FRIDAY CROSSWORD

Across

1 Snake and rodent let out by river (7)

5 Male in favour of sitting in bed for relaxation (7) 9 Clothes primarily large? Admit one could be in a big top (5) 10 Dancing is a talent or tease (9)

11 Shame about our pal cavorting to get approval (10) 12 Beats a retreat, protecting powerful ruler (4)

14 Orders stir unions to get agitated outside court (12) 18 Poorly American with temperature getting fixed portion of food, for example (12) 21 Beryl regularly consumes a small piece of cake (4) 22 General’s vast banquet (10) 25 Spouting off about exercises working (9) 26 Competition finally reduced by 50% (5)

27 Wanted gentleman to conceal achievement? On the contrary (7)

28 Slim model’s rear shown in poster (7)

Down

1 About to go over impressive lifting procedure used in the kitchen (6)

2 Men shown up in conversations, poor things (6) 3 Isolation unit needed in outbreak of illness (10)

4 It spins up and down (5) 5 Fabricate hamper – university needs to replace one (9) 6 Miserly average plan (4) 7 Leaving out nothing on assignment (8)

8 Guess the pay increase after middle of October (8) 13 He tampers with circulation to keep oxygen in air (10) 15 Bound to admit blunder, if scared (9)

16 Tree – do we set up shelters over bits chopped up? (8) 17 Smears – they’re often seen on children’s knees (8) 19 Deputy to close bank (6) 20 One polishing rag? (6) 23 Golf club’s evicting wife? Creeps! (5)

24 Pretty good trade show (4)