Solving the Broadcaster's Question Cryptic Clue

Cryptic crossword clues can seem daunting at first, but once you understand the structure, they become much more manageable. Let's break down this classic puzzle step by step.

Understanding the Clue Structure

Every cryptic clue has three essential components:

• Definition: A synonym or description of the answer
• Indicators: Instructions that tell you how to manipulate the fodder
• Fodder: The words or letters you'll manipulate to find the answer

Our clue: "Broadcaster's question: 'Is Jamie Oliver completely naked?'"

Step 1: Identify the Definition

The definition here is "Broadcaster's question." This tells us the answer should be a question that a broadcaster might ask on air.

Think about what radio and TV broadcasters commonly ask at the start of their shows or during broadcasts. What's the most urgent question they need answered before going live?

Step 2: Spot the Indicator

The indicator is "completely naked." This is a deletion indicator—it tells us we need to remove letters from our fodder.

The phrase "completely naked" is clever because it suggests removing outer layers. In cryptic terminology, this indicator signals that we should delete letters at specific positions.

Step 3: Work with the Fodder

Our fodder is "Jamie Oliver." These are the letters we'll manipulate.

Write out the letters:

J-A-M-I-E-O-L-I-V-E-R

Now, the indicator "completely naked" tells us to delete specific letters. "Naked" positions typically refer to the outer edges or exposed letters when words are "stripped bare."

Step 4: Apply the Deletion

When we remove the outer letters (the first and last letters of "Jamie Oliver" as a phrase, or the first and last from each word), we uncover:

From "Jamie": Remove J and E → AMI
From "Oliver": Remove O and R → LIVE

Combining these gives us: AMI LIVE or better written as AM I LIVE

Step 5: Verify the Answer

"Am I live?" is exactly the kind of urgent question a broadcaster asks before going on air. It fits the definition perfectly!

This is a brilliant example of how cryptic clues disguise the answer through wordplay and misdirection. The clue seems to be about a celebrity chef, but it's actually about manipulating the letters in his name.

Key Takeaway

When solving cryptic puzzles, always:

• Identify the three components: definition, indicator, and fodder
• Understand what the indicator instructs you to do
• Manipulate the fodder according to those instructions
• Check that your answer matches the definition

With practice, you'll recognize common indicators like "completely naked," "bare," or "stripped" and solve these puzzles faster. Keep playing daily cryptic clues to sharpen your solving skills!