CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 School boss, she desires maths to be reformed (12) 8 ENT problem Gulf state picked up (7) 9 Female excited staid fellows (7) 11 Pulled money out after lecturer left without a job (10) 12 New Zealander kept interesting white ibises initially ... (4) 14 ... however a lake swallowed half of them (8) 16 Rich Italian family doctor needs iodine (6) 17 Stick idiot’s thrown

back (3) 19 Sarcastic press starts to investigate crime (6) 21 Sad moment beside

contents of vessel (8) 24 How many finish

Grand Prix? (4) 25 Wrong throne and regularly wrong monarch for Scot, say (10) 27 Wild cat, one nursed in utter happiness, born free (7) 28 Copy? One friend holds

it (7) 29 Play single EP on tablet

— it’s relaxing (8,4)

DOWN

1 Hates to broadcast where decision-maker is (3,4) 2 I abhor a cop’s misguided fear of being at the top? (10) 3 Chinese game magazine keeps John distracted? Good (3-5) 4 Star buys Dodge occasionally without warning (6) 5 Spots rare tree (4) 6 African wild fruits picked up on one large island (7) 7 Trophy appears in a location oddly connected with job (12) 10 Plants work in religious

communities (12) 13 End of marriage? One must split residence abroad (6,4) 15 I’d avoided damp smell (3) 18 Silently articulating second posh article (8) 20 Ipswich Town go along to defend embarrassing score (3,4) 22 Trained man to go in to fold letters from admirers (3,4) 23 Small tree, one a supercilious person pulled up (6) 26 Only two notes (4)

NEED A CLUE? Text TIP to 65700 to receive FOUR answers to today’s crossword, or call 0901 293 6236. Texts and calls cost £1 plus standard network charges. Today’s clues available between 00.01 today and 23.30 only.

FOR your chance to win, solve the crossword to reveal the word reading down the shaded boxes. HOW TO ENTER: Call 0901 293 6233 and leave today’s answer and your details, or TEXT 65700 with the word CRYPTIC, your answer and your name. Texts and calls cost £1 plus standard network charges. Or enter by post by sending completed crossword to Daily Mail Prize Crossword 16,347, PO Box 28, Colchester, Essex CO2 8GF. Please include your name and address. One weekly winner chosen from all correct daily entries received between 00.01 Monday and 23.59 Friday. Postal entries must be date-stamped no later than the following day to qualify. Calls/texts must be received by 23.59; answers change at 00.01. UK residents aged 18+, exc NI. Terms apply, see Page 58.