CRYPTIC CROSSWORD
ACROSS
1 Fried food following one cold drink including starter of chips (4,4)
5 Mysterious element in game is misunderstood (6)
9 Cyril and Una at work related to cooking (8)
10 Something that resounds with old conservative French-born writer (6)
12 Bovine animal circling river and unknown antelope (4)
13 Agreed with account by mostly calm, selfcontained journalist (10)
15 Terrible crack ruined the timeless part of a big vessel? (9,4)
19 Eight napping surprisingly behind southern port official (8,5)
23 Nervously try cuisine showing lack of confidence? (10)
25 Oscar with regret backed currency abroad (4)
28 Petty details from four in endless legal case (6)
29 Noted general, hard one with a monstrous appetite first off (8)
30 Show indecision trapped by bandit here (6)
31 Young Conservative occupying a bench that’s rickety accidentally (2,6)
DOWN
1 Fine person on stage as contributory element (6)
2 Damage the reputation of Bob completely after leaving France (5)
3 Mention of perfume for small amount of money (4)
4 Start to know Arab and a Greek character in Asian city (7)
6 Female relative in part missing leaders (5)
7 Valued material on top for a small flier (9)
8 Rude hack bothered foreign aristocrat (8)
11 Restriction right away supported by a Caribbean country (4)
14 Ineffectual type’s small amount of liquid (4)
15 Henry reproduced Irish art for a penitent’s garment (4,5)
16 Tiny part in a machine is clear (not half) (3)
17 Ex-PM remembered enthusiastically? Not entirely! (4)
18 Gave hand to fool with poor diets (8)
20 Police informer beginning to notice rescue vessel (4)
21 In short, genuine case of rivalry for statistical expert (7)
22 One between posts has energy? A fib! (6)
24 Agree with Chinese writer about India (5)
26 Typical of a city, one in South Africa with no end of need (5)
27 A new hospital accommodating a thousand has ancient symbol (4)