{ THE CROSSWORDS }
CRYPTIC CLUES ACROSS
1 One who does market research on a camera? (10)
8 Got the pitch in good order (5)
9 Overlook four in the smithy (7)
10 Enormous disaster struck it (7)
11 Follow directions and prosecute (5)
12 The first man taken in by me to see the lady (6)
14 The respect in which going back meets the point (6)
17 Old convicts had little choice but to pick this (5)
19 Eggs turn into cheers (7)
21 A sty isn’t a pretty sight (7)
22 Challenged father about being put inside (5)
23 There are terms for this (10)
DOWN
2 Editing change made light of (7)
3 Increase, broadly speaking (5)
4 Really can fit when adjusted properly (2,4)
5 Cuts off some of the beams? (7)
6 They fly or take a train (5)
7 Decided to be resolute (10)
8 Ritual symbols could be temples too (5,5)
13 Something that flies holding a large number - it’s big (7)
15 Witty saying of an unusually prim age (7)
16 Resign because of one’s self-image? (6)
18 They are bent on asking for a girl’s hand (5)
20 Check the books for fraud - it’s in there (5)
QUICK CLUES ACROSS
1 Without preparation (3,3,4)
8 Opera by Gounod (5)
9 Title of Ancient Egyptian kings (7)
10 Type of climbing rose (7)
11 Expert (5)
12 Church caretaker (6)
14 Minor (6)
17 Passage between rows (5)
19 Out of date (7)
21 Australian bush country (7)
22 Identical in quantity (5)
23 Current (7-3)
DOWN
2 Bewilder (7)
3 Complete (5)
4 Termination (6)
5 Ignorant (7)
6 Blaze of light (5)
7 Grandiloquent (10)
8 Presage (10)
13 Perform surgery (7)
15 Shoulder blade (7)
16 Equipment (6)
18 To institute (3,2)
20 Defraud (5)