CRYPTIC CROSSWORD
No 17,293
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 the completed crossword to Daily Mail Prize Crossword 17,293, 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+, excl NI. Terms apply, see Page 48.
ACROSS
1 Old unit I suspect is weakening (8)
5 Early sign of sadness in musical group missing northern sailor (6)
9 Refuses to comply with corrupt bodies? Yes outwardly (8)
10 English fellow given electrical device gets to talk excitedly (6)
12 Old instrument is usually reliable? Not altogether! (4)
13 Punctuation mark in passage addressed to a person? (10)
15 Mass, maybe, waiting behind two clubhouses fringing old city (6,7)
19 An expert in giving needle to others? (13)
23 Sign of physical strength cut before broadcast? About right (5,5)
25 Fighter facing trouble gets to be unsuccessful (4)
28 Companion in front of this zone for multicoloured fabric (6)
29 Toy Clive played with has speed (8)
30 Standard opera left (6)
31 Any deals poorly designed are broken down? (8)
DOWN
1 Peculiar lot firstly in Germany and Spain have easy thing to do? (6)
2 Change of roles for unsuccessful sort (5)
3 Neighbour held up brass instrument (4)
4 Copy I’m altering about league relating to noted games? (7)
6 Deduce unusually fine opening to recital (5)
7 Depressed pair in back of depot to get design plan (9)
8 European writer captivated by thing done got more intense? (8)
11 Catches one’s breath avoiding first snakes (4)
14 Influential teacher for all to see in good contact sport (4)
15 True curio excited one creating outfits? (9)
16 Damage popular venture? (3)
17 In audience, study actress Anne (4)
18 Prohibit malfunctioning cab in fortified gateway (8)
20 Boast from rector in Jersey, perhaps (4)
21 Male relative essentially rank and lacking in hygiene? (7)
22 Stripped following delay at work (6)
24 Additional spear carrier? (5)
26 Sign of decay after cold disappears (5)
27 Counter showing metal in a thin sheet (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.