The Times Crossword Friday Masterclass: 19 April 2024

Thanks for keeping the crossword videos going. They gave become my favorite part of the channel and I look forward to them every week.

“I saved someone’s life in Bali, believe it or not…let’s move on”. Please expand, Simon!

For even when on holiday, giving us a cryptic crossword that we all love, along with pre recorded videos all week. You truly are special Simon!! Mark and you make this channel and community what it is!!

According to wikipedia, that elusive general was the brother of the more famous Hannibal.. So you were close from the beginning.

As always Simon, top-flight video!

I completed this crossword late last night and had been looking forward to watching this video all day. It was lovely to hear some of the clues explained, as I was unable to fully parse all of them. I managed to complete it using the crossing letters. I had also never heard of Hasdrubal. After watching an expert solver struggle with the name, I went to ask my husband (British, no interest whatsoever in cryptics) whether he knew who Hannibal's brother was? Without hesitation, he replied "Hasdrubal Barca" and started telling me all about Carthaginian history. I complimented him on his knowledge, which was my mistake, as he then proceeded to follow me around the house to tell me everything he knows about the Carthaginians, which sure is a lot. If only I could convince him to help me solve cryptic crosswords, we'd be a formidable team. I thought the "cadaverous" clue was defined as "not exactly a man", haha! Gosh, it was a very clever puzzle indeed, very enjoyable.

Don’t mind me, just picking a bone with the algorithm. Hey, algorithm. Remember me? I’ve been following this channel for years. I clicked the bell white to receive ALL notifications. I watch every video. I click Like on every video. I click the link under the video. I 💕the puzzles I manage to solve. I comment on videos. I Like some comments. I ask to be alerted for live streams. Witch I watch. And like. And comment. If I could sing to the videos, pat them on the head, or feed them cake (with the proper icing ratio), I would. So when Simon does cryptic crosswords, why on this green earth can’t I get an alert? He does them every Friday. At the same time. It’s not rocket science. It’s not even cryptic crosswords. As the memes say, you have one job. Algorithm, my fair-weather friend, I know you don’t care. You won’t read this message. You won’t alert me next Friday. You’ll keep pushing UFOs and nazis and other stuff I wouldn’t watch if you paid me. But you know what, Algorithm? You pissed off the wrong cookbook writer. I am making it my mission to get this channel more visibility and engagement and push. If nearly 600k subs aren’t enough for you, let’s see how you fare when I’m done with you. This is war.

Lovely solve. “Temporarily put up shelter” meaning umbrella was another very clever misdirection.

Simon, There's an old Eddie Izzard video where he talks about Cartheginian Generals Hannibal, Hasdrubal and Havabanana. Lovely solve though

Thank you Simon for not forgetting us even on your Holiday. Have fun for us too... The Crosswords are an integral part of the Content here. The Sudokus have evolved since the beginning, but I think that is a symbiotic relationship with the Channel... Constructors have an avenue to a wider audience so they make more and varied puzzles which the Channel shows to a wider and wider audience. The Crosswords have rather stiff rules that govern them (because otherwise how would they be solved?!) but the sheer variety of clues (and the geniuses that come up with them) sometimes means that they can not be easily accessed by new people. I love this channel for it's anti gatekeeping ways. Secrets are discussed regularly, and working your way into answers because you have no idea what the word is the clue is hinting at is part and parcel of the learning experience.

Did some extra research and learned new stuff. Thanks to Simon and Google I now know gam= school of whales, gamp = umbrella, Hannibal had a brother, Archimedes yelled eureka from his bathtub as he discovered buoyancy, and a version of parrot is a lorikeet!!

I've never wanted to hang out with someone as much as i want to hang out with Simon

thanks for continuing this Simon & Mark! 😁

I like to attempt the crossword first and then watch Simon's solve. I got stuck on the two final clues Simon solved. It was very interesting to see how he went about solving them. I also initially put Camp! I learn something new everytime from these fantastic videos.

Thank you once again for another hour's delight on Friday.

Working very well!! Hope you are having a relaxing holiday!!

Great solve. Bis is what the French say for encore and biscuit means twice cooked (thanks QI)

Love the crosswords!!!

I would have thought 1A would be really easy for Simon: TopFlight is a brand of golf balls!

Thanks for the fun and interesting Friday feature - even from your holiday location you bring this to us! I love it, Simon.