THE CRYPTIC: Mungo MacCallum

ACROSS

1. Unusual dicky heart – Lanthanide, perhaps (4,5) 6. A rough party – shame! (5) 9. Athlete with stamina – Female? (7)

10. Whip around nude floor show (7)

11. Dislikes place – a hot return (5)

12. Dilute mixture – new to

ward (5,4)

13. Hardened mood with top journalist (8)

14. Perform differently – return to European river (4)

17. Plain, yet… (4)

18. … brook no refusal – tumble

into sins (6,2)

21. Night toy? (9)

22. Sniff around, circle rope (5) 24. Praise article in grown-up

English (7)

25. Vaulting – cunning in

Greece (7)

26. Amphetamines – son

piddled (5)

27. Paying traveller erases GNP

blunder (9)

DOWN

1. English invade wealthy German state (5)

2. Marsupial, adult, covers state of emotion – a comfortable thermal ambience! (4,11)

3. Measure essential moment and discard – in a bit of a tangle! (8)

4. Celebrated present, new in grass (8)

5. Male with Blanchett – a witch queen! (6)

6. Orange gold by creek (6)

7. Ironic Indian got adjusted – and adjustment for 2! (3,12) 8. Popular success, and score! But it’s actually a crime (3,3,3) 13. Clumsily, she paints actors! (9) 15. A horse, and sheep – like 12, 18 and 27, among others (8)

16. Salt in long summit? (8)

19. Abandon beach (6)

20. Eastern edge – a major traffic

accident! (4-2)

23. Avid queen, over time (5)

Solution next week