A lot of classical music, a couple of giants and a little bit of fringe politics in the best of the broadsheets’ cryptic clues …
A tweet of delight from Classic FM’s Tim Lihoreau:
The solution to yesterday's @guardian crossword, set by @enigmatistelgar
Check out the letters upwards on the left. #allMyChristmasespic.twitter.com/kjgSku1CFg
16acCivilisationdivided, decoy blurring boundaries (7)
[ synonym for ‘divided’ + synonym for ‘decoy’, swapping the letters where they meet (‘blurring boundaries’) ]
[ CUT + LURE with the T and L swapped ]
19acMaybe Arsenal’s big striker? (4)
[ name for an item used for striking]
Cryptic crossword with a Classic FM theme! #classicfm#classicalmusic#radio3#bbcradio3#crossword#crosswords#crypticxwordpic.twitter.com/FBQpOuzOnQ
25acDirty work identifies party faction (4,6)
[ synonym for ‘dirty’ + synonym for ‘work’ ]
8dBloody judge imprisoning oldNick Timothy? (3,4)
[ synonym for ‘bloody’, then synonym for ‘judge’ containing abbrev. for ‘old’ ]
[ RED, then TRY containing O ]
4d/13d/21dHe’s chalked upextraordinary recent gains hedging Swedish celebs (5,5,5)
[ anagram (‘extraordinary’) of RECENTGAINS, surrounding (‘hedging’) some famous Swedes ]
[ CERNESGIANT surrounding ABBA ]