CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Pretty dull blokes start to try flattery (12)

8 Turn up heat and run off (7) 9 Mate by employing skill with knight (7) 11 Tempted brood to accept tailless bird (7) 12 Labour leader facing confused Tories hangs around (7) 13 A small bird is livid (5) 14 American ‘rock’ includes ‘roll’ in profusion (9) 16 Some finesse? Let’s attempt to turn vulgar (9) 19 Somewhat modish and rather trim initially (5) 21 Relatives like to go around free (7) 23 Writer’s old volume follows inspection, we hear (7) 24 Literate English smutty about sex (7)

25 UFO crash site, alternatively returning balloon (7)

26 Dine out and tip in change showing autonomy (12) DOWN

1 Thickness of book perused by author, essentially (7) 2 Maybe Ugandan affair’s first lover keeps almost fertile (7) 3 Dry heated ingredients turning dry (9) 4 Flower part is close protecting head of plant (5) 5 Wedded male commonly pestered … (7)

6 … old lady, enthusiastic in buff (7) 7 Support coach upset with worker, one in bother (12) 10 Particularly clever type is wrong (12) 15 Loose salt seen in shifting dunes (9) 17 Star’s unwanted touch? (7) 18 Building of French erected providing formality (7) 19 Cowboy’s hat? Put it back, boy! (7) 20 Within reach, I eventually succeed (7) 22 Reportedly caught sight of landscape (5)