Listener Crossword 4936: Solution Notes
Swaps by Luxor
Puzzle explanation
The letters reinstated in the across clues spelt out “national treasure exchange”. The left and right columns of the grid were unclued, containing SUTTON HOO HOARD and BAYEUX TAPESTRY. These were swapped in the grid, making new words, to reflect the Bayeux Tapestry being loaned by France to Britain, displayed in the British Museum from 10 September 2026, and the reciprocal loan from Britain to France of treasures from the Sutton Hoo hoard.
Clue explanations
Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal
| No | Letters +borrowed, -lent | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Across | |||
| 1 | (+E)land, (-N)Arrow | SLENDER | (END after L(and)) in RES < |
| 6 | inter(+N), Malt(-A) | TOMB | M in TOB(y) |
| 8 | (+A)roma, me(-T)al | ERBIUM | E(arthy) R(oma) + I in BUM |
| 10 | (+T)oilers, Spa(-I)n | TANKERS | (E + R + S) after (TAN + K) |
| 11 | (+I-O)f | LILY | LOFTILY − (OF + T) |
| 12 | so(+O)n, wi(-N)gs | SERAI | S + (v)ER(y) (v)AI(n) |
| 14 | (+N)early, (-A)gents | SPAE | SP + A(gents) E(arly) |
| 15 | (+A)head, Ho(-L)t | OTTER | O(thers) + UTTER − U |
| 16 | (+L-T)end | GOAT | GO + A(nd) T(end) |
| 17 | a(+T), Spo(-R)t | PLAYA | PLAY + A |
| 18 | t(+R)im(-E)s | LATEX | LATE + X |
| 20 | he(+E-A)ding | HARDINESS | D in (c)HARINESS |
| 23 | Tre(+A)t, cheer(-S) | STRETTA | TRET after S + TA |
| 24 | Hunter(+S), ho(-U)se | ORION | ON around RIO(t) |
| 27 | sho(+U)t, (-R)and | PROP | R in POP |
| 28 | (+R)eels, slop(-E) | DUNE | DUN + E(els) |
| 29 | Car(+E)d, scrap(-E) | TOSE | TO + S(crap)E |
| 31 | aid(+E)s, e(-X)ternally | OLID | O + L + AIDS − AS (on the outside) |
| 32 | a(+X)le, (-C)ore | PINTS | PINS around (me)T(al) |
| 33 | magi(+C), writ(-H)ing | AIMING | (IN MAGI) * |
| 35 | t(+H)ree, (-A)bout | RHUS | RHS around U |
| 36 | (+A)be(-N)t | COHEIR | HEROIC * |
| 37 | (+N)one, (-G)loss-making | DAMMER | 2 meanings |
| 38 | (+G)amble, on(-E) | STRAY | S + TRY around A |
| Down | |||
| 2 | LEAST | LEAS + (lef)T | |
| 3 | ERNE | homophone of EARN | |
| 4 | DREARY | R in DEARY | |
| 5 | RISSOLE | (c)RIS(p) + SOLE | |
| 6 | TULSA | LAST * around U | |
| 7 | MALAPERT | T(old) after (PE in ALARM *) | |
| 9 | BRIGANTINE | (I(gnorin)G + ANT) in BRINE | |
| 13 | READY | (REPLY − PL) around AD | |
| 17 | PATROL | PARTLY * with O for (mone)Y | |
| 19 | ASEPTIC | (h)A(r)S(h)E(r) + PT + I/C | |
| 21 | STRONGER | S + (REG(ion) + NOT around R) < | |
| 22 | MINIMUM | (M1 + MUM) around NI | |
| 25 | NUANCE | (d)ANCE after NU | |
| 26 | PEPLOS | PEP + LOS(t) | |
| 30 | STRIA | (goe)S + AIRT < | |
| 34 | ISM | ((Progra)M’S I(nstigator)) < | |