CRYPTIC CROSSWORD: NO. 28,913

Across 1 Drink left actor playing a subordinate part (7)

5 Give talk about what was in Thatcher’s grasp? (7) 9 Climb on table (5) 10 Rodent entertaining retreating cat with hard whiskers (9)

11 Knocked out a dishonest criminal (10)

12 Appears to scrub male’s spots (4)

14 Running over as rationing’s broadcast (12)

18 Men loved step dancing events (12)

21 American with diamonds – Detective Sergeant puts two and two together? (4) 22 A primarily tight belt – I have to get fit (10)

25 Managed behaviour by editor (9)

26 Having lost gallons, wait around for vessel (5)

27 Small steps? They go downhill in the snow (7) 28 Organ with a switch finally stuck in church – it’s a pain (7) Down 1 Slug oddly born far underground (6)

2 Places rubbish in lake? On the contrary (6)

3 Exotic lady in Rio captivating king, by and large (10) 4 Some witches emitted upsetting spells (5)

5 He is woeful, strangely, with student leaving her indoors? (9) 6 Letter from school turning up (4)

7 Tossing a caber – it’s possible cause of ill-health (8) 8 Assuming visitor endlessly goes on Twitter (8)

13 Picky individual (10) 15 Urges dad to return with small spades (9)

16 Adult cavorts, accepting volume rises (8)

17 Dope in court? (8)

19 Dine out (6)

20 Order grass to be cut after 31 days? (6)

23 Free, for example, to climb hill-range (5)

24 Whip and head of government spoke (4)