GUARDIAN CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

(28,043)

ACROSS

1 Top alternative to taxi rank? (7) 5 English to abandon championing of marriage (7)

9 One competed with climbers (5) 10 Create difference, namely in refereeing scandal? (9)

11 Following sprain, wife’s left with head pain (6,4)

12 Piaf’s way to feel regret (3)

14 Run both taps, overwhelmed by high rent (12)

18 Jenny and Jack defend sinner making statement (12)

21 Take in some Venice attractions (3) 22 Frustrated European loudly had sex (10)

25 The writer’s twice following old dear (9)

26 Current tests pushed back repressive force (5)

27 Police leader to pursue about lying (7)

28 Solver’s received affection, speaking out for English partisan (7)

DOWN

1 Item put on behind silks? (6) 2 I’m going downhill, entertaining very lazy so-and-so (6) 3 Reduced charge cheers up setter’s mood (10)

4 Composer, techno fan, finally changes direction (5)

5 A little current rattles me, given a shock (9)

6 Competition in sport, with running around (4) 7 Flight route on a flight

route (8)

8 Landholders who could

be Belgians? (8)

13 Will one husband like the environmentalists and not like Scrooge? (10)

15 Person left inside doing electrical

work (9)

16 Rider turned up with

suggestive look (8)

17 One then drinks different forms from

table (8)

19 Clouds artist rendered

innovatively (6)

20 Person who’ll use and provide further modern tech (6)

23 Chase after this car? (5)

24 Averse to one praying to cast off

M&S clothing (4)