The Times Crossword Friday Masterclass: Episode 45

** TODAY'S PUZZLE **
In the 45th edition of our attempt to solve a Friday Times crossword, Simon takes on today's BEAUTIFUL puzzle... So many learning opportunities and brilliancies in this one!
The puzzle is available to play on The Times crossword club website (which is behind their paywall):
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[@kengillett5896]

The clue for LISTENING POSTS references the phrases "between you, me and the bed/gate/lamp post" which suggests that they can hear what is being said and are therefore "listening" posts

[@bigdmcc1]

Re 5 down: REME can be a single abbreviation for Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (supported by Chambers), which was how I read "Engineers" in that clue.

[@nightwishlover8913]

Likewise

[@StoneColdMagic]

Well, Today is a Red Letter day in my life. I've, literally, never been able to crack as single clue on these puzzle until today. I understood the clue and got the answer to 22 across (LISTENINGPOST) half way through the puzzle. The one that took Simon the longest. 😮 Achievement unlocked! Yay!

[@Pickleman0]

Simon, so you know why the Echo went off @39:40, you said “the exact anagram”. The middle, exact-a, is a close audio match for Alexa (as a waveform) hence why it triggered. :)

[@paulellingham9358]

I love it when I get a clue faster than Simon. 19 across. Obviously, this is one out of 28 and it's usually with him having essentially laid the clue bare, but not taken the final step yet!

[@user-og4le9tq4l]

Me too. The only one I got straight away. His brain is sometimes just too clever. He comes up with incredibly difficult answers immediately, and then misses the easiest one.

[@studgerbil9081]

that, and 22-across. It always happens: I get two easy clues that Simon wrestles over forever, and he easily gets the ones I am clueless about.

[@thedrunkenelf]

If I watch enough of these maybe I can do a cryptic crossword one day…maybe…

[@brycecrux2730]

same here... I get the odd clue but not without Mark or Simon making suggestions first

[@toerag572]

Same

[@longwaytotipperary]

Ditto

[@realgod1002]

nah you'll be able to pull it off... i am Dutch and i start to pick up on small things i had 2 words in this puzzle before Simon. so small steps will get u there

[@Prazzie]

Start with the Monday morning Quick Cryptic. It's a lot more accessible than Friday Cryptics.

[@SnugglesPlays]

Love the cryptic crosswords, would definitely like to see more and more and more of these please! If you could do them more often than once a week, that would be fab....maybe even try some cryptics from different newspapers/magazines. I am definitely getting better at them and I put that down to these videos....Simon, you explain the clues so brilliantly, you make hard clues sound as easy as ABC!! Never stop doing these. ❤🙂

[@ausalex]

reme is also the abbreviation for Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers

[@VonBlade]

These are keeping me company, exercising my brain, and joyful. My goodness. If I had my way this would primarily be a daily crossword channel with weekly sudokus.

[@fulltimeslackerii8229]

24:30 i think the answer is “If only”. Only can be an island If only means “I wish” Idk how “to take off clothes” factors in tbh OH MY GOD I WAS RIGHT. I can’t believe my stupid guess was right. Simon, you are so good at teaching

[@joshuaharper372]

I got 22 across ages before Simon, but basically nothing else! So helpful, Simon, when you explain the clues!!

[@garybrittain8210]

Love when Simon goes on a tangent. Who outside UK knows anything about Allo, Allo 😊

[@evdweide]

From the Netherlands here: I grew up with that very funny show (and other brilliant British comedies).

[@L_O_V_E_L_A_I_N]

I'm Polish and have the entire series on DVD. Great show.

[@Prazzie]

I'm South African and I am familiar with many of the great British comedy series, including Allo 'Allo!

[@Draedaja]

I love the dictionary justifications during the solve!

[@davidrattner9]

Continous thank you Simon for bringing these to us every Friday!! Wishing you a Merry Christmas, happy holidays, and to everyone in the community.

[@longwaytotipperary]

Always ❤ Simon’s enthusiasm! Also ❤the Santa hat!

[@Ray_Ridley]

Merry Christmas to Simon and Mark and all who contribute to this wonderful channel !

[@emilywilliams3237]

Thanks so much, Simon, for these weekly crossword videos. I look forward to them AND I think I'm beginning to get a glimmer of a hope that one day perhaps I could solve TWO clues in one of these puzzles. Today my one clue was 'listening posts' which for some reason just immediately came to mind - maybe helped by the question mark. Thank you for the fun.

[@CineMiamParis]

Don’t mind me, just feeding the algorithm here. Happy holidays all!

[@SnugglesPlays]

I LOVE Allo Allo, watch it all the time when it's on TV.....very very funny. 🙂

[@ashleyjordan8869]

Thanks for these Simon, I’ve gone from not getting a single clue to now being able to take on the quick cryptic in a sensible amount of time 😅

[@Ruddigore]

Another excellent solve by Simon. The more I watch these solves the more encouraged I become to try my hand at the Times Cryptic rather than the Times Quick Cryptic.

[@SnugglesPlays]

Forgot to wish Simon and Mark a very Merry Xmas and a very Happy New Year. 🎅🎄🎉

[@st3phgr1ce]

On the last clue I got the listening part thinking of a bugged room, I.e. “intelligence facilities” made me think that bugs are often placed in bedrooms, lamps etc but didn’t see posts at all

[@user-ek4cf9qd8u]

Merry Christmas Simon and Mark. And Cracking the Cryptic fans 😊

[@longwaytotipperary]

❤ these- great start to Friday and weekend! Merry Christmas! Happy day after Solstice! Daylight gets longer each day - yay!

[@davidrattner9]

Indeed...days are slowly starting to get longer!! 🩵💙 your enthusiasm my friend!! 😁

[@longwaytotipperary]

@@davidrattner9 thank you, David!! 💕💕💕💕

[@MrTickely]

REME are the royal electrical and mechanical engineers by the way - they're a separate corps to the royal engineers :)

[@Donrafa189]

I love these! And I consider it a gift from CTC to me today on this, my birthday!

[@martinyyt]

I could see the answer to 22A the first time Simon read the clue - not that I could explain it - but it was a definite thrill to solve it before Simon

[@DavidJones-ce6bq]

Simon, love the cryptic crossword solves but… can you fill the answer in the grid only after explaining the clue? As soon as you enter the answer in the grid, the clue is greyed out and we struggle to follow your explanation. We have followed the channel every day since before lockdown… a treat and a life saver. Thank you. Dave and Chrissie Jones

[@rockhopper_penguin]

Happy holidays Simon! Thank you for all the cracking cryptic crosswords this year. Hopefully 2024 will be the year that St Algorithmus learns the splendour of crossword content on KZbin

[@williambarnes3868]

REME= Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. Charge is from Heraldry.

[@B1GB1RDB4G3L]

My most anticipated video of the week :)

[@arthurcharest9061]

While I’ve never attempted a cryptic crossword, these videos are fun to watch and find thinking through them helps me with some NYT daily crosswords

[@Prazzie]

Thank you so much for uploading this during your holiday time. I look forward to the Friday Masterclasses, it's such a treat at the end of the week.

[@francesT5877]

Merry Christmas to Mark and Simon and thanks for these. Didn’t come close to finishing this but got a few before Simon. I am getting better but almost never finish within time.

[@mjkluck]

Another good one. Keep 'em coming.

[@grenvillephillips6998]

Thanks for the help, and boy did I need it!

[@vinyl1Earthlink]

Ha! There's one thing you should know: the R.E.M.E. is the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers - you could look them up, they're in the Wikipedia.

[@user-py8kl5gh2q]

I say this most weeks ; but the cryptic crosswords are the reason I subscribed to the channel!

[@Hertog_von_Berkshire]

The Enid was a 1970s rock band. "In The Region Of The Summer Stars"

[@glum_hippo]

Another stellar solve, these videos give such pleasure even though I’ve personally given up long ago on solving one of these puzzles independently

[@glum_hippo]

That ‘Casablanca’ clue is simply astonishing

[@glum_hippo]

Thanks also for sharing your anecdote about seeing ’Allo, ‘allo on stage. Don’t hesitate to go off on such fascinating tangents

[@Anne_Mahoney]

These crosswords are a highlight of the week -- thank you for keeping them going despite vacations and all the other distractions of actual life! Merry Christmas to all. 😺❤

[@kempisthomasa7311]

I also love it when I get a clue faster than Simon. Or at least I imagine I would.🙂

[@azrobbins01]

Love these! I usually save these to watch them right before bed, and maybe the algorithm doesn't like that.

[@maribelfarnsworth4565]

I always learn something from your Times Crossword videos - though I was screaming out "listening posts" long before you got it...

[@debrabowen4276]

So much fun watching Simon solve cryptics!

[@louisesuth8141]

My favourite thing about Fridays, love watching these!

[@adrever1986]

Superb video as always! Merry Christmas!

[@ryang4335]

Love these videos - I look forward to them every Friday! Thanks for your patient approach to explaining the wordplay. So appreciate your skill with these. Looking forward to the next one already! Merry Christmas!

[@Raven-Creations]

This didn't show up in my notifications this week. I thought Christmas preparations must have got in the way. I only found it because it appeared as a recommended video after I did one of Mark's puzzles. As I have a darkroom, 1D was easy for me. 9A was a nice clue, which I actually got from the crossing letters before reading the clue. 3D was easy but made me smile. 5D was another nice clue, as was 11D. So far I've had no problems (I'm going to regret saying that). 22A was another nice clue, which I got by noting beds, gates, and lamps can all have posts. 13D was fiendish setting, but there aren't that many words that fit CASA.L..CA. I thought 24A was fair. 16A was a bit obscure. I had enough crossing letters that it couldn't be anything else. 20D was cute. I had "not a jot" in mind at first, but couldn't justify it. Then the B from bin made me switch to "not a bit", and I spotted the nice word play. In the end, I didn't regret my early optimism and found it easier than usual. I guess I was on the same wavelength as the setter. I do find it interesting how you often struggle with clues and crosswords that I find easy, and vice versa. I wonder whether this is because I learnt on the Grauniad's puzzles, rather than the Times.

[@richardlyons7582]

Great solve and thanks for explaining the intricacies of cryptic crosswords Simon.

[@stevewood8]

An impressive and enjoyable puzzle, solved equally impressively - Simon's brain homes in on the answer like a guided missile.

[@peterdunlop7691]

A wonderful video. Love our times together on Fridays.

[@davidkay1612]

Love these videos 👍

[@JohnLeeShaw]

Very hard puzzle today, but also quite brilliant, indeed. A real pleasure to watch you solve it, Simon, and cope with the various technological interruptions. The Alexa moment was hilarious, as it often happens to my Mum when we are Skyping 😅 My crossword solving is definitely coming on now, all thanks to these masterclasses -- I can not tell you how much I appreciate your time. Wishing you (and all) a nice weekend, and a very happy Christmas! 😊

[@philipbrooks402]

Simon, REME = Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers

[@GeorgeFrideric71]

In 1989, I was taken by my parents to see 'Allo 'Allo on stage at the London Palladium. In hindsight it seems an odd thing to take a 7 year old to. I guess (I hope) the innuendo (which is to say most of the script) would have gone over my head; but I still remember the experience.

[@danbennett91]

Brilliant crossword and brilliant solve. Thanks Simon!

[@tiithendrikpiibeleht4092]

I love these videos! I feel absolutely daft every time, since I don't know a lot of the meanings.

[@kurohone]

I remember calling those old metal-toothed pedals on classic ten-speeds rat traps. Maybe it's a North American term?

[@AnnaVahtera]

11 Down, "Stealing from a kitty before paying." 1) 10 Bounty added to Whiterun. 2) Khajiit is mad now.

[@Sandra_and_Nala]

B in Alan shows me that there is hardly any hope for me to ever solve one of these myself. But I do look forward to the bonus editions each Friday 😊

[@heatherallan9767]

🌿 hi there...are you the sudoku setters? ...i attend there as a spectator, and here mostly understand the explanations...so nice to hang out with the smarties ....lots of love from durban, south africa ....your puzzles are clever and fun 🎨 ✨ thank you 💕

[@Sandra_and_Nala]

@@heatherallan9767 thank you! Happy to hear that enjoy the puzzles 😊

[@andrewzmorris]

Don't start with these super hard ones. Start with easier puzzles, and as you practice you can work your way up to these monstrously hard ones that Simon does.

[@sebastienlecoq3956]

The clues are so great, this really feels like a christmas treat.

[@DontMockMySmock]

That "casablanca" clue is one of the most unhinged things i've seen in one of these videos

[@LorisLaboratory]

I can't do these, but they are always very interesting to watch. Thank you! :D

[@bryanroland9402]

Particularly classy crossword today. It's a pity that The Times doesn't reveal the names of the compilers.

[@profregan6937]

Sublime as ever . The finest regular entertainment on KZbin. Maybe a second crossword each week?

[@vinyl1Earthlink]

Maybe Simon should solve the Quick Cryptic at full speed as a warm-up. Then we could see how he really stacks up against the top solvers. Guess - he's not going top Mohn, Aphis, and Verlaine.

[@kimh6979]

My life is now complete! I actually got a clue before Simon ❤

[@martinwilson5210]

Thank you and Mark for doing these for us, great to hear your explanations, Happy Christmas to you both.

[@blakebarnett9319]

Absolutely love these videos, they got me started on at least attempting some cryptics myself!

[@Grumpy_Granddad]

Please leave Alexa on -- I love her interruptions

[@lin4579]

Love these. Thank you and Happy Christmas

[@swclements1]

I love these crossword videos - thanks for keeping them regular!

[@robinstyles9997]

Excellent!!!

[@damienknapman2308]

I'm usually lucky if my "by myself not having to explain things" time is comparable to the video length, but today I must have "tuned in" to the setter quite well - 31:29.

[@SirBradiator]

We did notice your Holiday, it is pretty obvious when your 8:30 video is prerecorded rather than on the day. Hope you had a great time, you deserved a break.

[@richardfarrer5616]

I can go one up on seeing Allo Allo on stage as I have performed in it as Herr Flick. Sadly, you have missed your chance to see me in fishnet tights.

[@romasteve7292]

11D was indeed genius

[@BRBTheFireball]

17:06... the F-word makes another inadvertent appearance in a CTC video.

[@markcroxteth2108]

Great

[@nakorbluerider]

Composed and purposed, reportedly made to teach the algorithm (7)

[@fulltimeslackerii8229]

24:41 I have a guess for 19 across “If only” Only can be the word for an island. If only is a phrase that means “I wish” The clothes? Idk

[@n8style]

Got 2 answers before you, very impressed with myself lol

[@umchoyka]

The first clue I was able to solve during this was the first clue simon stumbled on!

[@MultiNacnud]

Simon you must program Alexa to say "listen very carefully, I shall say this only once".

[@bibliopolist]

Simon's 44th episode, and I'm sure his 44th time explaining that thing about abbreviations...

[@smahoney1212]

Maybe in his 45th episode he'll tell us the Sudoku Secret. :) It is a characteristic of Simon to repeat information for new viewers and is part of his charm.

[@colinstuartsmith]

REME ... just one regiment.corps ... Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers

[@peterbiddlecombe1939]

Only one hidden word: I believe this applies to “forwards” ones, and one of those plus a reverse hidden is OK

[@Ztb15]

I feel silly for seeing 9 Across and VERY confidently guessing "POTATO CHIP" as a pre trip snack....

[@ZonieMusic]

Are cryptic crosswords common as well for other languages? Dont get me wrong I love these videos and would love to try these out. It's that the common use of seemingly British expressions has made me put it off for a while, as I, from an Asian country which has English as one if its main languages though not to the vocabulary of the Oxford dictionary, never hear them.

[@LiquorStoreJon]

13D made my head hurt :(

[@1946apps]

TT = Tourist Trophy

[@NotElusivePanda]

For Christmas this year can we have an AMA?

[@BigStick654]

woo

[@rocketpants785]

Do cryptic crosswords make more sense to native english speakers, or are they like a completely separate language to you guys too?

[@heatherallan9767]

🌿they are a speciality hobby ...not all enjoy this type of playing with language and general knowledge and wit ✏ ✨

[@andrewzmorris]

It's a game with rules you have to learn and practice. No-one starts out good at them.

[@elemenopy7605]

another nudge for the algorithm

[@clara931]

So fun to watch this. Struggling to keep up with my daily dose of CtC now in the lead up to christmas. Too much to do. Too many guests to entertain

[@DJColdCutz_]

If only Simon could have answered 19a before moving on..

[@davidkay1612]

( Reme ) royal electrical mechanical engineers me dad was one

[@maribelfarnsworth4565]

I have a cousin who served in REME