Christmas crossword: Test your Yuletide word power.

Across

1. Old NZ radio and TV game show – with prize from Santa’s sack?! (3,2,3,3) 7. Do this to a slice of cake (3) 9. “Teaches a sultan” is an __ of the movie title The Santa Clause (7) 10. TV promos (7) 11. __ and Scully in The X-Files (6) 12. Matthew Perry’s Friends role (8) 14. What you use to light a candle (5) 16. You see TV stars here (2-6) 18. __ Brynner, festive-like name (3) 20. __ Lewis, TV puppeteer (5) 22. Rudolph The Red __ Reindeer – classic Christmas character (5)

24. Be ____, Scooby-Doo!, kids’ TV series (4)

25. __ Jolliff, Newshub Nation co-presenter (4) 26. Children love to __ presents (4) 30. Behaviour of big-headed star? (3,4) 31. Venue that stages Christmas pantomime (7)

32. Team in a Christmas TV game show, eg (4) 33. Jared __, US actor (4) 34. Short film sequence taken from movie or series (4)

36. __ Slept Here, 1954 Debbie Reynolds Christmas-themed film (5) 38. Play guitar with fingers (5) 39. I’ll Be Seeing __, 1944 Ginger Rogers film with Christmas setting (3) 41. US superheroine series (8) 43. US singer __ Lauper (5) 46. Sophisticated grace and style (8) 48. A Christmas __, 2017 movie (6) 51. Letters From __ __, 2006 Clint Eastwood film (3,4) 52. Latest TV weather forecasts (7) 53. Elton John’s official title (3) 54. Star of Christmas film Elf (4,7)

Down

1. __ __ __ Kissing Santa Claus, Christmas song (1,3,5) 2. Small Christmas decoration (7) 3. Shereez’s job in Shortland Street (5) 4. __ Alone, Christmas family movie (4) 5. 1988 Bette Midler movie – great places for NZ Christmas holidays (7) 6. __ & Stacey, British sitcom (5) 7. Tuneful Christmas entertainers (9) 8. Stun guns in cop show, eg (6)

13. The __ __, kids’ festive train-ride movie (5,7)

15. 2019 Jennifer Lopez movie about strippers (8)

17. __ Rumble, old Aussie house improvement series (4) 19. Kate & __, Meg Ryan movie (7) 21. All I Want For Christmas __ __ __ __ Teeth, 1944 song (2,2,3,5)

23. Performer like Fred Astaire, and one of Santa’s reindeer (6) 27. Paralyse with great fear (7) 28. Christmas meals (6) 29. Illustrated cartoon periodical published online (8) 35. This brings a white Christmas (4) 37. Back entrance for performers (5,4) 40. US movie production studio (9) 42. __ Caine starred in the 1992 film The Muppet Christmas Carol (7) 44. No, No, __ – Anna Neagle film (7) 45. Doctors in TV series M*A*S*H (6) 47. A Room With __ __, 1985 Helena Bonham Carter film (1,4)

49. Easy __, 1969 Peter Fonda film – or could be Santa on his sleigh? (5)

50. Hilary __, US actress – sounds like Christmas plum pudding (4)

Solutions on page 103 More puzzles on page 110