CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Crucial moment at Wimbledon affecting two times champion (5,5) 6 Flashy character upsetting top

people (4) 9 Old cars popular with learner visiting more than one state (3,7) 10 Powder used in macrobiotic

latte coming from the East (4) 12 Hunter’s habit perhaps put an

end to soft wimps (6) 13 Follower of false gods, I procrastinate (8) 15 Gratifying resolution of nightmare war (5-7) 18 Major initiative — single

picture left in movie (5,7) 21 Florence ruled by fish (8) 22 Shawl, new, makes one hot (6) 24 O! What comes from pen?

Animal noise (4) 25 Houseplant rousing a sad

spirit (10) 26 Made a portrait of Barrymore?

(4) 27 Help Charlie with initially

important position (10)

DOWN

1 Grumble endlessly about a

change (6) 2 Vulnerable bid (6) 3 Hard manner and sauce —

shock treatment’s needed (12) 4 Don’t start to drink slimy stuff (4) 5 Wastrel we enrolled to be

employed (4-2-4) 7 Insect tucked into simple fruit (8) 8 A newspaper probes depravity in minister’s place (8) 11 Musician performing stint with recital (12) 14 Women taking orders from printworks around S American city (10) 16 A very loud reprimand’s given outside place for punishment (8) 17 Report girl gaining little

weight (8) 19 Mercury maybe getting slightly twisted in printing roller (6) 20 Lag behind in recast team (6) 23 Antipodean it’s essential we

picked up (4)

LAST WEEKEND’S SOLUTION: Across: 1 Forthechop; 6 Mark; 8 Alehouse; 9 Rustle; 10 Teetotal; 11 Health; 12 Iris; 14 Nomadic; 18 Ceiling; 20 Name; 23 Frieze; 24 Landlord; 25 Coward; 26 Advocate; 27 Real; 28 Depressant.

Down: 1 Fraction; 2 Reefer; 3 Hoodoo; 4 Costarica; 5 Purchase; 6 Muscatel; 7 Relation; 13 Icelander; 15 Overdose; 16 Afterall; 17 Intended; 19 Gradient; 21 Odious; 22 Sonata