THE CROSSWORDS
CRYPTIC CLUES
ACROSS
1 Teachings that follow closely on a degree (5)
8 Paid back though completely in the red (8)
9 Strange evils and disguises (5)
10 A letter I composed is well-expressed (8)
11 News articles from the Times (5)
12 Quiet Old English writer (3)
16 A motor on fire perhaps (6)
17 Eddy tore between five and ten (6)
18 One in service (3)
23 Such insects used to be an afterthought (5) 24 Devious ways to avoid overcrowding in cities (8)
25 Carriage looking upset? (5)
26 Press forward with debts, though not genuine (8)
27 Agency to change names (5)
DOWN
2 Subtle implication, but a patently obvious one (8)
3 Her hands produce lower output (8)
4 Sheep doctor going round Ireland (6)
5 Smoked but has kicked the habit (5)
6 Band parts put out (5)
7 Sides and top cut off hedges (5)
12 It may be vegetable or sweet (3)
13 She is a bit clever (3)
14 New rate certain for wealth (8)
15 Is said to be ordered in advance (8)
19 Soundly examine a bill of exchange (6)
20 A foot lower (5)
21 Issue raised by a whale (5)
22 Moving stair perhaps (5)
QUICK CLUES
ACROSS
1 Kept in readiness (2,3)
8 Take in hand (3,5)
9 To faint (5)
10 Total sales revenue (8)
11 Smile derisively (5)
12 Favourite (3)
16 Affectedly modest (6)
17 Attraction (6)
18 An unfilled space (3)
23 Narrow street (5)
24 Crucial trial (4,4)
25 Muslim Scriptures (5)
26 People of no importance (5,3)
27 A financial interest (5)
DOWN
2 It isn’t surprising (2,6)
3 Closely confined (6,2)
4 Sumptuous (2,4)
5 Place frequently visited (5)
6 Explain (5)
7 All too clear (5)
12 Hold at fixed level (3)
13 Gentle knock (3)
14 Specify in detail (5,3)
15 Without a saddle (8)
19 Incorporate (6)
20 Untrue (5)
21 Ultimate (5)
22 No longer fresh (5)