended and the final effect is visually impressive so thanks Ploy, not least for a neat variation on how to reveal hidden messages other than the misprint/ extra letter devices.

[AHearer]

The grid-fill was fairly straightforward as the clues were not too challenging. I had to take a break before tackling the endgame to put Nigella's apricot and almond cake into the oven (and to celebrate good news about the sales figures for my son's partner's cookbooks), but it all fell into place quite neatly. Thanks to Ploy -- and, to echo jim360, it's amazing how many variations there are for hidden messages.

[starwalker]

My heart sank a little when I saw the setter's name, as he has been a particular bete noir of mine in the past, but nothing personal. A fairly straightforward and progressive gridfill has led me to the four related words. I shall now await the return of Mrs S who will assist with the endgame (it being a particular weak point of mine). Thanks Ploy (in advance).

[upsetter]

We assume everyone else was too bored to fill the grid. Hard to believe that part 2 will redeem this.
We started another thread in error.

[Cruncher]

Looks like the regulars were rather underwhelmed. Postponed the curve drawing until this morning, hoping that it might prove a little more challenging than the gridfill. Alas not.

[perseverer]

Perhaps the clues were a bit easier than I would prefer, but I didn't find it boring, and it took a while for the penny to drop about the four related words.
Jim, the introduction seems to fit what I would expect.

[upsetter]

Feeling ungrateful and curmudgeonly about this one.
A good Listener has clues that make you smile.
Also, is counting the nth letter of a clue any fun?
The theme had the potential to produce a challenging and interesting puzzle, but did not really deliver.

[Cagey]

I rather enjoyed this one. It suited my afternoon, mood and time I had available. Delayed myself by misremembering the instructions fordown clues, but once rdread all fell into place. Thank you ploy.

[AndrewG-S]

Grid was a doddle. Filling in the endgame was also pretty straightforward. But getting the link between the two was very tricky without a bit of relevant knowledge and so borderline unfair in my view.

[AHearer]

I partially agree with AndrewG-S. I thought it was easier to locate the closed curve (not too hard to do by grid-staring) and guess the answer therefrom than to get there by the intended route. Perversely, the web sites I usually go to for this sort of thing (like starwalker, I lack expertise in this area, but it seems that Mrs S is more helpful here than Mrs A) failed to identify the relevant character -- though once I had the character the web had a profusion of sites that confirmed that I had made the correct identification. Given the ease of that alternative approach to the solution, I didn't think this was unfair.

[icynorth]

I enjoyed this one - a good old-fashioned multi-layered puzzle. Thanks Ploy!

[EAChaplin]

A cruciverbal coincidence that the theme this week was prominent in a clue last week.
The published solution to the LIFE puzzle shows that explanatory notes to JEG won't change the result.

[starwalker]

Ahearer, like you I had to resort to grid staring, as Mrs S took herself off for the day. Sometimes people are just so unreliable !

[doctormatt]

Yes the grid fill was quite straightforward, but very clever and well-constructed set of links to finish: very enjoyable!

[Philoctetes]

Andrew G-S.
If this was "borderline unfair", what about all those that require scientific knowledge (Like that blessed Demon, or even the recent Life)? At least this one is probably familiar to 99% of the population. Knowledge is only knowledge once you know it!

[Scorpius]

I agree with icynorth, the puzzle was a very nice multi-layered puzzle. No complaints about the clues. I agree they were mostly on the easy side, but faultlessly constructed (which is not always the case these days), with some nice surfaces and varied constructions, and a few had wordplay that took a bit of fathoming. As jim360 has observed, a welcome variation on the delivery of messages. Nobody has commented on the grid, but it's very well constructed, given the constraints of the thematic material, and unlike so many grids we've had in recent months, it's almost perfectly Ximenean.

Last week's puzzle was fairly tough, and some found it a bit of a slog, so I cannot see a problem with following it up with something easier, and for many, possibly more enjoyable even though less challenging.

[emcee]

I enjoyed it and the endgame reminded me of a Duck puzzle from a few years ago.

[olichant]

I liked this - it all came together really nicely. Thanks, Ploy.

[UglyUncle]

Sometimes a relatively easy puzzle can still be satisfying. This one had a number of elements that were both individually and collectively clever and elegant. The disappointing aspect was the need to slog through the across clues looking for individual letters: nothing new there either, as it was barely a month ago that we had to do the same in a Calmac puzzle.

[sunny-dave]

Well I enjoyed that - not very difficult, but quite satisfying as it all came together.

Denizens of the wilder shores of Chatterbank will probably have joined me in a smile/wince at the prospect of multiple 19ac.

[petefoxes]

Grateful for a relatively easy puzzle after being a week behind for a while. 7a made me smile.

I also thought the down clues' reveal wasn't quite correct but on checking an appropriate online source it seems I was mistaken. An interesting and fun method - thanks, Ploy.