April 07 2011
Celebrity Semolina
This week I’m putting together a Wordwit puzzle for mid-May, one that features the likes of Tom Cruise, Meg Ryan and Steve Irwin. Can you spot their link? The secret lies in anagrams, since all three celebs can yield a single word (or nation) when scrambled:
Costumier
Germany
Interviews
If you know your puzzle lore, you’ll also know that all three names are chestnuts, been around for yonks, just like Britney Spears (Presbyterians) or Al Gore (galore – or gaoler). To the same list you can add Eric Clapton (narcoleptic) and Eddie Albert (deliberated).
But beyond that coterie, we start to run dry. Eligible names are either obsolete – like actor Sal Mineo (semolina) – or the hidden words obtuse: Anne Rice (narceine), Eric Cantona (canceration), Nam Le (leman) and so on.
In a bid to find fresh turf, I’ve dug up a few more specimens, but still feel there must be plenty more I’m missing. Here below I’ve given you the name, coupled with a clue to the anagram. Can you solve all five – then extend the modest list?
1 Tim Lane disease
2 Conditions Red Symons
3 Overcame Dee Smart (actress)
4 Spring Ben Cousins
5 Sways Cass Elliot
Think of any more?
Comments
Alec Ihm — 07 April at 10:39AM
1. a
2. s
3. m
4. b
5. o
DC — 07 April at 10:53AM
Claire Danes is an anagram of calendarise. This is probably of little interest to anyone.
DA — 07 April at 10:58AM
She also holds CAR in her first three odd letters, then ends with a mix of SEDAN.
6 Again frame Tom Uren
Sam — 07 April at 10:58AM
this is tricky - and I'm guessing:
Jack Black club
is a bit obvious?
Alec Ihm — 07 April at 11:02AM
6. r
7. b
RK — 07 April at 11:03AM
7. Pleases Ed Asner
Alec Ihm — 07 April at 11:03AM
8. Fasten Li Na
RK — 07 April at 11:04AM
Make that 8.
RK — 07 April at 11:04AM
Ok, mine can be 7.5
Alec Ihm — 07 April at 11:05AM
Oops, sorry.
The Jack Black one starts with 'b'.
7. E
DA — 07 April at 11:06AM
Nice one, RK. And Sam: they're not so hard, so long as you pick the right name. Look for a blanace of vowels and compatible consonants, then mix on paper or anagram engine.
I felt sure Prue Acton had a 9-er, but PRECAUTION is one too many. While OSTRICH ignores Rob Sitch's B.
El Pez — 07 April at 11:06AM
There is a BBC personality by the name of Andi Peters (PEDESTRIAN).
El Pez — 07 April at 11:06AM
There is a BBC personality by the name of Andi Peters (PEDESTRIAN).
Boniface — 07 April at 11:09AM
9. Tim Lane food
10. Understatement by T S Eliot
I note that (former) Chris Evert Lloyd makes "Very chilled sort", Robbie Coltrane makes "Celebration Orb", Lara Bingle, "Algebra - Nil" and Peter Andre, 'A Pretender" but as those are multiple word answers I won't submit them (just as Mel Gibson misses out too).
DA — 07 April at 11:15AM
No big melons on this site, Boniface. Try elsewhere, thanks.
11 Rank Al Green
RK — 07 April at 11:34AM
12. Gina G getting on in years
DA — 07 April at 01:26PM
A rookie with Melbourne Demons is Cale Morton. Your choice: chips or biscuit. (Alas, a 2-worder.)
RK — 07 April at 01:35PM
13. Toni Basil drinks
RK — 07 April at 01:47PM
14. Dinah Lee banner
Boniface — 07 April at 02:12PM
15. Usain Bolt ceremonially washing
RK — 07 April at 02:13PM
16. Mata Hari's tragic flaw
Boniface — 07 April at 02:27PM
Believe it or not, I just found one more obvious than Sam's pontoon:
17. Adam Ant not budging
Mr X — 07 April at 04:25PM
Do initials count ? If so:
18. R.D. Laing is precious
Alec Ihm — 07 April at 04:53PM
18. Perfectly Liam Brady
19. Tim Russ' mottos
20. Inadvertedly Roger Daltrey
DA — 07 April at 06:08PM
16 Hamartias - I had to cheat with that one. This fatal floaw is bookmarked for a WoW one day. (Love the +S fudge too.)
17 Mind the gap
18 Lord of the seas
19 Harry S sayings?
20 20/20 hindsight
21 Anne Rice's factories
RK — 07 April at 06:44PM
I'd love to accept praise for a clever fudge, but it's actually hamartia singular. The 's' was just in there for surface sense.
robskee — 07 April at 10:40PM
Naomi Watts is soooo close to being ANATOMIST; sadly no cigar. The only one I can come up with tonight is:
Steve Price considered individually
Nib — 08 April at 12:25AM
Tsk, failed to hit pay dirt but unearthed some interesting nuggets along the way.
Adam Sandler was just shy of salamander.
Chris Robin almost caught Bronchitis.
Saint Peter would have made a great cruciverbalist as a Painsetter.
Tina Arena's birth name is Filippina Arena. Whhhhhat?!
David Weir is an anagram of Edward VII. A missing monarch perhaps?
Martin Elliott has some great two-word combinations, such as Tolerant Limit. (Missy Elliott makes for Slimy Toilets.)
DA — 08 April at 08:54AM
Oh Nib, those near misses. I'm feeling your pain. Here's a glimpse of my oh-so-close list:
Peter Singer - enterprise
Linda Evans - vandalise
Hal Porter - plethora
Marc Bolan - abnormal
Angus Stone - gauntness
Dean Martin - marinated
Colin Hay - halcyon
Dava Sobel - absolved...
...and my favourite: Bob Ellis (lobbies!)
DC — 08 April at 11:00AM
22. Chris Lee, American politician and swindler
23. No-one's skinnier than Stan Lee
24. Mina Loy, prolific writer paid for marriage
25. A. A. Milne has thin plates
DA — 08 April at 11:23AM
22 A cold one?
23 Jack Sprat's kinda guy
24 Splitting headache?
25 Films would make a tougher clue
26 Court ruling for Ben Elias
27 Sam Riley: loser
28 Space tourist Dennis Tito gets inflamed