Last week’s Cryptic

Mungo MacCallum’s Cryptic

Mungo MacCallum (1941-2020),

The Saturday Paper’s crossword writer, was a political journalist and commentator and the author of several books. ACROSS

1. Large rye – mixed drink! (4,4)

5. Like hot and cold, a new place to dump rubbish (3,3)

9. Wilder spasms in hereditary science (8)

10. Woman from Heraklion falls into trance (6)

12. Close shaves involved. Answer: a corpse (6,7)

15. Deter daughter and mother’s sister (5)

16. Popular book kept for later (2,7)

17. Biden tops, enthused Spooner of P.C. Wren’s eponymous hero (4,5)

19. Trophy identification for Venus’s son (5)

20. Clumsy goat thieves? (6,7)

22. Deny food for top performer, day of triumph (6)

23. Balls with prophet watchdog (8)

25. Type of fuel distilled at once (6)

26. Retreating, shout over river – Western Australian river. Funny business! (8)

DOWN

1. Desperately need bug? See American socialist! (6,4)

2. Operated service ( 3 )

3. Take a chance around second and leave at once (3,4)

4. Casie selects ingredients – but says it’s all vanity (12)

6. Bands of wandering priests (7)

7. Report of Tom and idiot – prize disaster (11)

8. Not a single sister, it’s said (4)

11. Childhood illness, very red on a Saturday night (7,5)

13. Sound a warning: Repent jibe, time with skill for a sweet treat (7,4)

14. Heavy metal, like salver – steer in the wrong direction (4,6)

18. Grab first lady with new revenge (3,4)

19. Cool around territory, right? Take charge (7)

21. Spies, like ten (1.1.1.1)

24. See setter, we’re told (3)