WEEKEND CROSSWORD
Dear Reader,
As a result of the coronavirus pandemic we are suspending competition entries for all our prize crosswords.
Puzzles will continue to appear as normal but no entries will be accepted or prizes given.
We hope to return to normal as soon as possible.
The solution to this week’s cryptic crossword will appear next Saturday as usual.
Stay safe!
Joy Yates, Editorial Director
Across
1 Holding the reins of office? (2,3,6) 9 Left with river insect (5)
10 Tour by Tom in German song having been made three times (11)
11 Alternative retired gentleman had gold lace (5)
12 Bob’s way of reducing time and effort (5-3)
14 Could be true I am with mother first not being fully developed (8)
15 Luke’s trellis camouflaged flighty creature (7)
17 Full of humanity possibly (7)
20 Bless city fans all over the place (8)
21 Take one’s breath away (8)
24 Lady, the Spanish lady (5)
25 Having a bent shape, it’s dishonesty (11)
26 Bird losing part crest (5)
27 Greeted Dean suffering who had grown worse (11)
Down
2 And not the endless direction (5)
3 Excitable at this market? (5)
4 Container for playing cards? (8)
5 Violent doctor about to consume drink (7)
6 Strange doodle artist’s framed in fabulous place (8)
7 Enclosing ground, ruins developing (11)
8 Led Wesleyan round valley (11)
12 Here speaks a revolutionary author (11)
13 Sends Dad and Don round for scraps (4,3,4)
16 Went back over one’s steps on rickety terrace with Penny once (8)
18 Relief about heartless power, one woman concluded (8)
19 Pulsation from Seychelles vestment (7)
22 Nurse from town near Dumfries coming up (5)
23 Man possibly left first with cotton thread (5)
FRIDAY’S SOLUTION ACROSS:
1 Dopamine, 5 Slopes, 10 Habitat, 11 Reverse, 12 Raise, 13 Rump steak, 14 Mental disorder, 17 A Town Like Alice, 21 Vaporetto, 23 Gorge, 24 Shergar, 25 In train, 26 Sundry, 27 Beady eye.
DOWN: 1 Dehorn, 2 Pebrine, 3 Motheaten, 4 Natural history, 6 Lives, 7 Portend, 8 Sneakers, 9 From time to time, 15 Obligated, 16 Canvases, 18 Orphean, 19 Cordage, 20 Seance, 22 Roger.
LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION ACROSS:
1 Quick on the draw, 9 Atelier, 10 Replica, 11 Tracklayer, 12 Magi, 14 Rodent, 15 Slapdash, 17 Overcome, 19 Errata, 22 Nigh, 23 Down-and-out, 25 Elevate, 26 Origami, 27 Going to the dogs.
DOWN: 1 Quarter-pounder, 2 Ireland, 3 Knick-knack, 4 Normal, 5 Horsefly, 6 Dupe, 7 Ali Baba, 8 Danish pastries, 13 Apprentice, 16 Immodest, 18 El Greco, 20 Avocado, 21 Inmost, 24 Rain.