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When November’s Genius puzzle germinated in July, no one knew how popular its hidden theme would be by the time of publication. “A celebrity version of The Traitors?” sniffed the sceptics. “We – and they – will already know the personalities. Typical terrible TV idea. Won’t work.”
Eleven million live viewers later, we can now have a look at the filled version of Glyph’s remarkable grid. Or rather, grids. Solvers are told:
Entrants must pick a side. The majority of down clues must have a letter removed before solving. These letters, taken in clue order, inform the solver of one who may not pick a side.
The extra letters gave us CLAUDIA WINKLEMAN and four clues were ambiguous, giving equally valid answers such as these …
BEARS or BARES
PATER or PRIOR
FAT or OAT
GOLFBALL or GOLFBAGS
… meaning that the central entry T __ E __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ could equally well be THE FAITHFUL or THE TRAITORS.
There is even more to it than that and the puzzle as a whole plays the same mind games as its subject; I wonder what Glyph will have for us next?
December’s Genius awaits and in our cluing conference, thank you for your clues for SCALES. The audacity award is Montano’s for the knowingly unwieldy “Sibelius and Shostakovich premieres gatecrashed by experimental musician playing drone-like patterns of notes?”
One runner-up is Crowsfeet324 for “Musical ups and downs for soprano after second cold beer”; the other is a rare joint honour. In a paragon of collegiate working and a demonstration that comments sections need not be toxic, we have, from Mr_Rob_T and Newlaplandes: “Amusing at heart, Cleese regularly seen penning a line for her”.
And the winner: “A major climbs ranges. A minor too”. Kludos to KenJam; please leave entries for CAT BURNS below, along with any favourite clues or puzzles you have spotted.
188 Words for Rain by Alan Connor is published by Ebury (£16.99). To support the Guardian, order your copy at guardianbookshop.com. Delivery charges may apply.
