daily double

the hard way

ACROSS 1 Many suspended become reformed (7) 5 The land transformed by Ali (5) 8 They’re in a class of their own (13) 9 A point to study in order to beat it (5) 10 Novel article and story (7) 11 &&&&&& (Food for thought here) (6) 12 No wide choice of colour (6) 15 Puzzle no more (7) 17 Manages investments (5) 19 Answer the medium hopes to get? (8,5) 20 A street in New York that’s unpleasant (5) 21 Merit of French translation of verse (7)

DOWN 1 Patients’ bags (5) 2 A pointedly obdurate comparison (2,4,2,5) 3 Scruffy dog more smartened up (7) 4 Get into bad shape (6) 5 Shrub; one that’s in rising demand (5) 6 Absorbing news sheet sought before the ink is dry (8,5) 7 To tackle a clue is beneath Jack. Forgive him! (7) 11 Meat stewed in ovens (7) 13 The best times we’ve had (7) 14 Negotiate a rise? (6) 16 It’s not professional when it is included in a ballad (5) 18 Type of thing one’s said to get over (5)

the easy way

ACROSS 1 Ill-mannered (7) 5 Small game-bird (5) 8 Schemer in politics or business (7-6) 9 Field of opportunity (5) 10 Diabolical (7) 11 Loathe (6) 12 Noteworthy (6) 15 To utter (7) 17 Learned essay (5) 19 Immediate proximity (5,8) 20 Over (5) 21 Treacherously (7)

DOWN 1 Game played on a green (5) 2 Final drink before departure (3,3,3,4) 3 Ailment (7) 4 To trouble constantly (6) 5 Search (5) 6 Completely intact (3,2,3,5) 7 Song-like (7) 11 Total failure (7) 13 Endanger (7) 14 Snub (6) 16 Prevailing tendency (5) 18 Corroded (5)