CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1. Fellows found along the coast (5)

4. Ridiculous way to do it in one in charge (7)

8. Bury one and rent it out (5)

9. Leading singer may have his spot in rap put back (3,4)

10. An addition to the decoration in a drinking-place (3)

11. How Al gambles in sports such as these (4,5)

12. Absence of any nitrogen with the unit (4)

13. It’s neat, the way one will get ready to sail (4)

18. Venerate his playful title as a clergyman (9)

20. A cry for help went back and forth (1,1,1)

21. Put it to one that eggs suit one less, perhaps (7)

22. Fast days remembered as being held (5)

23. The country view is made up of flats in the theatre (7)

24. Article presented to the Sappers in that place (5)

DOWN

1. Flowers that are on the up and up (8,5)

2. An old-timer in the TA never changes (7)

3. Hardly washes the prison with Wormwood (6)

4. Get one stuck on one sort of maple (6)

5. One politician taking gun out to call it in question (6)

6. To have met up with a pole of tribal superstition (5)

7. The present bearer to be all lit up like (9,4)

14. Ex libris, ten fewer would be laughable (7)

15. A slight case of wind being blocked in building (6)

16. Is as tangled as such a problem can be (6)

17. Pick a Squadron-leader to return to office (6)

19. Virginia takes only half the guests, not being certain (5)

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION

Across: 1. Predictably 8. Adieu 9. Drummer 10. Know-all 11. Tenor 12. Twelve 14. Grilse 18. Liver 19. Dream up 21. Confide 23. Grace 24. Tendentious

Down: 1. Placket 2. Episode 3. Inula 4. Toddle 5. Bluster 6. Yam 7. Error 13. Version 15. Lumbago 16. Express 17. Adhere 18. Locum 20. Eight 22. Nut