BLANK OUT

A crossword you construct yourself, adding the answers and the blanks as you go. The clues are in sets of one, two, three or four guiding you to one, two, three or four words in each line (across) or column (down) indicated at the beginning of each set of clues. Each complete word has a blank at its beginning and end (unless it’s at the edge of the grid). Blanks are arranged symmetrically. To help you, we’ve given you a start with the answer to the clue on Line 11 – ‘Kingdom’ – which yields the word ‘Realm’. This must sit in the centre of the line to preserve the symmetry. ACROSS 1 Hunter’s lure; Cram (in) 2 Odd specimen 3 Terrace or ledge; Proportion 4 Jointly carried out 5 Havana smoke; Green Italian sauce 6 Current affairs; Deceitful person 7 PG Tips product 8 Pull strenuously; Jewish leader or teacher 9 Shorten (a text) 10 Convert into cipher; Impassioned 11 Kingdom 12 Water gate; High regard 13 Non-believer 14 Distances of 1760 yards; Take place again 15 Positive response 16 Agricultural land; Malaysian hardwood 17 Grant; Join in wedlock 18 Bandit, crook 19 The present; Carrion bird 20 Amalgamate 21 Cautious and secretive; Small and bright (eyes) DOWN A Ménage à trois B Of a race; Goat hair C Bath powder; Hideous D Lubrication tin; Food hunt E Brow; Shipwrecked person F Felt hat G Deceiver; Spreading grass out to dry H Mindless I Imaginary home of mythical beings; Guild J Recreations K Person who mends things; Ribbon of coloured paper L Retailer; Martial art M Clever; Engrave on metal N Spirited; Pal O Blemish on the skin