Daily Answers

1-across – Gets going, sorting out mostly tricky tasks : KICKSTARTS

6-across – Silence leader in Africa, slightly mad : GAGA

9-across – Is help in it misplaced for one who’s lowbrow? : PHILISTINE

10-across – Huge Greek character losing face : MEGA

11-across – What on-course bookmakers may be doing, talking too loudly : SHOUTINGTHEODDS

13-across – Overlooks foliage -blossoming : LEAVESOUT

15-across – Goddess Jeffrey Archer’s captured : FREYA

16-across – Cried out for a drink : CIDER

17-across – Former queen with gift, reportedly, as writer : PASTERNAK

19-across – Expression of views about split in government agency abroad : STATEDEPARTMENT

22-across – Monster, as a result, returned : OGRE

23-across – What may be turned on if one’s down in a pumping station? : WATERWORKS

24-across – Garment – king left wearing it : KILT

25-across – Food store, booming, delivers, we’re told : DEEPFREEZE

1-down – Some like pistols and military caps : KEPIS

2-down – One seen in vehicle round capital : CAIRO

3-down – Martyr condemned segregation : SAINTGEORGE

4-down – Against carrying on, old sea captain in Twelfth Night : ANTONIO

5-down – Small child in shade pocketing fancy toy : TINYTOT

7-down – One’s hard to find, and keys a châtelaine lost : ANEEDLEIN

8-down – See 7 : AHAYSTACK

12-down – I flew free to foreign landmark : EIFFELTOWER

13-down – Completely secure merchandise, a brand new line about to be introduced : LOCKSTOCK

14-down – See 13 : ANDBARREL

17-down – Talk at tedious length about the Spanish clergyman : PRELATE

18-down – Develop image at college : SHAPEUP

20-down – Strange and frightening eastern lake : EERIE

21-down – Sip drop of sherry in gallery : TASTE

1-across – Flag officer in the US navy : ENSIGN

4-across – Ballet’s second week, an excess : SWANLAKE

9-across – Chest getting tender after onset of cold : COFFER

10-across – Drink in nightspots a party knocked back : CLUBSODA

11-across – A series of steps in pool-based exercises : PASODOBLE

13-across – Sign of tooth decay? Canine must be extracted : ARIES

14-across – One making plans? Game chap : DRDUGHTSMAN

18-across – A herbicide spy ring applied to field : AGENTORANGE

21-across – Winning a crown : AHEAD

22-across – Words associated with a photographer, for example, visiting Cheshire? : SAYCHEESE

24-across – Greek warrior in a cell – his undoing? : ACHILLES

25-across – March past a row of shops : PARADE

26-across – Guess tie’s sorted – game over! : ESTIMATE

27-across – Guy almost rented a small cabin : CHALET

1-down – Get away, carrying ­diamonds after a stunt : ESCAPADE

2-down – First to spot a spot of ­misplaced flattery : SOFTSODA

3-down – Accepted going topless is a sin : GREED

5-down – Millions found under table, reportedly collected by funny fictional character : WALTERMITTY

6-down – Renoir ban ridiculous? It requires little thought : NOBRAINER

7-down – A university teacher is a handsome young man : ADONIS

8-down – Undergraduate ultimately failing to pass : ELAPSE

12-down – Climber biting piece of confectionery : BITTERSWEET

15-down – August – run into major competition : GRANDSLAM

16-down – Fully at home with squad : INDETAIL

17-down – Forceful tough guys kept in check : VEHEMENT

19-down – Location around a royal residence : PALACE

20-down – Wager involving ­revolutionary jazz musician : BECHET

23-down – Statesman becoming hot under pressure : HEATH

1-across – Thinly sliced beef over butter on one : PASTRAMI

5-across – Duck emerging from bird shelter in outskirts of Stranraer : SCOTER

10-across – He abducted Helen in capital : PARIS

11-across – Means of deciding winners from couples describing holiday : TIEBREAKS

12-across – Body of water comprised of three colours : YELLOWSTONELAKE

13-across – Copyright infringer could make head of paper extremely angry : PIRATE

14-across – Uncomplaining convalescent : PATIENT

17-across – Anger shown about boy’s Scott Joplin music : RAGTIME

19-across – Fielding heroine, one trapped by a sly male : AMELIA

21-across – Dog in well? Boy put in well, then left : SPRINGERSPANIEL

23-across – Form quite unpredictable – better discounting both sides : ETIQUETTE

24-across – Card : KNAVE

25-across – Exaggerate concerning reception : OVERDO

26-across – Robe with slit worn by saint – me? : VESTMENT

1-down – Cartoon character’s father on organ : POPEYE

2-down – Walking in street, waving : STROLLING

3-down – What a church may have organised for trade unions holding ballot at last : RESTORATIONFUND

4-down – Painter, male, in dispute : MATISSE

6-down – Take mercer north, possibly to create a monopoly : CORNERTHEMARKET

7-down – Coronet found in Tahiti, a rarity : TIARA

8-down – Poet is, to sister, remarkable : ROSSETTI

9-down – Get back about company in the capital : RECOUP

15-down – Spain lost, meeting Italy at home in match, so put out : ELIMINATE

16-down – Get on with Oscar, Miranda’s father : PROSPERO

18-down – Social occasions, still extremely tedious : EVENTS

19-down – Serious opera lacking capital before : AUSTERE

20-down – Customer in court defending right : CLIENT

22-down – Breed fish, reportedly : RAISE

1-across – Bribe Greek, and rest from work : GREASE

4-across – Takes in son with permits : SWALLOWS

9-across – Air in a southern French city : AMIENS

10-across – At trial, editor is vouched for : ATTESTED

11-across – Serving a purpose around the East in thick fog : PEASOUPER

13-across – More carried by Wessex Trains : EXTRA

14-across – Lost impetus, as old trains did, lacking sufficient coal? : RANOUTOFSTEAM

16-across – Animal, bearcat, calm in winds? : BACTRIANCAMEL

17-across – Notice nothing about girl : LINDA

19-across – Main man drinking wine in it : IMPORTANT

22-across – Standing for president, I get beaten : PRESTIGE

23-across – Familiar with a hospital shown in large book : ATHOME

24-across – Gale heading for Newfoundland, coming from the Arctic? : NORTHERN

25-across – Popular school for cricket, perhaps : INSECT

1-down – Grip end of big file with teeth : GRASP

2-down – Girl, one in care, abused : ERICA

3-down – Drink associated with a Victorian tramp? : SUNDOWNER

5-down – Battle about winning coursing trophy : WATERLOOCUP

6-down – European city, say, featured in story : LIEGE

7-down – Oxford University athlete, terribly shabby : OUTATHEEL

8-down – Admires new weapon : SIDEARM

12-down – Ryder Cup captain may make a clever remark in support of play : PAULAZINGER

14-down – Storyteller in court, near to collapse : RACONTEUR

15-down – Helpful type, boy, accompanying a girl, 24 : SAMARITAN

16-down – Nonsense writer’s enclosure : BULLPEN

18-down – The full version of Beethoven’s Fifth? : AITCH

20-down – Make amends for displaying a temper : ATONE

21-down – Pay for another surprise gift : TREAT

1-across – Be proud to attract attention : STANDOUT

5-across – Son, reportedly reserved in group : SCHOOL

9-across – Three-wheeler could make short journey round : TRICYCLE

10-across – Heated chow? : HOTDOG

12-across – Lead found amongst Wensleydale – a sheepdog’s : LEASH

13-across – A swindler, in contrast, I suspect : CONARTIST

14-across – Drink port, the best : BRISTOLCREAM

18-across – Cat by track moving stealthily : PUSSYFOOTING

21-across – Lizard caught by hole – name’s peculiar : CHAMELEON

23-across – Country home rejected financial assistance perhaps : INDIA

24-across – Promote nurse : FOSTER

25-across – Dance from musical : RIGADOON

26-across – Shrewd capturing an English king : CANUTE

27-across – Pangolin seen in tent area, possibly : ANTEATER

1-down – Bench alight : SETTLE

2-down – Pakistani male keeps swine : ANIMAL

3-down – Thirsty? Slip up in attempt to get a drink : DRYSHERYY

4-down – Dangerous antagonist threatening person who’s always right? : UGLYCUSTOMER

6-down – Group of singers sing mostly about love : CHOIR

7-down – Veteran’s antique stopwatch? : OLDTIMER

8-down – One wicket left, say – defeat must follow : LEGSTUMP

11-down – With a good chance of winning at home, struggle : INCONTENTION

15-down – Applicant outspoken at start of exchange : CANDIDATE

16-down – Exact remedy : SPECIFIC

17-down – Two brutes with it, hit man : ASSASSIN

19-down – Dexterous with it, a rod at sea : ADROIT

20-down – Girl in bedroom making flag : BANNER

22-down – Tennis champion always last to protest : EVERT