CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Telegram admitting dad’s

qualified (7)

5 Denies match official’s welcoming cup-ties on a regular basis (7)

9 Message this writer sent back

with trouble (5)

10 Pure evil’s monstrous,

monstrous (9)

11 All over Spain wife is after most

suitable present (10)

12 Partially backing Starmer as the

leader (4)

14 Adult prepared tortellini – a

popular pasta, perhaps? (12) 18 Supports trendy

contest (12)

21 Tense Independent editor gets

married (4)

22 A thin boat at sea circles island

home (10)

25 Criminal tries alibi, lacking right

skills (9)

26 Rodent entering that is foaming at the mouth (5) 27 Tramp returning with incomplete clue? One’s supposedly intelligent! (7) 28 Beg chaps to leave

maiden gift (7)

DOWN

1 Sharp chopper – ace cut (6) 2 Pictures group mountain

climbing (6)

3 It requires guts to perform

these dives (5,5)

4 Planet’s core hot from top to

bottom (5)

5 Journalists are heading off with

hotel employees? (9) 6 Handled fabric (4)

7 Dog ultimately cocks leg,

producing state of panic (8) 8 Son trying bad language (8) 13 London possibly is centre for

ambitious moneyman? (10) 15 Seclusion is, to a lion,

wretched (9)

16 Country clubs in lush ground (8) 17 Cloth from China and money

from Saudi Arabia? (8)

19 Tango is an energy drink (6) 20 Plan where camper might go (6)

23 Family affair (5)

24 Heard of search for religious

follower (4)