JUMBO CROSSWORD

CRYPTIC CLUES

ACROSS: 8 In brief, soon (7)

9 Having clean escaped from one's pursuers immediately (5,4)

13 Are with the former spouse the first (5) 14 Swim right into the awful claw (5)

15 A stick for the dog (7) 16 Everything in this garbled version is rather far-fetched (7)

17 Can not quite get the shade (5) 18 Found time for, when one arrived home (3,2)

20 Feeling remorseful, I step outside (5) 22 The bird, within half a minute, catches the fleeing rat (6)

23 Spirits are about a pound extra (6) 25 Leave en masse from the tearoom? (4,3)

27 As first one, I get on and look around (7)

30 It's slipshod and over-sentimental (6) 31 "Mother," you enquire. "What is that material?" (6)

32 Settle with, having had a rise (3,2) 35 Does it require many, to play it? (5) 36 With "They¹re not paste," astonishes one (5)

37 In return, gets information about savings (4,3)

39 Comes by and fixes (7) 41 Catches, when it alights (5)

42 Say you'll go over for the show (5) 43 No good if it's in need of sharpening (9) 44 Having taken the coat off, got soaked (7)

DOWN: 1 A raucous "Shut up and put the

QUICK CLUES ACROSS: 8 Rich (7) 9 Type of car (9) 13 Happening (5) 14 Madness (5) 15 Vain (7) 16 Afternoon performance (7) 17 Senior (5) 18 Beneath (5) 20 Unit of heat (5) 22 Muslim place of worship (6) 23 Unsteady (6) 25 Antiquated (7) 27 Continuous (7)

30 Small (6) 31 Comment (6) 32 Valuable thing (5) 35 Bedtime drink (5) 36 Satellite's path (5) 37 Brass instrument (7) 39 To that place (7) 41 Zodiac sign (5) 42 Thick (5) water on!" (6)

2 Clearly in pain when composing the piece about hospital (8)

3 Jokes that are anything but clean? (5,6) 4 Cavity dealt with, is briefing (7,2)

5 What the informer did when paid the money? (7)

6 Being dogmatic about the relinquishing of arms? (6,4)

7 Role for a gentleman (4)

10 "Enhanced" would be preferable (6)

11 The usual behaviour of the male bird (7) 12 Pointless row at the greengrocer's (6) 19 Sad attempt to accommodate the old (7)

21 While preparing to play the shot, solve the problem (4,3)

24 Be really sorry for getting a thrill from, personally (4,7)

26 Hurtle, screaming it's very exciting (3-7)

28 Really good, but odd (9)

29 "Stopping the pain ourselves," I put in (7)

30 Use banner headlines to create excitement (6)

32 Putting back the mug, samples the cakes (8)

33 Plugged away at and managed to stabilise prices? (6)

34 Bridle in which there's an animal hair (7)

38 Having grudgingly admired, in the end be pitted against (6)

40 Being cheeky is considered great in America (4)

43 French cheese (9) 44 Follow a winding course (7)

DOWN: 1 Exclusive (6) 2 Precious metal (8) 3 Hotel employee (11) 4 Risky (9) 5 Obtain (7) 6 Fawning (10) 7 Give pain (4) 10 Allow (6) 11 Let loose (7) 12 Fish-eating hawk (6) 19 Uncertain (7) 21 Unreliable (7) 24 Child's allowance (6,5) 26 Thirty minutes (4,2,4) 28 Plant-eater (9) 29 Grazing land (7) 30 Find (6) 32 Plentiful (8) 33 Giggle (6) 34 Appal (7) 38 Think about (6) 40 Metal (4)