CRYPTIC CROSSWORD
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/calls cost £1 plus standard network charges. Or enter by post by sending the completed crossword to Daily Mail Prize Crossword 17,334, 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 and texts must be received by 23.59; answers change at 00.01. UK residents aged 18+, excl NI. Terms apply, see Page 54.
ACROSS
1 Toadyish City chap and son in a flustered state (11)
9 Recall snag with peacekeepers and inspector in African country (7)
10 Greatly admire solid reforms in case of inspectorate (7)
11 Haunt found in Oxford, endearingly (3)
12 Tourist employee gets to advance performance again? (7)
13 Crop I sold after struggling around middle of week (7)
14 Brood in place endlessly (3) 15 Wonderful spell? (5)
17 Blockade is backed, for instance, by Spain (5)
18 By the sound of it, studies tall, slender-leaved plants (5) 20 Supply objective over weight (5)
22 Selfish sort starts to harbour obsessive greed (3)
24 Limit regarding mountaineering aid (7)
25 Majestic area in U.S. golf course (7)
26 British and American form of public transport (3)
27 Sneaky figure going round turrets at intervals (7)
28 Composer has sort of serial source of inspiration (7)
29 Validates gems I list i.e. to be sorted out (11)
DOWN
1 Use the worst people, suspect cabaret helpers? About right (6,3,6)
2 Verify name in two businesses (7)
3 Group of lions showed curiosity, reportedly (5)
4 French mate with number in front of a group of police in compound (5,4)
5 Slowly moves also things on roof I ignored (7)
6 Wish his presence to be reviewed for a children’s game (7,8)
7 Stops boats drifting around river (6)
8 Outsiders from village noticed escapade in French department (6)
16 Naive thing done by gambler around large protected area? (5,4)
18 Fierce exchanges in Brazilian city (6)
19 Switching with week gone is wearisome (7) 21 Wags with laughs needing no introduction (7)
23 Financial subsidy, not new, is free (6)
25 A crowd turning up in tea-growing region (5)
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.