the crosswords

CRYPTIC CLUES ACROSS

1 Produced by employee but not mass-produced (4,2,4) 8 Developed in the wrong way (5) 9 A set preliminary (7) 10 The exterior is due to undergo renovation (7) 11 The moral in the thick of battle (5) 12 Rift created by a broken promise? (6) 14 Misdeed on a battleground (6) 17 Furniture catalogue (5) 19 My rapid transformation has a grave result (7) 21 An instance of what used to be enough (7) 22 Wild dog in Australia (5) 23 One’s hotel accommodation (6,4)

DOWN

2 Possibly one of twelve Poles at variance (7) 3 Nun that is upset by lack of interest (5) 4 Sycophants according to an enemy’s version (3-3) 5 There’s no accounting for his performance (7) 6 Such charges may be dropped (5) 7 Close but brief contact (5,3,2) 8 Be a superior gardener and become even more so (4,6) 13 Depreciate each novel writer (7) 15 It reminds me repeatedly not to change (7) 16 Call for superior judgment (6) 18 Nerve - but not of steel (5) 20 It locates aircraft climbing or descending (5)

QUICK CLUES ACROSS

1 A percussion instrument (10) 8 Go for a swim (5) 9 Pooh-pooh (7) 10 Greatly agitated (2,1,4) 11 Percentage (5) 12 Disengage and remove (6) 14 Official language of Israel (6) 17 Fail to make use of (5) 19 Perspicacity (7) 21 Sully (7) 22 Lazy person (5) 23 Gradually gain impetus (3,2,5)

DOWN

2 Contestant (7) 3 Deal with (5) 4 Furnishes with an income (6) 5 Aloofness (7) 6 Intended (5) 7 Facing trouble with authority (2,3,5) 8 Signify basically (4,4,2) 13 Live in peace with each other (7) 15 Insignia of royalty (7) 16 Unlucky accident (6) 18 Gesture of indifference (5) 20 Go round the edge of (5)