Sunday Times 4788

[Neily]

Very grateful for help with these two clues please.
4dn: “Fool, single, in Gotham (5).” I have N?D?Y.
17dn: “Cut caused by spike leading to charge (8).” I have ?A?E?A?E.

[Toorak]

Lacerate

[weecalf]

Lacerate

[Togo]

Yes Noddy
17d Lacerate

[Lie-in King]

4d Noddy - 'odd' (single, in) 'N(ew) Y(ork)' (Gotham; nickname)
17d Lacerate - 'lace' (spike; a drink, eg) + 'rate' (charge)

[Sam1960]

17 lace rate

[Mamyalynne]

Noddy
Odd In NY

[weecalf]

Niddy ?

[Togo]

I read N?D?Y as Noddy There Neily. It took me ages to make sense of it and I just agreed on what my mind saw. Ready for a simple parse if there is one. I could only come up with the comic character Noddy in Green Lantern and Gotham city, linked with the wise fools of Gotham in English folk lore.

[Captain2]

Togo, pay attention! Look up ^^^ at LiK

[Togo]

Saw that after I posted Capito. Also thought of it at 8am this morning, but it didn't quite excite me enough. I like my convoluted reasoning. :))
With respect LiK. :))

[Mamyalynne]

Noddy is simply a fool, you only need the wordplay thereafter.

noddy
ˈnɒdi/Submit
noun
1.
dated
a foolish person.

[Neily]

Many thanks all!