May 2025 Puzzle Solution

Across: 1 (T)ime + MAKER anagrammed (after riling) = MARKET (bull with this sometimes, ie a bull market), 4 How homophonically (calls) Mrs Collier, presumed Mum of Terry Collier of The Likely Lads fame (60s sitcom set in Liverpool) might refer to her son in a Scouse way – ie AR (our) + TERY (terry) = ARTERY (channel of communication). Sorry 😁!, 8 Popular (IN) + ways (ROADS) = (to make) INROADS (progress), 9 Anagram (organise) of MORE VAR = (to deliver) OVERARM (this level of service, ie above the shoulder), 11 Anagram (off) of HAIRSTYLE + C(ut, a little as 1^st letter indicator, justified as it is synonymous with ‘a bit of’, so doesn’t require the possessive ‘of’, IMO) = HYSTERICAL (really funny), 12 Hidden (aspect of) in schizoID OLigarch = IDOL (beloved, in nounal sense), 13 Using (WITH) + D(iamond) inserted (in the centre) = WIDTH (compass), 14 Craft (ART) + even letters (oddly leaving) of sEtSaIl + middle letters (essentially) of crewman (hANd) = ARTESIAN (a kind of well), 16 That boy’s (HIS) + anxiety (PANIC) = HISPANIC (to do with the Spanish), 18 French fantasy (REVE) containing (about) 1st letter (the minimum) of U(nderwear) = REVUE (show), 20 By (X, eg in the sense of times) inserted (logging into – I haven’t seen this as an inserticator, but it means gaining access to so it seems fine to me) www (NET) = NEXT (then), 21 Anagram (cook) of KESTREL in AGA = GREAT LAKES (an impressive amount of water), 23 Appropriate (GRAB) reversed (returns) + A + current (IN) = BARGAIN (contract), 24 When (AS) with forced (BOUND) inserted (to get involved) = ABOUNDS (does well), 25 DD of LURKER (‘here’ meaning crosswordland), 26 DD with 1st def being ‘a’ as dbe (for instance) of LETTER. 

Down: 1 1st letter (primarily) of G(litches) inserted (discovered) in a lot (MANY) = (that’s) MANGY (shoddy), 2 Anagram (development is needed) of DORSET incorporating (claiming) last letter (ultimately) of nO = ROOSTED (settled), 3 Anagram (doctor) of alternate letters (occasionally) of DoPiNg + HEROIN = (as) ENDORPHIN (a form of pain relief), 5 Stones’ compilation (gRAVEL) minus g (not good) = (‘s) RAVEL (composer), 6 Whimsical reading of EARWIGS as wigs to keep the ears warm (ie hairy muffs) 7 Anagram (unexpected) of DELAY FOR A = YARD OF ALE (long drink), 10 Senior common room (SCR) + planned (hATCHED) minus (banning) head of H(istory) = SCRATCHED (withdrew), 13 CD playing Mandarin, the language, off against mandarin, the top civil servant, who might be heard in WHITEHALL (this part of London), 15 Convert (TURN) + piece of furniture (TABLE) = (into) TURNTABLE (something you can play music with), 17 He throws (POTtER) replacing (out, as transitive verb) the 2nd (last) t (thistle head) with (for) A + G(rand) = POTAGER (kitchen garden), 19 Using (VIA) + canal (DUCT) = (to get to) VIADUCT (bridge), 21 Homophone (reporting) Burgess for one (dbe for Guy/GUI) + will quickly (‘ll/LE) = (expose) GUILE (art), 22 Reversal (revolutionary) of the in Paris (LE) + reversal (revolutionary) of revolutionary (RED) = ELDER (senior).