Daily Answers

1-across – A bishop’s booklet, conceptual : ABSTRACT

5-across – Endless dexterity required in vehicle drawn by reindeer : SLEIGH

9-across – Stable studies article during series of races : CONSTANT

10-across – Green permit displayed on front of caravan : CALLOW

11-across – Film barrister with experience : BRIEFENCOUNTER

14-across – Superior using a couple of books : ABBOT

15-across – Intricate patterns round southern parts of cathedrals : TRANSEPTS

17-across – Laid index out for New Orleans jazz : DIXIELAND

19-across – A pair on part of airfield : APRON

20-across – Dracula – wicked vampire, halted crossing lake : VLADTHEIMPALER

23-across – Key in on purpose : LEGEND

24-across – Share a hobby : INTEREST

25-across – Plantation close to Riverdale, Georgia, perhaps : ESTATE

26-across – Nurse got boiled fish : STURGEON

1-down – Knowing tramp’s got miles away : ARCH

2-down – Competitor getting under small tree for shelter : SENTRYBOX

3-down – About to handle withdrawal : RETREAT

4-down – Focus on coin in box : CONCENTRATE

6-down – Alliance’s former measures : LEAGUES

7-down – Bay home leased : INLET

8-down – King’s wife’s demise in novel : HOWARDSEND

12-down – Cryptic clue to named painter : CLAUDEMONET

13-down – Poorly valued, live music hall : VAUDEVILLE

16-down – Exercise runs rigorous? Keep at it : PERSEVERE

18-down – Like the dodo, once caught in shade : EXTINCT

19-down – Layman, a friend, visiting ancient city : AMATEUR

21-down – General feeling of anxiety in Pyongyang stores : ANGST

22-down – Shock heads coming over : STUN

1-across – Absurd, like the team that always loses? : POINTLESS

6-across – Start of Boléro– unaltered arrangement : BASIS

9-across – Peacock’s last put in to annoy Bohemian poet : RILKE

10-across – Guide showing policeman clergyman’s residence : DIRECTORY

11-across – Managed to invite endless resentment : RANCOUR

12-across – Fiery type, husband associated with Proust novel : HOTSPUR

13-across – Oddity in terribly icy dairy sons may reveal : IDIOSYNCRASY

17-across – Gofer may make off with diamonds, jewels originally in our vaults : OFFICEJUNIOR

20-across – Rally rounding on head of state : MONARCH

21-across – Weird row on street : STRANGE

22-across – Game not about to be brought round in place of cheese : ROQUEFORT

23-across – Water animal and swine beheaded : OTTER

24-across – Guide showing prophet round heart of marketplace : STEER

25-across – Stand for the Queen over there : REPRESENT

1-down – Picture – left artist with it : PORTRAIT

2-down – Poorly in one in very large state : ILLINOIS

3-down – Tired and emotional and shabby : THEWORSEFORWEAR

4-down – Embarrassed, the Parisian put up church official : ELDER

5-down – Additional payment made by cleaner entering sweep : SURCHARGE

6-down – Having completed a circuit, but no further forward? : BACKTOSQUAREONE

7-down – Careless in dock, arrested by undercover agent : SLOPPY

8-down – Crime writer wasted year on board : SAYERS

14-down – Happy hour – binge in one next door : NEIGHBOUR

15-down – Duff gen? Vet it for sketch : VIGNETTE

16-down – Genuine Greek and Italian film : TRUEGRIT

18-down – Feels upset and annoyed in trading centre in centre of Nassau : SMARTS

19-down – Single and alone : UNIQUE

21-down – Build scenery at university : SETUP

1-across – Dance with former copper and seem clumsy : EXCUSEME

5-across – Material’s marvellous, very amusing once abridged : FABRIC

10-across – Very little fly found in tin : SMIDGEN

11-across – Understanding of current things in variety : INSIGHT

12-across – Show deficit after end of trading : GLOSS

13-across – Active at night? No? Go in around beginning of Lent : NOCTURNAL

14-across – Film makers run into trouble blocking those advising caution? : WARNERBROTHERS

17-across – Crony, architect, organised benefit show : CHARITYCONCERT

21-across – We do, after a struggle, accommodate writer : WODEHOUSE

23-across – Trouble after advertising Madrid gallery : PRADO

24-across – Stylish defence saving one heading towards trouble : INFORIT

25-across – English PM suppressing ambassador’s nickname : EPITHET

26-across – Go round Ayr and get lost : GYRATE

27-across – Ratings cooked unknown fish : STINGRAY

1-down – Soldier who carries the Colours in? Gen’s misleading : ENSIGN

2-down – Fried potato – a lot cooked, served with a sausage : CHIPOLATA

3-down – Hires Mark, disciple : SIGNSON

4-down – Unseen establishment figures, good inside foreign ministry? : MENINGREYSUITS

6-down – Offensive, a sailor reportedly : ASSAULT

7-down – Possessed girl, a daughter of King Lear : REGAN

8-down – Spurn girl initially, girl with a refined accent? : CUTGLASS

9-down – Military manoeuvre – could it be the making of prince? : PINCERMOVEMENT

15-down – Attention given to female in pub, incessant talker : EARBASHER

16-down – Heather following barge, glowering : SCOWLING

18-down – Be left at home with that girl, Italian : INHERIT

19-down – Legend, suitable, I displayed in study : CAPTION

20-down – Somebody deserving : WORTHY

22-down – Give way in Grande ferry : DEFER

1-across – One excluded old theologian connected with a Mount, oddly : ODDMANOUT

8-across – One held captive round Mount after end of speech : HOSTAGE

10-across – Personal assistant’s to take home one Christmas cake : PANETTONE

11-across – Rushes jobs : CAREERS

12-across – High, the Parisian church tower with spire : STEEPLE

13-across – Saw ghost floating across rear of theatre in pantomime? : STAGESHOW

15-across – One involved in pantomime turn again? : DICKWHITTINGTON

17-across – Checks in chess? Aunt confused : STAUNCHES

20-across – Hypocrisy at a choral work : CANTATA

22-across – A soldier shown round small house of a native American : ARAPAHO

23-across – Instrument, unusual in one regard : REEDORGAN

24-across – University stopping dissertations in ancient Greek : THESEUS

25-across – Previously ending in Alsace, then Lorraine, strangely : EARLIERON

1-down – Short operation on model’s face : OPPOSE

2-down – Fellow on essential Nativity play animal? : DONKEY

3-down – Behave in a troublesome way at college after play : ACTUP

4-down – Shoehorning hose away in an attitude of smug superiority : ONONESHIGHHORSE

5-down – No one’s about to chastise unstable Catholic king in play : THECOASTISCLEAR

6-down – Object from cracker daily found on hearth, oddly : PAPERHAT

7-down – Swing he composed, with bit of ragtime thrown in? : GERSHWIN

9-down – Social worker after cloth, one with stripes : SERGEANT

14-down – Ballet in middle of Christmas week, an excess : SWANLAKE

15-down – Revulsion shown by DI, say, about latest of assaults : DISTASTE

16-down – Hears a CD prepared for Christmas party game? : CHARADES

18-down – Fixture in stable causing male irritation : MANGER

19-down – Priest reportedly shot playing billiards : CANNON

21-down – Girl I lament over : NAOMI

1-across – Scotsman, doctor, describing his masculinity : MACHISMO

5-across – Affected, American college grounds : CAMPUS

10-across – Blessing given by one disciple on mountain : BENISON

11-across – Imposing, a state capital : AUGUSTA

12-across – Excited holding data about earnest biblical combatants : DAVIDANDGOLIATH

13-across – Profession out East for one into social welfare? : CARER

14-across – Bit of magic involving a bowler? : HATTRICK

17-across – Vaudeville star left judge in bawdy saloon : ALJOLSON

19-across – A clipped English accent : ACUTE

21-across – A military display? Darn – it ought to be abandoned : EDINBURGHTATTOO

23-across – Artist has no reason, at first, to sound surprised : WHISTLE

24-across – Pirate captain has unusual pipes : HOOKAHS

25-across – End of May, too soon for annual : YEARLY

26-across – Something added or removed? : APPENDIX

1-down – Novel, second by detective : MOBYDICK

2-down – Waterway crossing state from cape in Florida : CANAVERAL

3-down – Mole in team close to dictator : INSIDER

4-down – Tom, Dick, or Harry entertains them, juggling : MANINTHESTREET

6-down – Bony, a maltreated langur : ANGULAR

7-down – Finished last of frittata, Italian food : PASTA

8-down – Bandage top half of head after whack : SWATHE

9-down – Taken unawares before the dance became popular : CAUGHTONTHEHOP

15-down – Curry favour with eccentric queen, perhaps : COURTCARD

16-down – Senator confused by instrument : TENORSAX

18-down – The M25, say – what’s said about small section? : ORBITAL

19-down – Sailor only gets shellfish : ABALONE

20-down – Margin of safety in course of action supporting Confederate general : LEEWAY

22-down – Tailless wading bird, unknown on a Balearic island : IBIZA