CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Fitting carrier for an egg? (5)

Period of taking new shape? (5)

Stronghold one inhabited in an old kingdom (7) Snooker crazy? (5)

Crop up like a pay increase (5)

To dispense with the piano takes talent! (5)

The chalky-faced Seven? (7) Stone used in fridge manufacture (3)

In the wild sea, a number of cutters (4)

State where dad starts and mum finishes (6)

A goodbye Gallicism (5) Location of a crime, perhaps, in war (6)

22 Feast in a cafeteria (4) 24 The one that’s right (3)

25 A ruddy blemish, that’s admitted (7)

Way down (5)

His kiss was terribly significant (5)

They’re of little matter when cuddling the cat (5) Ancient Goth, a bit of a liar at heart (7)

Figures out a girl is mercenary (5)

Regarding a hackneyed piece in G (5) 6 9

10 11

12

13 15

17 18

19 20 26 27

28 29 30 31

DOWN

2

3 4

5

Favouring fifty-nine words where a few will do (6) Pieces of eight? (6) Any messing about is negative (3)

One of three musketeers 6

7 8

12 13

14 15 16

18 19 whose new hat was outsize (5)

Elevated area where Paul contrived to come round for tea (7)

Come and get it! (4) Method possibly messy when a tin opener is involved (6)

She fared badly (5) Cheeky, say, about “University Challenge”? (5) Mince pies for the inner man, with colourful effect (5) Handed a learner a hammer (5)

Artist, a master at reticulation (5)

Sit and fish (5)

A looser arrangement for distributing under pressure 21 22 23 25 26 28 (7)

Anything no good for official use (6)

Foamy, but it can be hot if you cook the casing (6) Those cheerily urged to come on after a send-off? (3,3)

A mug one may be sent out for (5)

Long tale of gas rising over central Spain (4) Taken for tea, perhaps (3)