Crossword help required.

Hope someone can. I'm intrigued.

Had a quick google and can't get close to any connection

a prostitute's customer ?

I googled, too, and couldn't find anything.

In the Guardian?

My brain ends with John is a name...or john is a toilet...or a 'John Hancock' is a signature.

No connection anywhere to Looking?   (Please note that the question mark is part of the clue and will have some bearing).

Yes, I've considered the question mark.

I did think of looking for a toilet

It just doesn't hold together, though. The prostitute's customer is a new thought but still can't see why.

its loo king
as in loo/toilet/john
and king john

bog off

great shout linden

I must say I was throne by that clue .

sends yer round the bend.............

Well done, lindentree!

I'd never have worked that out.

Naydam will be thrilled

Naydam IS pleased! Thank you Linden, I would have been mulling over that for weeks!
They're always so obvious when you finally suss out the clue. I'm always trying to remind myself not to read the clue as it seems.

Ive made a note of the crossword number and I was toying with contacting the crossword editor!!

Mind you, I'm STILL not happy with Cecil Rhodes...but that's another story.

Thank you also to all other posters...I'm so chuffed that I forgot me manners!

Naydam....
There is a good website, fifteensquared.com which explains the answers to cryptic crosswords in all the quality dailies.  As this is a prize crossword however you would have to wait a week before it is published, in the week they are up almost immediately.  A good site, and a great way of learning cryptics.

Overworked postman - How many letters? - feckin thousands

of of of of of of of of of of (10)

Frequently!

excellent and interesting post

Must've (5,7,3,3)

Any chance of a couple of letters?

I wonder if Mr Badger will give a yes or no to the other one?

Third word is the

Great site that fifteen squared, rob.

I may try a few cryptic ones.  The Times not covered though on there?

Must've (5,7,3,3)

You have stumped us there Rob.

Best I can come up with is

short version the buy   (as in "must have" is something one wants to buy)

Thought of "Quite certain" which would fit without the last two words.

T----/O------/THE/B--

Think outside the box?

You got it.

Thanks, you made it easy in the end.

Someone please explain that one for a thicko.

Muse(think) outside TV(box)

the 2 ronnies sketch...............passengers in train compartment doing the   crosswords in newspapers  ......corbet very vocal  as the working class passenger and having difficulty calls  out a   clue for his  crossword ........... calls out! 4 letters ,last 2 letters I T .......can often be found at bottom of budgies cage .......barker as the city gent in bowler hat and suit  says its simple .......the answer is grit ......g r i t.......... grit .........cue to a nun doing same crossword hastily correcting her answer

Thanks Rob.  I have a long way to go, I think.

Jul 5, 2014 -- 3:27PM, MisterBadger wrote:

of of of of of of of of of of (10)

OFTENTIMES ("of" ten times)

indeed franzi

sorry naydam, only just seen your post... you weren't a million miles away 

Ah! My thinking was 'often' which I was going to post until I saw (10 letters)...So I thought OK a double clue sort of thing...so it's a 10 letter word meaning 'often' therefore the answer is 'Frequently'!

Too much thinking, methinks. Although I DID rule out 'Ofttimes'. Never even heard of 'oftentimes' but that's the beauty of crosswords...they teach you all sorts of things that you've never heard of. 

Oftentimes sounds like one of those made up American words that keep getting incorporated into English. I would prefer frequently being old school.

Aye. But of course, the clue was 'of' ten times!