Crossword Genius

Crazed barber needs to dye head of woman, possibly (7,4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

sweeney todd

'crazed barber' is the definition.
(fictional murderous barber)

'needs to dye head of woman possibly' is the wordplay.
'head of' suggests taking the first letters.
'possibly' indicates anagramming the letters.
The initial letter of 'woman' is 'w'.
'needs'+'to'+'dye'+'w'='needstodyew'
'needstodyew' with letters rearranged gives 'SWEENEY TODD'.

(Other definitions for sweeney todd that I've seen before include "Murdering barber" , "Cut-throat" , "Murderer" , "Serial killer" , "Victorian villain" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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