CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

2. Confess it might be mad to kick off with (5) 5. A seat found as one left Bulgarian capital (4) 7. Run off fast and make it so (4) 8. Attempt to hold a singlet for this ridiculous take-off (8) 9. Frightens one lest rats should be seen scampering about (8) 11. Healthy as it might be following thy disappearance (4) 12. Put off what should be done now about protest in a car (13) 15. Trade show how equitable it can be (4) 17. Minding about the railway bearing a child (8) 19. Infer how one can finally arrange it (8) 21. Security against court appearance for one atop the stumps (4) 22. In grammar it’s a word never blushingly concealed (4) 23. Cloth that runs between England and Scotland (5)

DOWN

1. Fish prepared by leading lady in a straw hat (7) 2. Painting starts as recreational task (3) 3. It may be the lead Thespian first taken into dinner (5) 4. In which one’s being moved by 2 Down: isn’t that wrong? (7) 5. The woman he’s upset by (3) 6. A flat that might turn out to be lethal (5) 10. In a precursor it may come round again (5) 11. Such sweet stuff as is tongued by the persuasive (5) 13. Advertising agency client with money in the bank (7) 14. Looking after it, or being inclined to (7) 16. With nobody else there, there’s nothing in changing lane (5) 18. Pass rope through the hole for the bailiff (5) 20. Alphabet initially put out where the driver sits (3) 21. Invite one to make an offer (3)