DAILY MAIL CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 They lay hands on a trifle he has prepared (5,7) 8 Performance in Channel Islands after returning cups (7) 9 Give a lift to a churchman in valley … (7) 11 … taking up a bishop’s choice? That’s about right (10) 12 His fiction is somewhat familiar (4) 14 Raise charge aft (8) 16 Group of EU Gaelic-speakers rejected alliance (6) 17 Cut tops of most of wisterias (3) 19 RC prayers range between now and start of Angelus (6) 21 Subject got me worried about English lines (8) 24 Drawing materials popular with kids I’d picked out (4) 25 Dine out on this story about British clergy (10) 27 Common groups of species beside lake (7) 28 Tree father found in old ruined mill (3,4) 29 A policy that omits liaison abroad (12)

DOWN

1 Shrub that’s combined with taro in South Africa (7) 2 Curl up together in stormy winter, supping tea mostly (10) 3 Break left arm badly after start of hockey (4,4) 4 Drink, say, going up? I cleared off! (6) 5 Ignore odd features of blues and heavy metal (4) 6 Socialist faction’s flyer (7) 7 Crashing round the back, making advance preparations (12) 10 Henry’s rum blended with rye as bedtime sedative? (7,5) 13 I’m clever cooking just over fifty strands of pasta (10) 15 Jolly good boxer, perhaps (3) 18 Comfortable old towel torn to shreds (4-2-2) 20 Old raiders skiving off (7) 22 Two arrived, according to reports, prepared to fire (4,3) 23 Ring sailor up to obtain vote (6) 26 Dentistry exam? (4)