Sunday Express Skeleton Sunday August 5th 2012

[filbertfox11]

16a Cloud layer, may drop snow. (7). S??A??S. I can only come up with stratus but I don't understand the wordplay. 19d. Two-headed beast content with this, prejudiced. (4). B?A?. I can see that BIAS may be the answer but can't see wordplay and what it has to do with a two headed beast. 6d. Friends script, part of it too detailed. (4). P??S. I think the answer is PALS but, again, don't see the wordplay.

[factor-fiction]

Maybe there is no word play
From Wikipedia : Stratus clouds may produce a light drizzle or snow.

[Mamyalynne]

I gave up doing this crossword because of this reason, all answers look sound.

[factor-fiction]

I'm not sure of BIAS- if the clue is 'prejudiced' it would be 'biased'

[filbertfox11]

Thanks factor30. The clue does say

[factor-fiction]

....the clue does say what?

[factor-fiction]

I suppose the clue does say 'with this' so with bias you would be prejudiced

[filbertfox11]

Sorry factor30 - I sent the answer before I had finished it. The clue does say "content with this, prejudiced". So if this contains bias then bias does make sense - "this" being the operative word, not prejudiced.

[filbertfox11]

Thanks also factor30 for "Stratus".

[filbertfox11]

Thanks mamyalynne. I have only done this crossword for 2 or 3 weeks but I don't think I will be doing many more - I don't really like them.

[bibblebub]

possible wordplays:

19d) two-headed = BI- [the prefix], beASt content = AS

6) scriPt part of it = P, too detailed = remove last letter of also = ALS

[puzzlesRus]

16a is not a straight clue but a cryptic one, just like the rest. The definition is CLOUD and the word 'layer' refers to STRATUM. Dropping M (May) and adding 's' (Snow), the answer becomes stratus (a type of cloud)