GUARDIAN CRYPTIC CROSSWORD NO. 27,501

ACROSS

7 Title and fanciful content of melodrama (7) 8 Is overprotective of

female goats (7) 9 Tough hour

in tower (4) 10 Bushes begin to grow,

surprising ladies (9) 12 Drove Sir Michael to

leave the navy (5) 13 Booze consumed by trainspotter amazes revolutionary (8) 15 Bit of foot, including

front of heel (4) 16 One excluded from farewell kiss shared by couple (1,4) 17 Character on staff

almost split (4) 18 Butcher turns to a

vegetarian option (3,5) 20 What Thatcher might use to pursue grand, selfish desire (5) 21 Wind-powered vehicle of large boy with 8 for 4 (4,5) 22 Newspaper guy

dictated material (4) 24 Solve third of clues with northern barman (7) 25 Thoroughgoing Democrat interrupts useless husband (2-5)

DOWN

1 Women’s silvery grey tint (4) 2 Log chair carved for Russian billionaire? (8) 3 Lenin spent this time eluding trial (6) 4 Socialist and singer swapping tips on records, we hear (4,4) 5 Leaves sleazy bar, chasing topless males (6) 6 Half of acer turning copper, scarlet and vermilion? (4) 11 Face and body of Juncker twitch in debate (9) 12 She’s forbidden to eat cow, deer and sheep, reportedly (5) 14 Tendency of Todd to shed occasional tear (5) 16 One breaking down badly yearns to hug boy (8) 17 Lines of retired setters sign up 50 to support Cuba (8) 19 Books into substantial holiday home, perhaps (6) 20 Gypsy giving it

another squeeze (6) 21 Escorted round

Nemo’s first sub (4) 23 Ignoring the odds,

hasn’t then bet (4)