Dave Gorman's New Cryptic Crossword: A Tutorial

The speaker begins by introducing a bonus edition of a crossword puzzle-solving session, focusing on a cryptic crossword created by British comedian Dave Gorman. The speaker's familiarity with Gorman through Twitter leads to the discovery of the puzzle's release. The initial paragraphs set the stage for the challenge, highlighting the presence of football-related clues and the speaker's anticipation in tackling them. The speaker also identifies the puzzle's creator, confirming the pseudonym 'Bluth' used by Dave Gorman. The segment ends with the speaker's strategy for approaching the crossword, emphasizing the importance of recognizing anagrams and the structure of cryptic clues.

In this paragraph, the speaker delves into the intricacies of solving cryptic crosswords, providing insights into the common patterns and strategies used. The speaker tackles specific clues, demonstrating how to interpret them and arrive at the correct answers. The explanation includes the identification of quick crossword definitions within the clues, the use of wordplay, and the manipulation of letters to form anagrams. The speaker also addresses the common misconception that knowledge of obscure facts is required to solve these puzzles, instead emphasizing the importance of understanding the clues' structure and the playful nature of word manipulation.

The speaker continues to work through the crossword, applying various solving techniques and sharing the thought process behind each step. The paragraph is filled with examples of how to decipher cryptic clues, including the use of abbreviations, anagrams, and wordplay. The speaker also injects humor into the process, acknowledging the challenge and occasional frustration of solving such puzzles. The segment showcases the speaker's familiarity with cryptic crossword conventions, such as the use of 'cockney' as a clue for dropping an 'h', and the international radio code for letters. The speaker's approach is both systematic and entertaining, highlighting the joy of solving puzzles while also acknowledging the occasional difficulty in deciphering certain clues.

The speaker encounters a series of challenging clues, each requiring a deep understanding of wordplay and the ability to think creatively. The paragraph details the speaker's attempts to solve these clues, which involve anagrams, hidden messages, and the extraction of letters from words. The speaker also reflects on the complexity of some clues, admitting to moments of confusion and uncertainty. Despite these challenges, the speaker remains determined and eventually finds success in solving the clues, demonstrating the rewarding nature of overcoming the puzzles' difficulties.

In this segment, the speaker focuses on clues related to theater and music, showcasing the diversity of themes within the crossword. The speaker navigates through a variety of clues, from identifying abbreviations to recognizing references to popular culture and specific professions. The paragraph highlights the speaker's ability to connect seemingly unrelated words and phrases to find the correct answers. The speaker also reflects on the educational aspect of solving crosswords, noting how it can introduce new concepts and words, such as the term 'fishmonger' and its association with a specific type of fish.

The speaker concludes the crossword-solving session by reflecting on the experience and the cleverness of the puzzles created by Dave Gorman. The speaker expresses appreciation for the intellectual challenge and the enjoyment derived from solving cryptic crosswords. The segment ends with the speaker looking forward to future puzzle-solving sessions, inviting the audience to join in the fun and continue exploring the world of cryptic crosswords.