Crossword: win £550
Both sets of clues lead to the same answers, revealing in the shaded squares Vanity Fair’s antagonist Becky’s surname (5)
STRAIGHT CLUES ACROSS
1 Split between people (6) 5 Most brief (8) 9 Opposite of plural (8) 10 Compare as of the same value (6) 11 Was recumbent (3) 12 American field game (8) 14 Natural head cover (4) 15 Indoor step (5) 17 Is obedient (5) 18 Untruths (4) 19 Shook nervously (8) 23 Move on one leg (3) 25 Not at all often (6) 26 Reaction, reply (8) 27 Remote, cut off (8) 28 Happenings (6)
DOWN
2 Frozen raindrops (4) 3 Reliably repeated (9) 4 Hold up (5) 5 Rub vigorously (5) 6 Inaugurates, starts off (5) 7 One of five digits on a hand (5) 8 Man-made orbiting items (10) 13 Meaty snacks in buns (10) 16 To ring or dial (9) 20 Small scale reproduction item (5) 21 Furthest extent (5) 22 Took a bold risk (5) 23 ‘More __ _, less speed’ (5) 24 Is not (abbr) (4)
CRYPTIC CLUES ACROSS
1 Has red items to be divvied up (6) 5 Certain exam, we hear, but it’s over soonest (8) 9 This one is curious, but it’s no more than one! (8) 10 Correspond with some inadequate writers (6) 11 Amateur ballad (3) 12 Game for a dance at the depot? (8) 14 Old musical ‘Crowning Glory’ (4) 15 One part of a domestic flight (5) 17 Former pupil, yes possibly follows the rules (5) 18 Is not truthful, and is not standing up (4) 19 Multiplied by three outside Maidstone initially and showed signs of nerves (8) 23 Progress on one leg, with something cultivated in Kent? (3) 25 Disturbed models, though rarely! (6) 26 A reaction from peer’s son (8) 27 Ladies to move and become remote? (8) 28 Occasions which may prevent sickness, in part (6)
DOWN
2 Welcome bad weather? (4) 3 Rare gully treatment, but with reliable frequency (9) 4 Hold up the Spanish in 24 hours (5) 5 Use a stiff brush on vegetation (5) 6 Starts with no writers (5) 7 Digit seen in both umbrellas and parasols (5) 8 Ali settles problems with heavenly bodies (10) 13 Food for German port residents (10) 16 Lone pet he trained to call (9) 20 Work for an artist could make me old (5) 21 It’s set fire to when I’m inside. It’s as far as you can go! (5) 22 Issued challenges with unusual dread (5) 23 Coach a steady response when holding speed (5) 24 That’s not so interesting initially on the way up, or is not shortly! (4)