Twinplex

CRYPTIC CLUES ACROSS

3 Grieved because date with Cliff completely ruined (9) 8 Vegetable doesn’t sound waterproof (4) 9 Strengthen power to check a horse (9) 10 He attends on course - make the bounder expire! (6) 11 Fear of an adder (5) 14 Language whose double is gibberish (5) 15 Back wickedness to avoid death! (4) 16 Had to be dragged to get married! (5) 18 Aunt gets upset about fish (4) 20 Agree could be keen (5) 21 Blackwood comes from the East like a skeleton (5) 24 Services for the proletariat (6) 25 The Communist compiler is a dog! (3,6) 26 Give up producing some nice delphiniums (4) 27 I’d go in now as chairman (9)

DOWN

1 Explain cue detail (9) 2 Chief’s way of speaking over grave (9) 4 Run away - the charge is about a pound (4) 5 Big ship but not the outside shell? (5) 6 Spoken test, on Bach Part 2, of part-singing (6) 7 It’s in the sea, children! (4) 9 Such prerogative is just (5) 11 Effect crooked apportionment to husband (5) 12 Did gusset so that was far from pleased (9) 13 In low spirits with newspapers, indeed! (9) 17 Exclude bread, perhaps (5) 19 Misapplications of benefits by sailor (6) 22 Observed Edward was missing (5) 23 Animal sounds to have nothing on (4) 24 Intend to be niggardly (4)

SIMPLE CLUES ACROSS

3 Distressed (9) 8 Scallion (4) 9 Support (9) 10 Golf attendant (6) 11 Horror (5) 14 European nationality (5) 15 Exist (4) 16 Pulled (5) 18 Fish (4) 20 Enthusiastic (5) 21 Dark wood (5) 24 Bodies (6) 25 Dog breed (3,6) 26 Yield (4) 27 Head of state (9)

DOWN

1 Clarify (9) 2 Memorial plaque (9) 4 Fly (4) 5 Passenger ship (5) 6 For a choir (6) 7 Every (4) 9 Correct (5) 11 Marriage gift (5) 12 Appalled (9) 13 Despondent (9) 17 Exclude (5) 19 Maltreats (6) 22 Wrote down (5) 23 Mammal (4) 24 Signify (4)