CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Light-hearted quality in drama

less fun if poorly organised (11) 9 Duo rounding river that is

part of the U.S. landscape (7) 10 Quintet embracing establishment given to celebration? (7) 11 Fool gets to use a

needle, reportedly (3) 12 Observed cheat at work

in western Germany (7) 13 Academics largely considered humble and serious at the outset (7) 14 Knight in controversy

with time gone (3) 15 Children’s author, rich source

about foremost of legends (5) 17 Famous denial by chap

in drainpipes (5) 18 Informal way of speaking

in various languages (5) 20 Furtively walk left

cutting boundary (5) 22 Old French coin found

in the cupboard (3) 24 Sluggish sort getting to tow

female from the East (7) 25 Boxer, perhaps, protected by rough pals and subservient types (7) 26 Woman given help,

first to last (3) 27 Unconventional start

in passage (7) 28 A French comedian and journalist describing an office intern? (7) 29 Department beginning to hear accusation? Submariners fear it (5,6)

DOWN

1 Protection squad rating our parade possibly (10,5) 2 A supporter with cured meat for patriarch (7) 3 Discovery enthralling

English enthusiast (5) 4 Quit scene of operations? That’s out of the ordinary (4-5) 5 Greek character and

Poles in ground (7) 6 Feel uptight soon after reviewing an error with words? (4,2,3,6) 7 Produces second

pieces on board (6) 8 Felt curiously dense after

last of questions (6) 16 Line on a good person getting to come down at the very end? (4-5) 18 Leave society

showing divisions (6) 19 Inform on idiot replacing Oscar in clique (5,2) 21 Give authority to European politician close to one in awful row (7) 23 Animated film team showing positive aspect (6) 25 Reaction to humour in U.S. city before horrified expression (5)