daily double

the hard way

ACROSS 1 The Spanish have an inclination to push (5) 4 Perhaps Medusa’s taken for granted (7) 8 A mercenary will fight for it (3) 9 In addition to the principal’s expenses (9) 10 Bar is right inside the passage (7) 11 Classified unconventional trade (5) 13 A cruse is designed for the dish it can rest on (6) 15 Operatic heroine that is at heart betrayed (6) 18 Artist’s stand-by (5) 19 Soup can be freshly made for the star (7) 21 A harvest on new soil in ancient Greece (9) 23 Even in a row it shows love and a warm heart (3) 24 Take a side turning perhaps (7) 25 Return and surrender (5) DOWN 1 No longer journalist that’s clear (7) 2 Youngsters told to be prepared (3,6) 3 He wants a hand (5) 4 They don’t mind their own businesses (6) 5 Fields of activity he gets a mixed press about (7) 6 Doctor goes to a dead bird (3) 7 At festive occasions a journalist is treated (5) 12 Give one a ring then elope perhaps (9) 14 A natural sunshade (7) 16 Determined - though certain to come in last (7) 17 Finds fault when it’s chilly on board (6) 18 Animal from China for example? (5) 20 Overturning an abode of pigs is unpleasant (5) 22 Old towel possibly kept in the garage (3)

the easy way

ACROSS 1 Roman equivalent of Eros (5) 4 Strictly practical view of things (7) 8 Tibetan ox (3) 9 Boy hero of Mark Twain novel (3,6) 10 Eventuate (4,3) 11 Pious (5) 13 Cowardly (6) 15 Sully (6) 18 Prevent (5) 19 Defame falsely (7) 21 Make powerless (9) 23 In other words (3) 24 Heist (7) 25 Grand reception room (5) DOWN 1 Having hidden meaning (7) 2 Inscrutable expression (5,4) 3 As aforesaid (5) 4 Out-of-the-way (6) 5 A blend (7) 6 Climbing evergreen shrub (3) 7 Suspiciously obscure (5) 12 Recklessly adventurous (9) 14 Give just claim (7) 16 Range of perception (7) 17 Become hardened (6) 18 Detest (5) 20 Protection (5) 22 Rabble (3)