Daily Answers

1-across – Endless series of notes written by one, a Shakespeare character : OCTAVIA

5-across – Unfair arrangement that involves untreated wood : RAWDEAL

9-across – Terribly irate going round ancient city in ancient country : ETRURIA

10-across – Woman ringing daughter on island state : FLORIDA

11-across – So tasty, Thai cooking in other words : THATISTOSAY

14-across – Minister’s chatter cut short : RABBI

15-across – Mail a lad abroad about a spiritual leader : DALAILAMA

16-across – Increasing the wealth of church popular in Niger originally : ENRICHING

19-across – Despicable person with dog : HOUND

20-across – New York politician plugging Ireland, say : EMPIRESTATE

23-across – On the subject of a rugby player, very large : APROPOS

24-across – Was obsequious to a degree, one visiting editor : TOADIED

25-across – Pangs of conscience about son getting in again : REMORSE

26-across – More demanding Irish novelist, by right : STERNER

1-down – Reversed more than is usual, then changed direction : OVERTURNED

2-down – Hackneyed yarn, unembellished? : THREADBARE

3-down – Receiving repair, damaged plant : VIRGINIACREEPER

4-down – Notice fit little boy getting changed : ADAPTED

5-down – No regrets? : REFUSAL

6-down – Western fancy goods they had in plant : WOODYNIGHTSHADE

7-down – Leave former partner with it : EXIT

8-down – Guide boy round centre of Crewe : LEAD

12-down – Troublesome lout ain’t as welcome : SALUTATION

13-down – Ted Heath was one reportedly suppressed PM? : BANDLEADER

17-down – Deadlock dad’s locked in new semi : IMPASSE

18-down – Circles Ayr and gets disoriented : GYRATES

21-down – Pretty fine tune : FAIR

22-down – Close to old and strange house : DRUM

1-across – Demonstrate bit of skill – and how! : SHOW

3-across – Trainee astronaut, one who often gets high : SPACECADET

9-across – Tumble on top of rest : OVERBALANCE

11-across – Mother carrying one girl : MIA

12-across – A Greek goddess paid her to in error : APHRODITE

13-across – Head of security in art gallery gains experience : TASTE

14-across – The place from which one begins a journey trainspotting, possibly : STARTINGPOINT

17-across – One employed in Fleet Street, running off pursued by crowd? : PRINTINGPRESS

21-across – Laborious work, note, filling in crossword diagram : GRIND

23-across – Resourceful substitute almost checked by foul : VERSATILE

24-across – Champion boxer from Australia : ALI

25-across – Unhappy chappies make harsh criticisms, upon reflection, about subject matter : MALCONTENTS

26-across – Henry, with mum in new bar, has potato dish : HASHBROWNS

27-across – Film director tucked into bubble-and-squeak : LEAN

1-down – Work hard on a new catchword : SLOGAN

2-down – The position lies unsettled, so declare war? : OPENHOSTILITIES

4-down – Friend reportedly failed to see fortune-teller : PALMIST

5-down – Business interest : CONCERN

6-down – Talk about last to leave do : CHEAT

7-down – Household skills demonstrated by servant since cooking course : DOMESTICSCIENCE

8-down – Parody attempt to conceal an undergarment : TRAVESTY

10-down – Cheerful lad, we hear, followed by social worker : BUOYANT

15-down – Cement mostly used round about start of century to make a form of concrete : PRECAST

16-down – In front of husband, rip page out showing inscription : EPIGRAPH

18-down – Composer’s new look : NOVELLO

19-down – Lift beam across ring : PURLOIN

20-down – Daughter, leaving study ahead of boy, makes an excuse : REASON

22-down – Discharge leader of battalion after protest march : DEMOB

1-across – What may be raised with pride? : LIONCUBS

5-across – Celebrity attending church ceremony : STARCH

9-across – Right old racket made by sculptor : RODIN

10-across – I see what you’re saying : LIPREADER

12-across – Praise cooking, eating favourite dim sum? : APPETISER

13-across – Demonstration in prison, initially on top of building : PROOF

14-across – Artist shown in the Observer, say, with rope : SUNDAYPAINTER

17-across – A person from Beijing doesn’t eat pak choi? : CHINESELEAVES

21-across – Some women at a laundry in a former SA province : NATAL

23-across – Singer, trained at control : CONTRALTO

24-across – Staff venting spleen on head of research : PERSONNEL

25-across – One banished from former French island : EXILE

26-across – Book US male in variety : SAMUEL

27-across – Criticise male in group with record of arrests : RAPSHEET

1-down – The French deserter comprehending one with rope : LARIAT

2-down – Reference book has one page on American person who married his mother : OEDIPUS

3-down – Study position of European lake : CONSTANCE

4-down – A regular flasher in the High Street? : BELISHABEACON

6-down – Finish of match at university : TIEUP

7-down – Old soldier cared to abroad : REDCOAT

8-down – At this place for opening of dealership in English city : HEREFORD

11-down – Equipment in a plane, almost hairy, terribly below standard : PARAPHERNALIA

15-down – See popular French author with two small sons in Scotland : INVERNESS

16-down – Child has a short sleep, reportedly, after drop of some strong drink : SCHNAPPS

18-down – Temporary home – Hilary, perhaps, is to be shown round one : INTERIM

19-down – Cross sailor, Irish one on being turfed out : SALTIRE

20-down – Secret hide close to nest : COVERT

22-down – Free, last of concerts in Cornish town : LOOSE

1-across – Black bird in hollow : BOWL

3-across – What’s always displayed in Tiffany’s? : APOSTROPHE

10-across – PC, losing little time, nicks upper-class murder suspect in a car? : CONSUMERDURABLE

11-across – Mesh cover left inside gets a man mad : GASMANTLE

12-across – Helpful hint about river excursion : TRIP

14-across – Sci-fi character? Deface one cast in bronze : MARTIAN

16-across – Singer sat entertaining popular artist : SINATRA

17-across – What supervisor did about cutting tool? : OVERSAW

19-across – After parking, young man goes round vehicle to get what may be carried in a demo : PLACARD

20-across – Double thread cut off at the end : TWIN

21-across – Treated as a saint, a grand duchess : ANASTASIA

24-across – Drink of rum punch? A glass? Go on! : LAPSANGSOUCHONG

25-across – See pout by French river in net? : PURSESEINE

26-across – Boss demanding endless attention : STUD

1-down – Second bull in game : BACKGAMMON

2-down – Terribly weird, prince’s new mechanically operated cleaning device : WINDSCREENWIPER

4-down – City – relax in quiet one out East : PRESTON

5-down – Post over in Special Air Service could cause distress : SADNESS

6-down – Girl in race, one over a fictional land : RURITANIA

7-down – Popular run for buses etc. : PUBLICTRANSPORT

8-down – Garden gnome finally found on site : EDEN

9-down – Some unfortunate fish : TUNA

13-down – Unexpectedly attacked French novelist over stole : SANDBAGGED

15-down – Imply wrongdoing in a unit, possibly by leader of expedition : INSINUATE

18-down – Fiddle involving rupees causes angry argument : WRANGLE

19-down – Greek philosopher arranged to supply a small body of soldiers : PLATOON

22-down – Changed course, we hear, as a measure of diplomacy? : TACT

23-down – Female cut in crash : FLOP

1-across – After much delay, book of maps is printed on time : ATLAST

4-across – Blokes following a copper showing insight : ACUMEN

8-across – Rascal wanting ring, last piece of jewellery amongst stolen property : SCALLYWAG

11-across – Sensational cover with ancient city featured inside : LURID

12-across – Dog in time-share, rarely barking : SEALYHAMTERRIER

13-across – Singer in musical : ALTO

15-across – An inferior alternative in back next to worst : SECONDBEST

18-across – Plant rolled about by the wind in fall? Very small daughter chases it : TUMBLEWEED

19-across – Stage favourite’s returned : STEP

21-across – Article reportedly in favour of the nation’s journalism : THEFOURTHESTATE

23-across – Having knowledge of a conflict ending in peace : AWARE

24-across – Almost certain to provide yield : SURRENDER

25-across – Submissions – wrestler’s third gives delight : PLEASE

26-across – Girl with drop of table wine : CLARET

1-down – Heartless gibe after one leaves Italian town to get help : ASSISTANT

2-down – Animal in a shaded avenue, curled up : LLAMA

3-down – Boy in news, extremely lucky in resort : SELWYN

5-down – Pass old high road, in a state : COLORADO

6-down – Joy could get me payment from tenant across the border : MERRIMENT

7-down – The lowest point in Florida : NADIR

9-down – Intentionally ambiguous statements made by sly person ahead of angry speech : WEASELWORDS

10-down – Party the go-getter spoiled : GETTOGETHER

14-down – Mild anger over a note : TEMPERATE

16-down – Classified? Start of these military activities on Crete, possibly : TOPSECRET

17-down – Mistakes made with underwear : BLOOMERS

20-down – A grand in addition : ASWELL

21-down – Hidden danger involving male vagrant : TRAMP

22-down – Run, avoiding large snake : ADDER