the crosswords

ACROSS

1 Stay to drink and drink (9) 8 Suggest getting work in the east (5) 9 Worker pitted against a goddess (7) 10 One container inside another; both empty (6) 11 Many agree it’s new and in short supply (6) 12 Bird painter (8) 15 A spot of sympathy? (8) 18 Nicola may be taken in hand by the mechanic (6) 20 On the surface a show vehicle (6) 21 Notices faulty part (7) 22 Load the automobile and depart (5) 23 A fruit centre in a turmoil (9)

DOWN

2 Untie tricky knot (5) 3 Promise to drink one’s health (6) 4 He gives notice (8) 5 Good book for some Italian citizens (6) 6 I’m clear about it being marvellous (7) 7 Officer in Rome or maybe Turin once (9) 11 New and unusual cause of dressing for dinner (4,5) 13 I’m powerful but helpless (8) 14 Part of a theatre largely reconstructed (7) 16 Formidable woman appears to be tedious (6) 17 A top man in the building trade (6) 19 Add beauty to a new day we hear (5)

ACROSS

1 Have satisfying results (4,5) 8 Lad (5) 9 To result (4,3) 10 Absolute truth (6) 11 Formally support (6) 12 Artillery (8) 15 Repeatedly between same points (2,3,3) 18 Succeed in accomplishing (6) 20 Prevent progress of (6) 21 Fleet commander (7) 22 Make sore by rubbing (5) 23 Morally obliged (4-5)

DOWN

2 Avoid compliance with (5) 3 Redemption from captivity (6) 4 Bring to completion (5,3) 5 Business magnate (6) 6 Debar temporarily from office (7) 7 To dispute (9) 11 Inspection made at random (4,5) 13 The last judgment (8) 14 Contradict (7) 16 Judged (6) 17 A violet-blue (6) 19 Corn (5)