DOUBLE CROSSWORD

CRYPTIC

ACROSS

1 Allows cheek

to escape (3,4)

5 Admit love for women

returning wordplay (3,2)

8 Board, given little time,

skilled (5)

9 The Spanish road almost leads to Hertfordshire film studios (7)

10 Looks both ways (4)

11 Barely at conflict with

deception (8)

13 Battered insecure

oat sellers! (11)

17 Took stock of sheep

in shambolic drive (8)

19 Knock – no bell – holds

door handle (4)

21 Fuel support to sack

hound (7)

22 Diminutive type holding

husband (5)

23 Rubbish left in large

receptacle, ultimately (5)

24 Gave medical help –

for nothing? (7)

QUICK ACROSS

1 Eye cosmetic (7)

5 Plays the lead (5)

8 ___ Trouper, Abba hit (5)

9 Change direction (7)

10 Imitates (4)

11 Misadventure (8)

13 Admirable (11)

17 Hip hop, techno, disco,

rock etc (3,5)

19 Gone by, no longer

existing (4)

21 Fortress protecting

a town (7)

22 Dixieland instrument (5)

23 Restaurant guest (5)

24 Foot-lever on an old

sewing machine (7)

DOWN

1 News of the French

cricket match (6)

2 Picture gold on board (7)

3 Vegetable for pound yikes! (4)

4 Replace foe’s epic crew

for old silver coins (6,2,5)

5 Old British waitress, perhaps, finding newspaper (8)

6 Uncool French marshal

blocking road (5)

7 Father takes two different Spanish articles from dish (6)

12 One present later in the

evening by river (8)

14 Clearly sound touring

arrangement (4,3)

15 Before wonderful short

building (6)

16 Sailor, on special date,

calmed down (6)

18 Caught up in spectacular

ivy spreading rapidly (5)

20 Man, for example, in taxi,

sleek (4)

DOWN

1 Unfortunate event (6)

2 All-powerful leader (7)

3 Crooked, askew (4)

4 House plant

Saintpaulia (7,6)

5 Continued existence (8)

6 Entertain (5)

7 Lithe (6)

12 Burn slowly (8)

14 Well-educated,

scholarly (7)

15 Seasoned (6)

16 Open invitation

for visitors (2-4)

18 Affect, stage (3,2)

20 Adroit, competent (4)