Friday’s solutions:

Across: 1 Playthings. 7 Plane. 8 Ballast. 10 Linesmen. 11 Left. 13 Gorgon. 15 Loathe. 17 Sage. 18 Particle. 21 Slights. 22 Amend. 23 Checkmates. Down: 1 Prawn. 2 Aversion. 3 Tables. 4 Idle. 5 Gravest. 6 Apologists. 9 Title-deeds. 12 Contract. 14 Roguish. 16 Ransom. 19 Crews. 20 Chic.