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

7 Noteworthy gesture

8 The missing husband getting a trophy and some crockery

11 Level with the first woman

12 Riot needs inclination and time

13 Exclude from a pub

14 Expressionless, topless and lifeless

15 Swim around river, finding weed

20 Enthusiast from Brazil, say 21 Pressure on shape designed to take resistance, maybe

22 Flexible, expected to include shelter

23 Hide, city being scrawny

24 Ranted about being zealous

Down

1 Make vegan kid eat strange compromise (Three words, hyphenated)

2 Type acquiring new

sound of contempt

3 Fellow with feeble

passion 4 Translated tales may be a bargain

5 Struggle to get iron into thin sheet

6 Growth is a game at factory (Two words)

9 Refuse to decrease

10 Old king confused panel and hook

16 Use up patience, initially, during broadcast

17 Cook reportedly sounds like a donkey

18 Carriage includes a quantity of diamonds

19 Whisper to a team