SUPER CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Doesn’t work in trousers (6)

5 A drink in the shade (6)

8 The two men returned to do business (5) 9 For the holiday spot, I have a little on one side (6)

10 Count for the anaesthetist (6)

11 In a prison that’s cold and old (5)

14 The animal is swimming in the stream, doctor (8)

16 The city hospital is in this district (6) 18 The capacity for self-betterment (5,2,8) 20 Do I get the material back for a while? (6)

22 Make a robot hen? That’s easy (2,6) 25 Around and around it, one’s winding the halter (5)

27 Water makes a big difference to the garden! (6)

28 Order tea and generally start on it (6) 29 Ronald took a day off to go out with her (5)

30 That old one about the idiot (6)

31 Point the taper out, turn and point it out again? (6)

DOWN

1 Cook right through, in water (6)

2 She takes an hour over the game (4) 3 Keeps and uses as a scrapbook? (6,2) 4 Does it mean the royal jester has been putting on an act? (8,2,5)

5 When the last drink comes around, make fun of (4,2)

6 Dress in the right order (4)

7 This is going to speed up the singer (6) 12 Make it risky for one in the preliminary skirmishes (7)

13 Talk about the two couples that’s for your ears only (7)

15 On one’s own and working, have a drink sent around (5)

17 Do wait (5)

19 Transport you’re wired for? (5-3)

20 On average, one child becomes a clergyman (6)

21 Hang a leg out and swing over (6) 23 Wish you hadn’t let the record go through (6)

24 So up again and leave (4)

26 A longing for an egg (4)

Yesterday’s solutions:

Across: - 1 Noodle soup. 6 Stop. 10 Inflame. 11 Because. 12 Spokesman. 13 Label. 14 Gorse. 15 Responded. 17 Overladen. 20 Cases. 21 Natal. 23 Engravers. 25 Stained. 26 Tug-boat. 27 Lied. 28 Understand.

Down: - 1 Nails. 2 Off course. 3 Leave well alone. 4 Steamer. 5 Unbends. 7 Thumb. 8 Precludes. 9 Scale of charges. 14 Groundsel. 16 Desdemona. 18 Dresden. 19 Nightie. 22 Trace. 24 Sated.