Remake

Published in the Sunday Telegraph's Enigmatic Variations series as No. 1277: Remake by Eclogue on 7th May 2017.



Half of the clues are missing a letter in their definition, while the other half have gained those same letters in a different order.  When rearranged, the letters provide a thematic link to a surname that appears in the initial grid.  Solvers must replace this name with one reflecting the modern REMAKE of the theme, leaving all real words or proper nouns throughout the grid.

Letters omitted (NO SLIM MIDFIELD UNWORTHY) or added (IN RUN-OF-THE-MILL DOWDYISM) to clues can be rearranged to spell “THE WINDMILLS OF YOUR MIND”, used as the theme to the 1968 film, THE THOMAS CROWN AFFAIR starring Steve MCQUEEN.  The 1999 REMAKE starred Pierce BROSNAN in the lead role.

                                   

                                  INITIAL GRID                                                          FINAL GRID

Delivery

Appearing as Inquisitor 1487 on 22nd April 2017, Delivery celebrates a famous sketch by Victoria Wood, who died on 20th April 2016.

The sketch features Julie WALTERS as an elderly waitress trying to deliver TWO SOUPS to diners played by Celia IMRIE and Duncan PRESTON.  During the long walk across the restaurant floor she gradually spills all of the soup so that in the end TWO BOWLS devoid of soup comprise the final DELIVERY.

Solvers are required to reinstate a letter missing from the definition part of each clue.  In clue order, these spell out further works of Victoria Wood:  Pat and Margaret, Acorn Antiques and Dinner Ladies.

Finally, solvers must highlight the appearances in the grid of the phrases TWO SOUPS and TWO BOWLS, WALTERS on a diagonal and the unclued 23d (PRESTON), 29d (IMRIE) and of course, 12d (VICTORIA WOOD).

Solver feedback:

"Thanks for a lovely Inquisitor puzzle. I really enjoyed solving it!

Best wishes

Derek Harrison
The Crossword Centre"