CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

Across

1. Christmas job talent rare in London docklands area (12) 8. Wines produced by dodgy cartels (7) 9. American general corrals large group of stars (7) 11. Pay’s about to arrive, impressing writers (10) 12. British scrap game (4) 14. Cover up hours worked in tip (8) 16. Hairstyle that’s gathered up in net (6) 17. Vegetable plant appears in the middle (3) 19. Limit times during free broadcast (6) 21. Climber tries breaking into smart London address (8) 24. Proscribe Doctor Who finally (4) 25. King, say, punctures Alfred’s staggering vanity (4-6) 27. Speaker’s private animosity (7) 28. Fascinating objects, each holding toxic fluid (7) 29. A booster hit rocks between Mars and Jupiter (8,4)

Down

1. Good ways to catch first of covert peeks (7) 2. Worry about early English blemish in economic system (4,6) 3. Being no longer useful, did the dishes (6,2) 4. Approach expert on ship rounding Cape (6) 5. Serve tea perhaps in bucket (4) 6. Spontaneous note (7) 7. Illness, sort of 8, always follows food initially (7,5) 10. Top aide, not a southpaw? (5-4,3) 13. Terrapin plunged in New York for bird (10) 15. Early moisture expected, I hear (3) 18. Strip defective rifle? Out side help needed (8) 20. State in turmoil about new universal disease (7) 22. Person with his feet on the ground is later up in the air (7) 23. Our lot prepare to welcome Irish crank (6) 26. Optometrist’s big book (4)