1. The first – an archangel – who’s guarding a vase?
2. The second – spends more than an age at his house?
CHRISTOPHER FAIRBANK (Shagrat): The third graced our screens in ‘Auf Wiedersehen, Pet!’
4. The fourth was a Prince on a Veronese set.
5. The fifth, though no hobbit, loves victuals and drink,
6. The sixth – Walford matriarch allows us – I think!
7. The seventh played quack to Ross Poldark’s old flame -
8. The eighth, (flag the second), definitive Thain!*
9. The ninth, (flag the fourth), a Walfordian quack -
10. The tenth – Tucker’s sister? (Once a river flows back).
11. In eleven, a saint meets a foundling most poor -
12. In twelve, it seems Shakespeare’s nearby, but wherefore? **
13. Thirteen is a saint, and a visionary too, **
14. Fourteen is a maid, and a gemstone most true.
15. Fifteen: Eighties game, plus a bounder and measure, **
DAVID COLLINGS (Legolas): Sixteen plays the son of an elf who loves treasure.
17. For seventeen, no spade? Petrified, but not dead!
18. Eighteen, (flag the sixth), Attercop! Poison-head!
19. The nineteenth, twice queenly, a pen or car-stopper?
20. With twenty as glue, the tale won’t come a cropper! **
21. Twenty-one is no Jekyll. On horseback he jogs,
RICHARD O'CALLAGHAN (Merry): Twenty-two steers a barge, or plays fair Lewis Boggs!
23. This sibilant genius is our twenty-three - ***
24. Two dozen! - a Potter, and Old English sea!
The whole means a drama, of quality rare,
Where thesps and their ilk show considerable flair!
I left out the ‘sounds likes’ to make it flow better,
So - enjoy the clues! (From Pervinca, your setter).
( * Well, future Thain).
(** Flag the second).
(*** Flag the third).
THEME: THE BBC 'LORD OF THE RINGS' RADIO DRAMATISATION.
Quite sure, thank you.
You are right that 'Walfordian' - in both cases - refers to 'Eastenders' - but neither of the stars is Gillian Taylforth.