Best crossword clue?

[johnr]

Apologies to those in the 'Friday crossword' thread, but the Viz setter has a gem this month: 'Distinguished baritone - I fucked his arse madly'(7-7).

It got me thinking about how one goes about setting a clue like that. I know there is software for compilers - I used to use it myself - but how does this one come about? Does the setter come up with the answer, then create the clue, then build the grid around that? Or build a grid first (but that would be insane for an answer like this, wouldn't it?). Whatever, it kept me awake last night.

[Ginger Yellow]

Best crossword clue?

Grid->answers->clues is the general rule, I think, though obviously sometimes a setter will come up with a clue format that they're just looking for an opportunity to use.

[Duncan Gardner]

Best crossword clue?

Grid, solutions, clues in that order for me.

Anyway, here's are two semi-topical self-defining favorites from my own fair hand

Leading Caledonian Eleven lack total International credibility (6)

Blair Pal came last in reshuffle (8,8)

[Guy Profumo]

Best crossword clue?

Hang on, hang on.

Duncan Gardner wrote:

Grid, solutions, clues in that order for me.

Does that mean I'm competing against a professional crossword setter there?

[ad hoc]

Best crossword clue?

Is it a competition?

[Guy Profumo]

Best crossword clue?

ad hoc wrote: Is it a competition?

It is in the sense that there's a challenge we are trying to complete ahead of our peers.

[Duncan Gardner]

Best crossword clue?

Guy- the amount I've 'earned' from this gig would barely buy you, ad Hoc and I a high tea at Betty's Café, Ilkley.

(I did actually attend an xwordathon there once. All other enthusiasts welcome)

[MsD]

Best crossword clue?

I think ours is more fun, and the challenge is in using the solution in your next clue, surely? If it's a serious competition, I don't want to play, but I don't think you can claim it's that when half the challenge is to get rude words, innuendo, or - in my case - popular culture references (preferably with an Ant connection) into your "work".

[G-Man]

Best crossword clue?

johnr wrote: 'Distinguished baritone - I fucked his arse madly'(7-7).

So, what's the answer?

[Guy Profumo]

Best crossword clue?

MsD wrote: I think ours is more fun, and the challenge is in using the solution in your next clue, surely? If it's a serious competition, I don't want to play, but I don't think you can claim it's that when half the challenge is to get rude words, innuendo, or - in my case - popular culture references (preferably with an Ant connection) into your "work".

No. It's not a serious competition. But you are competing in some sense to be "first in" to get the response written down - but nothing more than that.

[Nurse Duckett]

Best crossword clue?

G-Man wrote:

'Distinguished baritone - I fucked his arse madly'(7-7).

So, what's the answer?

FISCHER-DIESKAU

(No, me neither)

[MsD]

Best crossword clue?

Admired for the control of his soft and beautiful instrument, according to Wikipedia. Fnarr.

I hope his relatives don't do the Viz crossword.

[Vicarious Thrillseeker]

Best crossword clue?

Aquatic mammal (5,3)

[johnr]

Best crossword clue?

Nurse Duckett wrote:

'Distinguished baritone - I fucked his arse madly'(7-7).

So, what's the answer?

FISCHER-DIESKAU

(No, me neither)

I only got it by googling 'Distinguished baritone'. That's what I love about the setter of the Viz crossword - they have to make everything filthy but also have good clues/answers in their own right. So I guess that's why I wondered about the thinking behind this one; did the setter ('Anus') know that this singer's name was an anagram of 'I fucked his arse', and create a grid around that, or what?

[Guy Profumo]

Best crossword clue?

johnr wrote:

'Distinguished baritone - I fucked his arse madly'(7-7).

So, what's the answer?

FISCHER-DIESKAU

(No, me neither)

I only got it by googling 'Distinguished baritone'. That's what I love about the setter of the Viz crossword - they have to make everything filthy but also have good clues/answers in their own right. So I guess that's why I wondered about the thinking behind this one; did the setter ('Anus') know that this singer's name was an anagram of 'I fucked his arse', and create a grid around that, or what?

Only the Shadow knows.

Mwaa-ha ha. Ha-ha!

[Mumpo]

Best crossword clue?

Worst crossword clue: any clue on which the answers to many other clues are dependent.

[denishurley]

Best crossword clue?

I made up a clue before but I've never had a chance to use it:

Oklahoma town sees return of lady of ill-repute (5)

[Guy Profumo]

Best crossword clue?

denishurley wrote: I made up a clue before but I've never had a chance to use it:

Oklahoma town sees return of lady of ill-repute (5)

Are you imposing a deadline of this time tomorrow for us to get that one?

[Guy Profumo]

Best crossword clue?

Mumpo wrote: Worst crossword clue: any clue on which the answers to many other clues are dependent.

This.

(And worst crosswords? Those ones where you've got no numbers on them, and you've got to fit in the answers "jigsaw like" where they will fit.)

[Toby Gymshorts]

Best crossword clue?

denishurley wrote: I made up a clue before but I've never had a chance to use it:

Oklahoma town sees return of lady of ill-repute (5)

Tulsa.

EDIT: Only just saw Guy's post. Beaten to the punch.

[ad hoc]

Best crossword clue?

(And worst crosswords? Those ones where you've got no numbers on them, and you've got to fit in the answers "jigsaw like" where they will fit.)

I like those ones

[Vicarious Thrillseeker]

Best crossword clue?

Vicarious Thrillseeker wrote: Aquatic mammal (5,3)

I'll do it meself: Ship's cat.

[Guy Profumo]

Best crossword clue?

ad hoc wrote:

(And worst crosswords? Those ones where you've got no numbers on them, and you've got to fit in the answers "jigsaw like" where they will fit.)

I like those ones

I think you'll find the closest English translation to what I said is "because I can't do those ones"

[denishurley]

Best crossword clue?

Guy Potger wrote:

I made up a clue before but I've never had a chance to use it:

Oklahoma town sees return of lady of ill-repute (5)

Are you imposing a deadline of this time tomorrow for us to get that one?

I'm feeling silly - am I missing some reference?

[ad hoc]

Best crossword clue?

24 hours from...