CRYPTIC CROSSWORD
No 16,281
ACROSS
1 Short lad with French artist in Spanish taverns (7) 5 Get a quick divorce here with northern celebrity (6) 9 Enlisted sculptor to inspire exercises (5,2) 10 Aim of tennis player leaving out old matching woollies (7) 11 Self-esteem foregone after stripping (3) 12 Hug nice old nun dancing in raptures (2,5,4) 13 Strong material used in Gurkha kitbags (5) 14 What malingerer claims in speech to be wine? (9) 16 Pilot arguing about a European meteorologist’s device (4,5) 17 It’s more expensive for each piece of footwear (5) 19 Get better goods transporter (4-2,5) 22 Spleen repaired to some extent (3) 23 Rent-a-party twister (7) 24 Aroma or its source (7) 26 Society woman brought up her attractive features (6) 27 Pay deal ruined exceptional 24 hours (4,3)
DOWN
1 Drink at King’s Head, eating primarily rather small nuts (7) 2 Discreet officers collar radical consular staff (10,5) 3 Shadow cast over idol (3) 4 Child in charge of sound (5) 5 Grounds limit provision of beer (9) 6 Father and Scotsman hauled up young dragonfly (5) 7 Wife dishing up quail, battered? It’ll be used later (7-2,6) 8 The area around Durham, say, supports a goddess (6) 12 Seal’s not interesting without its leader (1,4) 14 Civil decorum regularly seen in parts of Wimbledon (9) 15 Pull feathers out of bottle (5) 16 19 carrying salesman’s name (6) 18 Return of missile concerning contestants (2-5) 20 States, say, raised employment (5) 21 Head of plant’s minute, with sort of blue lips (5) 25 Girl’s somewhat fortunate (3)
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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 and calls cost £1 plus standard network charges. Or enter by post by sending completed crossword to Daily Mail Prize Crossword 16,281, 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 datestamped no later than the following day to qualify. Calls/texts must be received by 23.59; answers change at 00.01. UK residents aged 18+, exc NI. Terms apply, see Page 68.