CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Careless agent must accept cut (6)

4 Junior to follow one expected to lose (8)

10 The newspapers joke about name for Shanghai (5-4) 11 Penny-pinching drunk (5) 12 Escort always holding one back (7) 13 Ceremonial drink that is a snack (7) 14 Stumped, after judge’s secret meeting (5)

15 Men to go topless — possible, and highly desirable (8) 18 Course includes permit for game (8) 20 Period couch not right (5) 23 Craftsman frames

‘Two Pennies for Fish’ (7) 25 Leading Conservative delivers post (7)

26 Design criteria for viewing aids (5)

27 A feeling at home schooling? (9) 28 Explain and begin a journey (3,5) 29 Hounds agitated, as horses may be (6)

DOWN

1 Primates set up fixed charge for divorce (8) 2 Dismissing head, secretly or in public? (7) 3 Parking at last no different after delivery (9) 5 Financial problem of film actors’ union? (8,6) 6 Run over (5) 7 Understand a line should be put under it displaying numbers (7) 8 Upset, being drawn? (6) 9 Person whose creative interest is flagging? (8,6) 16 Slander when individual holds source of info (9) 17 Doomed, but isn’t upset during action (8) 19 Scrap not even soldiers will have time for? (7) 21 Distress pine with no veneer (7) 22 Inactivity of street without changes (6)

24 Look around a ship for rope (5)