CRYPTIC CLUES

ACROSS

12 Music round the clock (5,3,3) 13 Strong drug that has a number in its clutches (6) 14 Lifted back, dear, and is inside (6) 16 Idiot caught left blow (4) 17 Proved to have been forced to leave (6,3) 18 Said connecting rooms would be delightful (5) 19 Stupid dunderhead and terribly fat (4) 20 A sellout. You can gamble on that (4,5) 22 Time and again, boarding, go along with (5) 23 Dog with tot clinging to its neck (2,7) 27 Yes, how trickling rain gets in when it’s wet (7) 30 Something provided by nature to annoy gardeners? (6) 31 A fool, also; backward (4) 32 In addition to the name, put a kiss (5) 35 Fine day right through. Dry (4) 36 Beat the favourite: a very fast runner (7) 38 Recognise a rejection when you hear it (4) 39 Rubbing out ‘hilarious’ (7) 42 Paper required for composition of theses (6) 45 Complains about vehicles parking in (5) 46 Right now, anti-reform, is very happy (7) 47 A quiet puff or two (4) 48 Most emphatically will incorporate a support (4) 50 With ‘May I?’ and ‘Allow me to,’ creates good impression (7) 52 As I change in weight, it expands (5) 54 Somewhat sooner (6) 56 Within one hour (it’s a short cut) (7) 57 Try to turn on, mum (4) 59 Cool — as opposed to close (7) 61 Husky ‘Get a move on!’ (4) 64 Gold hidden in the coop? It’s a lie! (5) 66 Getting two ducks in — a pair — pitiful (4) 67 Does it say ‘Unsuitable for use as drink cooler?’ (6) 69 More prepared to fade into the background (7) 72 For fun, releasing pinto from pen (9) 73 Backing down, donned (3,2) 74 Foreign product, want West to exclude. Crucial (9) 79 Go in the direction of Paddington? (4) 81 Ring him in the middle of recess (5) 82 A juggler would find it useful (that’s old) (5-4) 83 Luscious and creamy — and with a lot of gravy (4) 85 Pat is one of eight (6) 86 He’d protected limb that was hurt (6) 87 Disgraceful amount of money to earn? (5,6)

DOWN

1 Almost all alive after explosion in container (4) 2 Strange place in which to put hospital church (6) 3 Thanks to admitting to military show (6) 4 Tackle the problem of what to give cab driver? (7) 5 Felt dislike that for a time he’d concealed (5) 6 Congestion that requires driver’s boldness and nerve? (10) 7 Lead with the left as he weaves (5) 8 The greater the interest, the more of it that’s paid (9) 9 Gosh! The soup again has been sent back! (7) 10 Complain about new offer (4) 11 By coercion, unavoidably (8) 15 Female should have resisted (6) 21 Show ruse worked. Husband is caught (5) 24 Allowing to get firm grip of things. Is that correct? (7) 25 Sprinkle with an energiser? (6) 26 Sailor way away from this country (6) 28 We’d agree. Are to be excluded from the club (5) 29 Uncooked, is green (3) 33 He’s repressing irritation at things going wrong (7) 34 Someone posing as a minder (6) 37 Jobs that make demands on time (5) 40 One in front row (5) 41 ‘Not all there’ is unfair (7) 43 How chicks come out of magician’s hiding place, child (5) 44 Give solution to clue ‘lithely’ (6) 46 We got stick about having quarrelled (5) 49 Cross dog (7) 51 The ball, given spin, dropped in here (6) 53 Something that’s part of a group, entomologically? (6) 55 Fearful of boy, little girl retreated (5) 58 Bell unable to ring, can’t say why? (6-4) 60 Stand a drink, say (3) 62 Back with gun, hiding right inside (5) 63 Blue — Tory — out-and-out (9) 65 Try to stave off, intervening, but it’s farcical (8) 68 Admitted one duped (4,2) 70 Liable to cry if one put a finger on (7) 71 Insurmountable difficulty. My best days are behind me (7) 75 Rule otherwise and I get upset (6) 76 Caught in their web time, time and time again (6) 77 Needing rest, wife took year off (5) 78 Fuss over again. Think the world of (5) 80 A bird: gull (4) 84 Invitation, firm, given by self (4)