BARE BONES

Complete the grid – numbers and squares. We have inserted four black squares and four clue numbers to get you going. The crossword has a four-way symmetry: both top and bottom and left and right match, so you can fill in 12 more squares straight away. Answer next week.

Across

5 Journalist noticed something cutting edge

8 Chap, concerning ears, is unemotional

11 Not acceptable

in Southampton

12 Two fellows from eastern Europe

13 Turn Foreign Office into something alien (Initials)

14 Singer following a little bit

15 Throw some beef

20 Kitty making the highest return

21 Roundabout is at an angle

22 Thinking about something to write with

23 A lyric about carbon – something synthetic

24 Article – not my composition – has the opposite meaning Down

1 Film some spirit, holding nothing

2 Second desire is impressively smart

3 Note bad conditions for thinker

4 Boy has caught one to become heir

6 Matter of convenience for animal and its offspring (Two words)

7 Suddenly became wealthy, finding lorry in terrain (Two words)

9 Performance trial for judges? (Two words) 10 Time Jack got an ointment that demands a decision (Two words, hyphenated)

16 Address an audience in second summit

17 Take to someone – we can hear that

18 Crouch, being dumpy

19 Takes top off and reads quickly