CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS 1. Sounds like jewels for author Verne (5) 4. Painful chaffing for not quite A-lister! (7) 8. Nautical rope seen in endless land and yard (7) 9. Move about new poison (5) 10. Popular saying in favour of action word (7) 12. At home and got bar of gold (5) 14. Relish fewer movement on fairground ride (6,5) 18. Little emu sick in middle of tune (5) 19. Sam a wry sounding Japanese warrior (7) 21. Good host’s spirit (5) 23. Large drinks for tennis game (7) 24. If anything can go wrong, it will, like lump of earth on cabbage salad (4,3) 25. He turns Eva then lifts up (5)

DOWN 1. Joy and pal move old car (6) 2. Loners hold onto Mafia leader and cockneys (9) 3. It’s used to weigh part of fish! (5) 4. Right to leave bird’s auction offer (3) 5. I’ve nigh changed attack in words (7) 6. Large cask’s nut turned (3) 7. TV controller is far away (6) 11. Basil’s losing beginner’s base (5) 13. Fighter sounds like a big ape (9) 15. Article rewritten for musical performance (7) 16. I’m a long time seeing the pictures (6) 17. You use one to wipe noses and flesh! (6) 20. Delta’s facial feature (5) 22. Strange mood Dad takes to heart (3) 23. We’d turn from water (3)