Cryptic crossword No 2,209

Amazing puzzle! My favourites were 13a, 2d, and 17d personally 😁

Great puzzle! 5a, 3d and 17d are particular favourites :) I have a request - I have a YouTube channel called The Cryptic Mystic (1200 subs)(http://www.youtube.com/@The_Cryptic_Mystic) with the aim of demystifying cryptics and helping beginners discover the joy of solving them. I post walkthrough videos of me solving cryptics and explaining my thinking and the wordplay as I go. Would you have any objections to me featuring your puzzles in this way? I'd include links back to you here. Thanks :)

Really love the microstories painted by these surfaces, e.g., 15a, 22a, 24a, 4d, 7d. Thank you.

Nice one Gennaro, lots of fun and with some really great surfaces. I found it on your gentler end as I twigged *it* immediately (my first two in were 13a and 3d!) and of course that helped me with lots of the rest. Faves: 5a, 18a, 24a, 2d and 7d. Thanks!

Thanks Gennaro, I liked 5a, 21a and 23a the most... and I have only just noticed the easter egg, bravo!

Thanks Gennaro, good to be doing one of yours again, along with your signature device. I overlooked it while solving and it might have helped me crack a couple of the tougher nuts. Faves 21a, 23a, 8d & 18d. No real quibbles, but I’ll comment that 7a was a new one on me, despite my origin. Really does show that you learn something new every day!

Very good Gennaro, thanks. I just about worked out the SI in time for it to help. In particular, it narrowed down 7a to only one of the likely alternatives! Favourites: 5a, 23a, 24a (COTD), 7d and 18d. Spoiler …

Nice and gentle, Gennaro, as per. The trademark was helpful as Coot has said in narrowing down 7a though I still needed a guess at the end! 15a, 24a, 7d my podium. Thanks. PM