Giant Crossword

Across

8 Interrupt a conversation on burglary? (5-2) 9 Loses one’s grip on the ice-cream and the griddlecake (4,5) 13 Be very enthusiastic about the number by the composer (5) 14 Holding a match for the writer (5) 15 Hurts again when one comes to (7) 16 How slim Woody is? (7) 17 It’s a good thing there’s a second collection (5) 18 Food is something you’d be dead if you didn’t have (5) 20 Such a price as is charged for a strong drink? (5) 22 Disloyal? Not so! (6) 23 Talk about rain and new growth (6) 25 Come through inside and he’ll make the introductions (7) 27 ‘Family on the outskirts of Rio’ is very clear (7) 30 Cheats and misreports what one said (6) 31 Is a slow mover and when there’s sun, does no work (6) 32 What’s wrong with the eligible bachelor? (5) 35 Having a lot to learn about colour (5) 36 Cupboard the tennis racket’s in? (5) 37 He thinks he can tell you what’s going to take place (7) 39 The new help, too, is excellent (3-4) 41 The bit of tart and ice, I left (5) 42 Some extra illumination is required for the path (5) 43 A carnivorous plant? (5,4) 44 Had corresponded, but was bound to conceal everything (7)

Down

1 Nonsense! Take the wheel beside the learner (6) 2 Poor - really rotten! (5,3) 3 Money that hasn’t been laundered? (6,5) 4 Makes it clear when one produces (6,3) 5 Are they drunk for morale? (7) 6 What the writers are fighting over? (5,5) 7 Move from China - not a great upheaval (4) 10 Swamps, doctor, and snow-drifts (6) 11 When inside, is not able to get a game (7) 12 Say yes, a second was posted (6) 19 Try to find the guard (4,3) 21 What did the bridegroom say? A tissue of lies, love! (7) 24 Catch up, darn it! (5,3,3) 26 Cheat by turning the two into a half? (3,3,4) 28 Long for a homely fruit while having an exotic one (9) 29 Red-faced, got even (7) 30 The high point is seeing what the circus performers wear (6) 32 To put the finishing touch, having money left to (3,2,3) 33 Only just - and not easily (6) 34 Attracts, yet horrifies, the English within (7) 38 Having found, carted off (6) 40 Piano music needed for the duet (4)