CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

No 17,050

ACROSS

1 Custody supported by excellent chaps in court (11) 9 Talk at length quietly in

front of conductor (7) 10 Small mat for bottle in

cargo-laden ship (7) 11 Tree remains (3) 12 They sting actor John (7) 13 Popular nurses with no hesitation making demands (7) 14 Standard vegetable

but no bargain (3) 15 In a mess, like working

navy personnel? (2,3) 17 Drab part of

loading yard (5) 18 Modernise rule with

four directions (5) 20 Recall meat in ordinary

area in U.S. city (5) 22 Greek character housed

in nicer hotel (3) 24 Part from underwater

worker, say, in turn (7) 25 Artist restricted placard for late fashion designer (7) 26 Wait in line, we’re

told, to get tip (3) 27 Rate lot that’s turned

out for woman (7) 28 Room renovated by clubs and firm in African country (7) 29 Prompt American gets to

follow most of odyssey (11)

DOWN

1 With great authority, specifying a biblical quotation? (7,3,5) 2 A Latin eccentric entertaining a woman (7) 3 Plans are perfect shortly before start of summer (5) 4 Deal China forged

for Mexican food (9) 5 Passed European no

longer of faith (7) 6 Indian cuts tours

planned for play (5,10) 7 Old writer in leading position has to become more communicative (4,2) 8 Charlie out of practice

gets irritable (6) 16 Record of game in centre retained by southern character (9) 18 Derek interrupts rugby party ultimately in an uncouth way (6) 19 Conduct surveillance on Western pair improperly acquiring film (7) 21 Unusually large box

missing by Italian hotel (7) 23 Wild cat starts to observe carcass enticing huge number (6) 25 Scope in elevated

clock, maybe (5)