Spectator Xmas Crossword

[djawhufc]

Hi all

A bumper double crossword this week. Make it last as there isn't one next week.

Enjoy

DJA

[pjwillcox]

Many tks, Daniel and seasons greetings to you and yours. A double from Times crossword champ-in-perpetuity Mr Magoo should be good (& taxing).

[whatsthat]

Thanks Daniel.
The clue for 43d (Term for parrot's "a rook" for former emperor) with 4 letters is the same as for 44d (6 letters). Is this a typo or not?

[bibblebub]

not a typo

[roslyn251254]

they are both "emperors"

[barryjbutler]

Many thanks Daniel and a happy yuletide to you too!

[maurice]

Wow! Finished! A Merry Christmas to all, & thanks for the service all year, Daniel!
P.S. One is reminded of the late Araucaria's even more ingenious carol anagram here surely --- maybe no coincidence.......................

[whatsthat]

Thank you both, bibblebub and roslyn.

[Helveticus]

I suspect that 41A is an "& lit" clue, but there seem to be 2 possible answers. Could anyone tell me what the unchecked letter should be (and why)? Could it simply be that each letter of the answer is a direction? If so, it is an unsatisfactory clue IMO.

I can't parse 69A either, although here there seems to be only one possible answer.

[roslyn251254]

Quite a challenge today! Will have withdrawal symptoms next Thursday though! I don't suppose there will be one on Boxing Day either??

[roslyn251254]

Helveticus:S + E + W + E + N + S (directions). SEWENS. Sewen = Irish name for sea-trout grisle. Agree - poor clue
69a - your answer + buds make "spellbound" when anagrammed

[Helveticus]

Thanks Roslyn. Mr Magoo's puzzles are challenging, but usually fair. In the case of 41A, however, his clueing simply doesn't work. The compound anagrams at 69A and 66D are unusual for a Spectator puzzle, though a device which Azed often uses. The déjà vu of 43D/44D is particularly pleasing.

Season's greetings to all here, and thanks to Daniel as always.

[shaneystar2]

Hi Daniel and thanks for sending me the Speccie over the year.
It's much appreciated .
All the best to you and your family for Christmas and the New Year .

[bakajiji]

Thank you, Daniel. A very Happy Christmas to you and you family and thanks for all the trouble you go to on our behalf.

[mathsman]

Have all clued answers but not sure that I read the rubric correctly. For the first sentence, do we take the titles of five carols and shuffle the words to form new 'titles' or is there more to it?

[maurice]

Shuffle the LETTERS to form new PHRASES ! (i.e. long anagrams) !!!

[Ruthrobin]

Just completed it and we are highly amused by the final carol!

[mathsman]

Thanks Maurice. But surely 72/46A is four words, not three?

[mathsman]

Sorry, too much (or too little) sherry.

[tenflags]

Hello ... long time no do specie.. but fancy a go over xmas.
a kind soul used to a link on here ...
how do I get hold of a copy of this one DJA ?

[djawhufc]

hi tenflags email me on [email protected]