DOUBLECROSSWORD
CRYPTIC CLUES ACROSS
1 Does this pick out the leading actor? (9) 8 Suitable piece of clap-trap (3) 9 Accepting a stage role, but breaking up (6,5) 11 Collects before midday a number of baggage animals (7) 12 Draw a hole (5) 13 Come to close quarters to conclude a bargain (6) 15 Quick instruction to the player (6) 17 Not the same member of the family losing her head (5) 18 & 3Dn Signs of relief that may extend across a whole area (7,5) 20 Come in with the awards, we hear, for hazardous undertakings (11) 22 Light kind of mantle (3) 23 Compensated by being given a fresh bandage? (9)
DOWN
2 Kind of cup on show in an elaborate arena (3) 3 See 18 Across 4 One doesn’t need to be bespectacled to produce such a stare (6) 5 One who has an influence on the race! (7) 6 Ostentatious stock markets? (6-5) 7 Humble acts find an opening here - so do great turns! (5-4) 10 The disposition of a tart-stealer! (11) 11 Place to moor in Alaska (9) 14 A court is affected by the right warden (7) 16 Arranged the music and achieved a success (6) 19 Her sister is a superior person (5) 21 Before the melody one hears (3)
Yesterday’s solutions: Across: 1 Rabbit. 4 Primer. 9 Serious matter. 10 Looks in. 11 Inert. 12 Lisps. 14 Sedan. 18 Gulps. 19 Receive. 21 Commit suicide. 22 Penned. 23 Trance. Down: 1 Result. 2 Bird of ill omen. 3 Irons. 5 Realise. 6 Mathematician. 7 Rarity. 8 Using. 13 Pastime. 15 Egg-cup. 16 Dress. 17 Revere. 20 Crier.
QUICK CLUES ACROSS
1 Wooing (9) 8 Unhappy (3) 9 Affected (11) 11 Hide (7) 12 Happen (5) 13 Affront (6) 15 Stay (6) 17 Hurl (5) 18 Ask (7) 20 Unusual (11) 22 Nothing (3) 23 Suppleness (9)
DOWN
2 Of us (3) 3 Subject (5) 4 Detestation (6) 5 Incite (7) 6 Society (11) 7 Steady attachment (9) 10 Too (11) 11 Miser (9) 14 Consistent with reason (7) 16 Tyrant (6) 19 Completely (5) 21 Idiot (3)
Yesterday’s solutions: Across: 1 Flinch. 4 Strand. 9 Extermination. 10 Correct. 11 Trade. 12 False. 14 Drive. 18 Arise. 19 Reserve. 21 Controversial. 22 Delude. 23 Twenty. Down: 1 Fierce. 2 International. 3 Curse. 5 Traitor. 6 Animadversion. 7 Danger. 8 Ditty. 13 Steered. 15 Rancid. 16 Brave. 17 Deploy. 20 Strew.