DAILY MAIL CROSSWORD
ACROSS 1 Bees swarm around one, say, in swamp (7) 5 This type of weather could spread by end of May (6) 9 The end is nigh? You are said to be blocking it (7) 10 McCartney, king of the stars (7) 11 Rent out half of chalet (3) 12 First of many exotic countries storing sulphur get it wrong (11) 13 Graduate imports new piano (5) 14 Whiskey and fruit drinks bought for cash collection (4-5) 16 Discount Sherlock’s skill (9) 17 Part of flower that primarily appears in ring (5) 19 Prophet’s sphere of knowledge? (7,4) 22 Secret agent conceals letter from Athens (3) 23 Writer is returning pound to a government post-holder (7) 24 Wake up judge dealing with small hotel (7) 26 Intense strain consuming Turkey (6) 27 Doctor sees trained redhead, theatre assistant (7) DOWN 1 Unfinished work shifting blockage? Not all of it (7) 2 Secretary, say, is blunt, pithy and busy saint (9,6) 3 Local bird hidden in Adelaide museum (3) 4 Odds, paradoxically (5) 5 Studio can upset guard (9) 6 Women seen stealing signs (5) 7 Lime in rum deters drunk suffering this? (8,7) 8 Companion runs into swine (6) 12 Health worker ignoring last of rich Italian family (5) 14 Old Liberal hugs one excited girl in fairground ride (9) 15 Turn off power during part of film (5) 16 Almost floor a representative and abscond (6) 18 Hide right under the French articles (7) 20 Banned sailor as well as nurses (5) 21 Pungent corrosive substance overwhelms Republican (5) 25 Enemy of retreating English (3)
PRIZES of £20 will be awarded to the senders of the first three correct solutions checked. Solutions to: Daily Mail Prize Crossword No. 15,544, PO BOX 3451, Norwich, NR7 7NR. Entries may be submitted by second-class post. Envelopes must be postmarked no later than tomorrow. Please make sure you enclose your name and address.
SOLUTION TO PRIZE CROSSWORD No 15,541: ACROSS: 6 Representation. 9 Icecap. 10 Benumbed. 11 Adultery. 13 Regime. 15 Legacy. 17 Tycoon. 19 Ethnic. 20 Squeegee. 22 Massacre. 24 Wiring. 26 Psychoanalysis. DOWN: 1 Crocodile tears. 2 Epic. 3 People. 4 Stingray. 5 Stem. 7 Embryo. 8 Open-mindedness. 12 Log on. 14 Glove. 16 Cockcrow. 18 Astern. 21 Unwell. 23 Sock. 25 Rise. DAILY MAIL New Cryptic Crosswords — pit your wits against 100 of the trickiest cryptic puzzles ever to appear in your favourite paper. This book provides the ideal way to warm up your grey matter for a day’s work, or wind down and relax during those rare spare moments. Available from the Daily Mail Book Shop, call 0844 571 0640 or visit www.mailbookshop.co.uk . P&P free on orders over £15.