Prize crossword

For this puzzle we’ve provided two sets of clues, each giving the same answers. One set of clues is cryptic, one is quick. It’s a good way to hone your skills because it gives you two ways to crack the crossword! Once complete, the letters in the shaded squares, when read from top to bottom, left to right, will spell out a word — this is your prize answer. Write it on the entry coupon on page 103 and post it, email it or enter online. Two winners will be chosen randomly from all correct entries and whichever set of clues you follow, you have an equal chance of revealing the prize answer and winning!

Cryptic clues

ACROSS

1 Hard to understand outside broadcast prior to transmission’s initial purpose (6)

4 Right among scattered pieces, to be exact (7)

10 Encourage to follow switchboard’s first operator (7)

11 Rustic vegetables placed before worker (7)

12 Creature makes connections, so it is said (4)

13 Two functions for a dead bird (4) 14 Live healthily, having died first (5) 16 Sign carried by centaur, usually (6) 17 Briefly look at returning boy — that’s a disgrace (7)

21 First two characters leave Australian Aboriginal journey and strike (7) 22 Friend’s in front of top mansion (6) 25 Prepare trial’s beginning ahead of wet weather (5)

27 Search hospital department from which I went missing (4) 28 Initially left Aladdin’s magic potion in genie’s home (4)

30 One who throws a vessel (7) 31 US general encircles large crowd (7) 32 Sneer as I’m found amid elegance (7) 33 New and ahead of its time, almost (6)

DOWN

1 Outdated honour accepted one time (8)

2 Stag’s heart — sort of natural for a spider (9)

3 That woman would take off (4) 5 Scold agent over pest in the kitchen? (8)

6 Drink tea, accompanied by Summer

Holiday’s ending (10)

7 Alarm is small cause for concern (5) 8 Jealousy surrounds tennis player’s love for a diplomat (5)

9 Took scarf for a clergyman (5)

15 Town going against a chap who plays badly (10)

18 A room for experiments, like picking off half of latter substance for carving (9)

19 Epic hour dancing in ecstasy (8)

20 Danger resulting from headless predator captured between first of January and end of May (8) 23 Dogs perhaps climb small stairs (5)

24 Tins brought up before the King providing a very quick meal (5)

26 Modify part of the church, we’re told (5)

29 Pretty shrewd (4)

Quick clues

ACROSS

1 Emotionally insensitive (6)

4 Particular, strict (7)

10 Doctor who performs a heart bypass, eg (7)

11 Poor agricultural labourer (7) 12 Wild feline with tufted ears (4) 13 Extinct animal (4)

14 Reside (in) (5)

16 Zodiac bull (6)

17 Outrage (7)

21 Act of leaving a meeting in protest (7) 22 See 15D

25 Retinue (5) 27 Bargain - - -, BBC TV show (4) 28 Street illumination (4) 30 Jug (7) 31 Gather together (7) 32 Pained expression (7) 33 Approximately (6)

DOWN 1 Antiquated (8)

2 Tropical arachnid (9)

3 - - - light on, clarify (4)

5 Rebuke (8)

6 Variety of white wine grape (10)

7 Frighten (5)

8 Emissary (5)

9 Shawl (5) 15 & 22A London residence of the British sovereign (10, 6) 18 Translucent variety of gypsum (9) 19 Very happy (8) 20 Peril (8) 23 Nineties pop quintet who covered Tragedy (5)

24 Bite to eat (5)

26 Adjust (5) 29 Charmingly attractive (4)