Why the mystery surrounding 'Tessa's' identity? There must be a very strong reason for it to be cloaked in such secrecy.

Indeed, Sylvia, one might think so.
Personally I don't give a fig who Tessa is. But there is something Kafkaesque about being judged by someone whose identity is not permitted to be known. Why the reluctance, one wonders. Could it be lack of judgely confidence, or simply a fear of being mugged in the street by a band of vengeful Sphereans?

Though revealing a name would not make Tessa a better or a worse judge it might give a hint of the judgely credentials behind the burka.
Everyone knows that the pseudonym Jaspistos was the Spectator's James Michie,excellent poet, man of wit, discernment and civilised charm -- whose translation of Homer is said to be the best. And none of us ever mugged him in the street for spurning our never-ceasing brilliance.

Most of us, I suspect, regard competitions as something akin to the Lottery. But most of Brits know the name of the orange idiot who fronts that event on Saturday night telly. And even he has escaped my oft-contemplated muggings -- as yet!

So what's with Tessa's coyness?

Maybe just a merry anagram, as so many here resort to. Could it be a gender thing - a castrate s.o.s? Or a slightly ungrammatical declaration of machismo - scrota sates?

Personally I don't give a rat's cosset if he sits where Socrates sat, judging stoats' races.

Tessa is the Oldie's co-star asset.

I don't know the reason for the secrecy, only that The Oldie staff won't divulge the identity of Tessa, who doesn't work at the magazine.

It was at an Oldie lunch a few years ago that one of them, who is no longer employed there, (no connection, I'm sure!) let it slip; she assumed that I already knew! She was horrified when she realised that I hadn't known till then... but I said I could be trusted not to spill the beans. I can't go back on a promise, can I? :)

As no one seems too bothered, anyway, the anonymity can continue. (Although I know who Tessa is, Martin, I haven't a clue who the orange idiot is, who fronts the Lottery programme on Saturday night TV! :eek:)

Jayne

But in that case you could easily find out...

Google "I am curious (Orange)" ?

I'm with Bazza.

And what's this stuff about 'missing the regular entrants'? I should have thought that a large number of them are members of this site, and have proved that they are alive and well by the quantity of postings on the original thread, of which a considerable number seemed to me far more amusing than the actual winners.

But perhaps - paranoia once again rears its ugly head - there was, for some unknown but sinister reason, a mass binning of Spherian entries?

And perhaps, after all, the Oldie too should be shunted off to Deep Drills just in case we really are being persecuted?

A fine set of anagrams, Ann. But I think you let Tessa off too lightly. In my view, the results represent an appalling wrong done to Spherians that I am sure many lawyers would be glad to take on as tort cases.

Actually, Brian, your entry made me laugh out loud.

But I would be very sorry if we had to hide any more competitions on Deep Drills. Since I went to great length to get "cookies" off my computer and don't want to put them back, I have had to find the Spectator competitions by other means -- and I would love to have them back again.

Quit the paranoia, Brian. I'm sure we're not being persecuted. I'm with Gail: no more Deep Drills, please. It ain't necessary to secrete our Oldie comp entries in that fashion.