A solver contacted me and asked about the use of SHED in 11-down, which is the last part of the clue and not disguised at all. I’m happy to include clue elements “in the clear” as long as they don’t bear an obvious relationship to the answer. Small words are often used this way: IN, TO, SO etc. So why didn’t I disguise it? It would have been easy enough (although the context would have led to a standard OUTHOUSE-, HUT-style synonym). Every clue should be assessed in its own right and as part of the whole crossword, and with 11-across, I considered the clue was hard enough without introducing further complexity. A setter has the power to control clue and puzzle difficulty, and should have the goal of presenting a balanced effort.
| Across | Answers and Clues | Explanations |
| 1 | MUPPET | |
| Soft-hearted TV character married leading favourite (6) | M + UP + PET | |
| 5 | SWAP | |
| Trade handles fashioned the wrong way (4) | PAWS reversed | |
| 9 | HOSES | |
| He is importing overseas pipes (5) | HES outside OS | |
| 10 | PORTRAITS | |
| Paintings left unfinished by extraordinary artist (9) | POR(t) + anagram of ARTIST | |
| 13 | STATION | |
| Doctor’s immediately operating after one appointment (7) | STAT + ON after I | |
| 14 | ESCAPEE | |
| Fugitive is to get relief following rescheduling of case (7) | PEE following anagram of CASE | |
| 15 | SLOG | |
| Catch phrase lacking an almighty wallop (4) | SLOGAN minus AN | |
| 16 | CHANGEOVER | |
| Castle, for example, held back in German city’s transition (10) | C + (EG reversed) inside HANOVER | |
| 19 | PRODUCTIVE | |
| Conduit, one used in test, should be efficient (10) | (DUCT + I) inside PROVE | |
| 20 | CROW | |
| Bully snaring river bird (4) | COW outside R | |
| 23 | CLICHES | |
| Cold Chisel reused and reused phrases (7) | C + anagram of CHISEL | |
| 25 | GREASED | |
| A bearing installed in broken edger should be lubricated (7) | (A + S) inside anagram of EDGER | |
| 26 | RATION OUT | |
| Leaderless country involved in hiding issue selectively? (6,3) | (n)ATION inside ROUT | |
| 28 | BY EAR | |
| Bach’s first class without reading from written music (2,3) | B + YEAR | |
| 29 | TORY | |
| Conservative report short on substance primarily (4) | STORY minus S | |
| 30 | TARGET | |
| Teller returned to achieve objective (6) | RAT reversed + GET | |
| Down | Answers and Clues | Explanations |
| 2 | UNSAID | |
| Financial assistance in possession of global organisation is not stated? (6) | UN’S AID | |
| 3 | PIPING HOT | |
| Shellfish, not containing mercury, turned up for boiling (6,3) | PIPI + NOT outside (HG reversed) | |
| 4 | TORTE | |
| Slices of currant or tea cake (5) | curranT OR TEa | |
| 5 | SPROCKET | |
| Spy detailed missile’s projection? (8) | SP + ROCKET | |
| 6 | POT | |
| Plant grass (3) | Double Definition | |
| 7 | CHASES | |
| Hospital implicated in lawsuits performs follow-up (6) | H inside CASES | |
| 8 | ESCAPOLOGIST | |
| Free-thinking entertainer? (12) | Cryptic Definition | |
| 11 | IMPOVERISHED | |
| Penniless scamp, one living in unused shed (12) | IMP + I inside (OVER + SHED) | |
| 12 | STEER | |
| Handle old bull (5) | Double Definition | |
| 17 | NAVIGATOR | |
| Transporter, hooked up to a rig, organised guide (9) | VAN reversed + anagram of TO A RIG | |
| 18 | CUSHIONY | |
| Soft individual initially working in easy and comfortable environment (8) | (I + ON) inside CUSHY | |
| 19 | PACER | |
| Racehorse’s power shown by excellent start to race (5) | P + ACE + R | |
| 21 | WADERS | |
| Western Australia’s invaded by red-backed waterbirds? (6) | WAS outside (RED reversed) | |
| 22 | LEG BYE | |
| Extra set-back close to game’s end? (3,3) | GEL reversed + BY + E | |
| 24 | SPOUT | |
| Discharge from uranium recorded in a precise location (5) | U inside SPOT | |
| 27 | APT | |
| Proper computer with peripheral cut off (3) | LAPTOP with LOP on the outside removed. |
Right with you David, all the way.
‘Tutorials’ are invaluable for improving skills/got 3 & 4.
Really hope support is building, have done what I can off limited base.
all best wishes for future of this venture – Richard Sternes