CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS 1. Help his poor rendering of Plato, say (11) 7. May ask about his first way of hiding Muslim woman (7) 9. ‘You don’t object to an ___ (12), I hope?’(Great Expectations) (4) 11. How it may benefit one to be unwell around Virginia (5) 12. see 9 (6) 14. Garish poems produced by instrument measuring shocks (11) 18. One who is going in reverse who will finance somebody (6) 20. What’s-it-called, the novel? (5) 22. So Arsenal will show its rowers (4) 23. Decay returns: true, it’s wrong to inflict so much pain (7) 24. Affected by alcohol, closes an eye – but it’s just a game (11) DOWN 2. One who is held by an entertainer for a very long time (7) 3. What the Japanese drink for Goodness? (4) 4. Hound that loses its head to a bird (5) 5. Via no main road (5) 6. Works on paper in need, it seems (5) 8. Is annoyed by models ET made of it (8) 10. Rant and roar about teller of tale (8) 13. Starts February often, great pea-souper (3) 15. Chance of success at snooker taken by one dropping in? (3,4) 16. An ecclesiastic and rating, both curtailed (5) 17. The ages of man are deadly, sin-wise (5) 19. Dog to put company right with American soldier (5) 21. Don’t go for support (4) YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION: Across 1. Admiral 5. Noisy 8. Senator 9. Gripe 10. Merriment 12. Hod 13. Polka 17. Off 19. Threefold 21. Banjo 22. Fortune 24. Talus 25. Retreat Down 1. Assume 2. Mineral 3. Rat 4. Large 5. Negotiate 6. Irish 7. Yields 11. Impetuous 14. Produce 15. Combat 16. Advent 18. Final 20. Refer 23. Rot