CLASSIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Friend restraining one primarily dim bully (10)

6 Cereal over to the right of sink (4)

9 Plant husband right to put in vessel (5)

10 Loss of shape as gherkin gets chopped (9)

12 Aussie mate consuming large pie (7)

13 After overturning French wine, golfer cries (7)

14 What if I reply wrongly? Take a risk! (4,4,4)

18 Thought from journalist about freedom (12)

21 Golden plant in garden (7)

23 Two guards king's sent west from Middle East (7)

24 Flower a daft sheep brought back (9)

25 Outdated interior of cold home (5)

26 Tempted woman with new

uniform (4)

27 Deny scarf's modified for

costume (5,5)

DOWN

1 Losing heart, examine small creature (6)

2 Hollow tooth with nicks pulsates with pain (6)

3 Phone lines obscuring sign for book provider (6,7)

4 Weird oyster found in the German ship (9)

5 Good person upset about pot's cracks (5)

7 Alec disheartened a medic trashed student (8)

8 Love poetry about uplifting boss (8)

11 Robin, perhaps, following strangely huge robin in local area (13)

15 Basic home of metal housing queen poorly, we heard (9) 16 Back of cave, toad wriggling (8)

17 Rugby player impeding nasty European is obstacle (8) 19 Interfere, announcing prize (6) 20 Addicts of US sitcom with no resistance (6)

22 Letter delivered heartless answer (5)

ACROSS

7 Begin to smoke a cigarette (5,2) 9 From the Emerald Isle (5)

10 Falsely shy (3) 11 Nod off (2,2,5) 12 Gowned (5) 14 Cylindrical fuel container (3,4) 16 Water bottles (7) 18 Detective jobs (5) 19 Hindrance (9) 20 Imitate (3)

21 Garden huts (5) 22 Taught (7)

DOWN

1 Charged with current (8) 2 Unpleasant to look at (4)

3 Presented or manipulated (6) 4 Lorry fuel (6)

5 Guns (8)

6 Emporium (4)

8 George, Andrew or David, eg (6,5) 13 Artificial obstructions such as dams (8)

15 Deceives (8)

17 Insubstantial (6)

18 Vaults beneath churches (6) 19 Secure with ropes (4)

20 Land measure (4)