The Times Crossword Friday Masterclass: Episode 56
TLDRIn this masterclass edition of 'Cracking the Cryptic,' the presenter tackles a notoriously challenging Times cryptic crossword, sharing insights and struggles along the way. With references to comedians' love for cryptic puzzles and poets like Anthony Ethin, the video delves into the intricacies of the puzzle, revealing the constructor's clever wordplay and the solver's perseverance. The experience highlights the joy and frustration of solving cryptic crosswords, ending with a reflection on the difficulty and knowledge required for such a task.
Takeaways
- 🧩 The video is a masterclass edition of 'Cracking the Cryptic' focusing on solving The Times cryptic crossword, which is considered highly challenging.
- 🥇 The Times crossword's difficulty is underscored by its 'snitch rating,' with only one puzzle in the past year being harder than the current one.
- 🏆 John McCab, a fast solver, and Matthew Marcus, the reigning Times crossword champion, are mentioned for their impressive solving times.
- 😄 The video creator shares a humorous anecdote about comedians Tim Vine, John Archer, and their manager completing a Times crossword, highlighting the appeal of crosswords to those who enjoy language.
- 📚 Anthony Ethin, a poet known for his anagrammatic poetry, is highlighted, showcasing the creativity and linguistic prowess involved in crosswords.
- 🔍 The video provides insights into the thought process and strategies used when tackling cryptic clues, such as identifying anagrams and homophones.
- 🎯 The importance of experience in deciphering cryptic clues is emphasized, as the video creator admits to still being 'hopeless' despite decades of solving crosswords.
- 🤔 The video creator struggles with certain clues, reflecting the complexity and the need for a broad knowledge base to solve the crossword.
- 📝 Specific clues are discussed in detail, such as 'recite the rosary holding a rope' and 'old king got up on pickup truck,' illustrating the depth of analysis required.
- 🌐 The video touches on the broader crossword community, mentioning famous solvers and the social aspects of crossword puzzles.
- 🎉 The video concludes with the video creator successfully solving the crossword, despite the challenges, and encourages viewers to like the video and share their thoughts.
Q & A
What is the difficulty level of the Times cryptic crossword mentioned in the transcript?
-The difficulty level of the Times cryptic crossword discussed in the transcript is very high, as it is noted that in the last year, only one puzzle has been rated harder than this one.
Who are some of the people mentioned as fast solvers of the Times crossword?
-John McCab, Mistigris, and Matthew Marcus are mentioned as fast solvers of the Times crossword. John McCab is noted for often finishing the puzzle in just over 3 minutes, while Matthew Marcus, the reigning Times crossword champion, has an average solving time of about 5 minutes.
What is the significance of the comedian Tim Vine's tweet in the transcript?
-The significance of Tim Vine's tweet is that it highlights the joy and challenge of solving cryptic crosswords, as he and his colleagues finished a Times crossword for the first time. The tweet also serves as a relatable moment for those who have struggled with crosswords, as it depicts a messy grid that solvers may have experienced in the past.
Which poet is mentioned in the transcript for their interesting anagrammatic work?
-Anthony Ethin is the poet mentioned in the transcript for his interesting anagrammatic work, specifically a poem where every line is an anagram of the next.
What is the specific cryptic clue discussed at the beginning of the transcript?
-The specific cryptic clue discussed at the beginning of the transcript is 'recite the rosary holding a rope'.
What does the term 'felet' mean in the context of the transcript?
-In the context of the transcript, 'felet' is a term used to describe a word that has a hidden or embedded word within it, such as 'recite the rosary' hiding the words 'the' and 'rope'.
What is the significance of the 'improvident' clue in the transcript?
-The significance of the 'improvident' clue is that it leads to the discovery of the word 'ident', which is a short film or sound sequence used in broadcasting and is synonymous with a station jingle. This clue is an example of how cryptic crossword clues can require a deep understanding of vocabulary and wordplay.
What is the meaning of 'tetrameters' in the context of the cryptic crossword discussed in the transcript?
-In the context of the cryptic crossword, 'tetrameters' refers to a line of verse of four metrical feet, which is a term from poetry meter. This clue involved a play on words with 'four-footers', leading to the answer 'tetrameters'.
What is the relevance of the 'agile Gibbon' in the transcript?
-The 'agile Gibbon' is relevant as it is part of the cryptic crossword puzzle being solved. Initially, the speaker was unsure about its validity, but upon looking it up, it was confirmed that 'agile Gibbon' refers to a type of Gibbon found in Indonesia, showing the wide range of knowledge required to solve such puzzles.
What does the phrase 'lighting up time' refer to in the context of the cryptic crossword?
-In the context of the cryptic crossword, 'lighting up time' refers to the time when street lamps are turned on, typically around sunset. This phrase is used as a cryptic clue for a specific answer in the puzzle.
Outlines
🧩 Introduction to the Cryptic Crossword Challenge
The speaker introduces the masterclass edition of 'Cracking the Cryptic', expressing trepidation about tackling the challenging Times cryptic crossword. The puzzle has a high difficulty rating, with only one being harder in the past year. The speaker reviews solving times of notable solvers like John McCab and Matthew Marcus, and shares anecdotes about comedians' affinity for cryptic crosswords. They also mention poets like Anthony Ethin and Brian Bilston, highlighting a poem that is an anagram of every other line.
🥁 Struggling with the Challenging Puzzle
The speaker continues to grapple with the crossword, finding the initial clues difficult. They discuss various strategies for solving cryptic clues, such as anagrams and homophones, and share their thought process as they attempt to solve specific clues. The speaker also reflects on their past experiences with crosswords, recalling the messiness of solving on paper and the evolution of their skills over time.
🎭 Solving Clues with Wordplay and Anagrams
The speaker dives deeper into the wordplay and anagrams required to solve the crossword. They discuss the clues they are tackling, the methods they are using to decipher them, and the satisfaction of finding the correct answers. The speaker also shares their knowledge of certain words and phrases, such as 'Caledonian' and 'Gibbon', and how they fit into the puzzle.
🌟 Reflecting on the Crossword's Complexity
The speaker reflects on the complexity of the crossword, acknowledging the difficulty of the puzzle and the range of knowledge required to solve it. They discuss specific clues and how they managed to find the answers, despite the challenge. The speaker also expresses surprise at some of the more obscure words and phrases they encountered, such as 'agile Gibbon' and 'tetrameters'.
📚 Justifying the Crossword Answers
The speaker goes through the crossword answers they have provided, justifying their solutions and discussing the logic behind them. They look up certain words to confirm their validity and share their thoughts on the constructor's craft in creating the puzzle. The speaker also expresses their appreciation for the viewers who enjoy these crossword videos and encourages them to engage with the content.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Cryptic Crossword
💡John McCab
💡Matthew Marcus
💡Tim Vine
💡Anthony Ethin
💡Snitch Rating
💡Improvident
💡Tribune
💡Tetrameters
💡Agile Gibbon
💡Tail Race
Highlights
The Times cryptic crossword is attempted with a high level of difficulty, as indicated by the snitch rating.
In the past year, only one puzzle has been rated harder than the current one.
John McCab, a fast solver, completes puzzles in just over 3 minutes.
Matthew Marcus is the reigning Times crossword champion with an average solving time of about 5 minutes.
The comedian Tim Vine and others finished a Times crossword, which is a notable achievement.
Comedians' affinity for cryptic crosswords is attributed to their love for language.
Anthony Ethin, a poet, is highlighted for his work that involves anagrams of lines that also rhyme and scan.
The puzzle involves a variety of clues, some of which are anagrams and others are more straightforward.
The solver shares personal anecdotes related to solving crosswords, such as the 'bumps' incident.
The solver discusses the process of solving, including the use of abbreviations and homophones.
The transcript includes a detailed explanation of how certain clues lead to the answers.
The solver reflects on the difficulty of the puzzle and the range of knowledge required to solve it.
The transcript provides insights into the strategies used when solving cryptic crosswords.
The solver engages with the audience by asking for their thoughts on the puzzle's difficulty.
The video's purpose is to entertain and educate viewers on the art of solving cryptic crosswords.
The solver's approach to the puzzle involves a mix of experience, intuition, and knowledge of language.
The transcript showcases the solver's ability to handle complex and challenging clues.
The solver's reflections on the puzzle provide a behind-the-scenes look at the thought process involved in solving cryptic crosswords.
Transcripts
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