Double trouble

Each clue leads to two answers which differ from each other by one letter. You must decide which is the correct one. For example, the two possible answers to 12D are GRAND and GRIND – the answer to 16A will reveal which one is correct. Solutions in Monday’s

Irish Mirror

ACROSS

1 Pontiff • Opening in the skin (4)

3 Knitted garments • Suffers in the heat (8) 9 Berkshire rock festival town •

Ahead of the others (7)

10 One participating in a speed contest •

Wild party-goer (5)

11 Yorkshire valleys • Doctor Who baddie (5) 12 Complain • Awaken (6)

14 Old —, London theatre •

Struggle, compete (3)

16 German river •

Horned thick-skinned mammal (5)

18 Owing • Performing twosome (3)

19 Bent • Fashioned artistically from wood (6) 21 Colin —, Mamma Mia! actor •

Dirt, squalor (5)

24 George —, Star Wars director •

Lord —, missing peer (5)

25 Conveyed • Repeatedly pestered (7)

27 Environmental contaminator •

Surveyor of public opinions (8)

28 Soon, shortly • Very long period of time (4)

DOWN

1 Tap gently • Friend, chum (3)

2 Oyster’s gem • Orchard fruits (5)

4 Hairpiece • Be victorious (3)

5 Freight • Key —, Humphrey Bogart movie (5) 6 Agitated • Deleted, cut out (7)

7 Smallest of the Channel Islands •

Ceased to float (4)

8 Oil ship •

Travelling mender of pots and pans (6)

11 Plunge • Eat out (4)

12 Big, imposing •

Crush peppercorns in a mill (5)

13 Price • Bludgeon (4)

15 Opportunities •

Space around a church altar (7)

17 Blazing • Recorded for reference (2, 4)

20 Taxonomic group • Planet (5)

22 Pretend • Monarch’s rule (5)

23 Fellow • Applaud (4)

25 Colour, shade •

Emit a droning sound (3)

26 Excavate • Cacophony (3)