Cryptic crossword

ACROSS

1. Props one up in RU, cricket and the like (8)

7. Piece of drama that is soundly observed (5)

8. Sung, say, to dry right out when it’s unpleasant (7)

9. Fix it in one’s mind I am going to the newspapers (7) 10. Repeat somebody else’s words from the chorus (4) 12. No longer a child where a child is concerned (5-2) 14. Impedes progress of Leftists by including a sailor (7) 17. A body picture for one to examine critically (4)

18. Is not up to its being out of balance (7)

21. Such an enthusiast can be voted out with ease, one is told (7)

22. Don’t give a direct answer but try to protect oneself from loss (5)

23. A man holding boy little by little coming from the States (8)

DOWN

1. No end of dust-up at the wrong end, all at once (6) 2. Writer is unable to include end of paragraph, due to bias (8) 3. Expel you and me, to come up on the outside (4) 4. Sitting as a judge may be causing strain (6)

5. Gala occasion for Europhiles to encourage leaders (4) 6. Puts on a show as one rises from bed (4,2)

7. One may assume pop uses a version of it (7)

11. Hold a spree to be responsible for taking in half the room (7) 13. Kind of drug got from coir can’t be mixed (8) 14. Hooligans are right: Hugo’s wrong (6)

15. Dole it out in giving up writing on rare occasions (6) 16. Sort of spontaneous translation that escaped notice (6) 19. It goes round in water dyed by mistake (4)

20. Claim it’s true it takes age to be mean (4)