CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1. Religious group needs alternative division (6) 4. Revolt, you said, one taking place in troubled spring (8) 9. One in charge of editorial (6) 10. Marx ended prematurely on river, returning by airship (8) 11. Transport American round, an old opera singer (6) 12. Potters about clutching a gland (8) 13. Oddly Gladys is happy (3) 14. Kept pig outside in the dark (6) 17. Missing opening, megastar collapses – it makes you weep (4,3) 21. Rat drowned in river in the seventies, say (6) 25. Argue, making a noise (3) 26. Chap’s said to assist with letters (8) 27. Broadcasting excellent operas by Wagner (6) 28. She flies aircraft primarily through skills, we hear (8) 29. I put in rigged votes for Russian council (6) 30. Male speaker, one doing so unclearly (8) 31. Take no nonsense, Buster! (6)

DOWN

1. Only first of children is married – a mistake (8) 2. One who’s above board? (8) 3. Went too far with stolen deliveries for a start (8) 5. Verses from writer followed by essay (6) 6. Naughty I am? Nonsense! (6) 7. Sick, for example? You’re dead right there! (3,3) 8. Criminal groups conceal key in river (6) 12. Irishman, a real laugh, is a lover of his country (7) 15. Small and sweet at heart (3) 16. Slang’s good or not good? (3) 18. Not a big interval at a concert? (8) 19. One fellow is involved in treaty with non-fighter (8) 20. Raise fowl, keeping a number (8) 22. Inflammable stuff produced by sodium lamp exploding (6) 23. Odds on dressing material is something to fix broken bone (6) 24. British prime minister cut short fight (6) 25. Government mistreated emigré (6)