Spectator 2525 Prime Times

[johnpiper]

Depressingly struggling to finish this rather fiendish puzzle.

Could anyone please give me a hint re 5 down where i have for the 7 letter word
?ILE??I

17 down: Tracked vehicles about to be clamped by pigs (7 hyphenated)
?n?ca?s

22 across Baby's back bound for Glasgow (4)
??OT

2 down is this OSCILLOGRAM?

20 down Old Court reached a good deal (7)C?ME?O?

Many thanks

[Neveracrossword]

17 Sno-Cats
22 Stot, bound (Scottish word)Tots, reversed.

20 Camelot, old court, Came+Lot.

[johnpiper]

Brilliant thank you!

[Neveracrossword]

Thanks, johnpiper. There are earlier threads discussing the thematic bits, my conclusions could be wrong.

[Matakari]

I understand how you feel, johnpiper! 2 Down is correct. I am grateful to ProfessorMaisie for some great hints, but I still do not see the naval reference for service in 29(d) Won back English girl, arising in service (7) : ???A???

Hints for these would be appreciated also. Thanks in advance!

38(a) Cast to one side, here? (9, two wds) : S???E?EU?
9(d) Grating unstarted Cantal over crackers (6) : ATO?A?
30 (d) Rating exam to get away from trap (6) : ?B???? ( ABROAD )

[johnpiper]

Royal Navy around Kate reversed

[Neveracrossword]

Matakari, the navy is simply RN, Royal Navy. I expect you'll be able to finish that ine off now.
38 - it's an acting term, a common two word instruction, direction.
9 A word meaning grating, not tuneful. Unstarted Cantal means lose the first letter and Over is the usual. You have most of the word.

[ProfessorMaisie]

There's some debate about how the endgame is suppose to work but there's no problem with the entry for 5d. Its definition would be - an important event or distance marker (the last three letters are entered as a number - very like the one you're showing).

[bobbinwales]

You need the E for Enlish bit also

[ProfessorMaisie]

Yes, it's RN around 'kate' [rev ETAK] + E.

And yes to OSCILLOGRAM, which is just a straightforward definition clue with a slight twist.

[ProfessorMaisie]

Having seen your earlier post on the other thread, johnpiper - the debate about 1 or D on the other site was left with advocates on either side (and me too confused to care).

[teacher1]

I've read everything on this crossword and I am still no wiser what to put in the unclued lights !
5d. ?ile?t?
27d. ?a?ide
23a. ?oom???
13d. rad?o?

Help please.

[novalis]

5 d - last ? = a number
27d - first ? is a number
23a - last 3 ??? is a number - Think George Orwell
13d - This is where the debate is about the last ?

[ProfessorMaisie]

A sum gives the number of the puzzle, teacher1 - so that's why you need numbers in those entries.
27 is football related.
For 13d I originally had something to do with the BBC -''????? (number)'' but most people prefer a different station and opt for a Roman numeral which is a maths symbol.

[teacher1]

I think I've got it now ...... thank you novalis and Professor Maisie.

[Neveracrossword]

Matakari, I hope AB has seen you over the finishing line now?

[johnpiper]

Sorry. Still stumped on 5 down.
Is 13d radio 5 or radio x?

[johnpiper]

And 27d unclear totally

[teacher1]

27d. vaside ....... 5-a-side

[ProfessorMaisie]

5d MILEST1 (=milest'one')
RADIO X is most likely, to give ??? X ? SQUARED (= 2525)
[there's no need for Roman numerical values, so it's not V, teacher1].

[johnpiper]

Thank you!! How peculiar. Howvate you supposed to get these unckued lights? What does milest 1 actually mean?