THE GIANT CROSSWORD

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ACROSS

12 Butt of jokes among mathematicians? (6,2,3) 13 Straightening out even a bend in the road (6) 14 Evidence that tea’s been brewed recently in Lancashire? (6) 16 Snap, ‘Don’t talk back to!’ (4) 17 Entrance to the jazz club? (5,4) 18 In addition, there’s someone on a surf board (5) 19 Forced to return an import from Holland (4) 20 Left the first two letters and one took fourth letter (9) 22 Revealed way in which poles go on both ends (5) 23 Write ‘In Orient, surprisingly, most kitchens have one’ (3-6) 27 Father’s taking ages to organise trip (7) 30 Electricity bill (6) 31 Lean over to give command to dog (4) 32 Annoy deliberately with ‘Fifty per cent of East Enders are slovenly’ (5) 35 Once having entered race, send message (4) 36 The saying ‘A dog will always be restrained by lead’ (7) 38 To be in recession is really bad (4) 39 Does one’s best but the streets are filled with water (7) 42 Makes up for not being allowed to swim in a rough sea (6) 45 Charges a number of drunken sots (5) 46 Serve badly for game (7) 47 Cross, bind about, turning to leave (4) 48 In practice, half the fish will be thrown back (4) 50 About marriage and bad girl insinuating herself into (7) 52 Given vague gist, grasping point, understands (5) 54 Awfully sad about, she destroys one’s hopes (6) 56 Moaned and groaned about golf (7) 57 Man given notice by boss (4) 59 Carry wobbly pup inside: kind (7) 61 Fiddle with the gangway (4) 64 Proper time to have spoken about (5) 66 Notice the crest’s wrong way around (4) 67 Not a bad habit in a beginner (6) 69 Vetoed because asked to (7) 72 Do me a favour, please, and back the show (2,2,5) 73 Small sound — a pip (5) 74 Try to do as well as, in the big game (4,5) 79 Cheer for and back? Too right! (4) 81 Drawn to, married (5) 82 As the windflower is, that’s going to seed? (9) 83 Unable to decide between ‘ripped’ and ‘split’? (4) 85 Claim damages against European, for spite (6) 86 Gift that’s willingly given (6) 87 Likelier winner of photographic competition. Even more gratifying (6,5)

DOWN

1 Something chosen from menu when day is hot (4) 2 Continue intruding in conversation or shut up (6) 3 Listening, notices also and deals with (4,2) 4 As policeman, volunteer to hold in charge (7) 5 Germ-ridden vehicle? (5) 6 We, very worried got here from far and wide (10) 7 Trap senora set after ring went missing (5) 8 We notify you to take counsel (2,7) 9 After tea, I get back to the vehicle (7) 10 Sometimes turning back to find article in (4) 11 My, the morality! (8) 15 Drat! Neither speaks fluently (6) 21 Two and the British one (5) 24 Raise English and the French tax by a quarter (7) 25 Here’s to a century and here’s to runs (6) 26 Economy that’s growing (6) 28 Determined son should go to public school (3,2) 29 A doctor has come about the vacancy (3) 33 Business worry (7) 34 Having stupidly lost passport, perhaps, impassive (6) 37 The man at the herbalist’s (5) 40 I am among the ones bothered by the din (5) 41 Sap is boiling over with rage (7) 43 Man comes back with a ‘Shut up. That’s rubbish’ (5) 44 He reckons it’s a good time to take holidays (6) 46 Rising, has radio playing music (5) 49 In prison, child, I have bed and board (7) 51 Figure when he left they went inside (6) 53 Consequence of what little brat did (6) 55 Bush, fuzzy bush, run to hide in (5) 58 Hands off! No playing on emotions! (2,3,5) 60 A figure in addition, say (3) 62 Wine for myself and fish coming up (5) 63 Hurry up with water for the plant (9) 65 Stand drink to a number, though not drinking (8) 68 Even having twisted upside-down again, surface (6) 70 Mended using needles and yarn? (7) 71 News about sport flashes (7) 75 Holding, playing tune again (6) 76 Clever, getting into new state university (6) 77 Saw, good gracious, taking a turn! (5) 78 Having played on the beach, ran back (5) 80 Fall and t-tear (4) 84 Speaking part in ‘The List’ (4)