£50 PRIZE CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Stupidly ropes in a guy who pretends to be something he’s not (5) 4 A cold indoor breeze? Get a beer from the keg (7)

8 The type of crossword that would make a Pict cry (7)

9 A very small island is permitted (5)

10 What covers the middle of a field? It’s a cereal crop (5)

11 Pet bird is due big bananas (6)

14 Rab and Sean will supply musicians for a wedding (5)

16 Ron is back in the south-east making a noise at night (5)

18 The size of a former canvas shelter (6)

21 A cheese shredder sounds super (5)

24 A robber gets something of worth – i.e. Fabergé (5) 25 Tina and Sue annoyed mother and father’s sisters (7) 26 Towards the beginning, Noel and Ray misbehaved (5,2) 27 Travels by sea, they say, to cut-price bargain events at the shops (5)

DOWN

1 Anxiously walk up and down when seeing a ripped cape (4)

2 He yawns making a request: “Tell me when to stop pouring” (3,4) 3 Religious rites and ceremonies in the Urals – it gets weird (7) 4 Knock someone to the floor of the ship (4) 5 Die in the centre of Gaul? Yes, it’s farewell to a French citizen (5) 6 The Soviet labour camp was finally giving Lou dreadful cholera. Terrifying! (5) 7 Secured by rope like a horse? Yes, find the three Ted trained (8) 12 Is this Oxford lecturer a Spanish gentleman? (3)

13 A lazy teen – Abe’s the person who failed to show up (8)

15 Going through Lasswade, eventually reaching a river Prince Charles fished (3) 16 Tahiti wrap-around robes? Nora’s upset over top and bottom of the garments (7)

17 A ludicrous liar, not facing a jury (2,5) 19 A persevering person initially tried renovation in Edinburgh recently (5)

20 One on foot in New York, being quick, agile and stylish (5)

22 A fun frolic with C.S. Lewis’s Mr Tumnus perhaps (4)

23 Enquires about a few damask sheets (4)