cryptic crossword
ACROSS
1 Enduring Queen described by
playful expert (12)
8 Practically nobody takes trouble to get regular figure (7)
9 Alters entrances around court
(7)
11 Husband, wayward one could
be soused (7)
12 Incorrectly pick up short cut
following motorway (7)
13 Help putting plug back inside
drinks (5)
14 Vandal, almost uncultivated,
besieging ancient city (9)
16 A striver, I fancy? (9)
19 King surrounded by knaves
and jokers (5)
21 Narrow head of tree monkey
with rosy behind (7)
23 Tory’s first excuse for
rebellion (7)
24 Dismiss employee accepting
money (7)
25 Male with urn sculpted for 1
or 2? (7)
26 Screen matron adjusted to
see complaint (12)
DOWN
1 One impaled acquiring new
cut (7)
2 Gluttons originally identified
gee-gee in pastry dishes (7)
3 Dismissed a general brought
up protecting traitors (9)
4 Scene of destruction over
misdeeds initially (5)
5 Plaintiff’s account about drug
addict (7)
6 Generally see supporting
facilities? (7)
7 Chastise unit at sea that’s
keen (12)
10 Unexpectedly grumpy about
parking going up (12)
15 Frenchman’s revolting taking
little time for bribe (9)
17 Comeback from Republican
that is holding office (7)
18 From extrovert I got
unbalanced feeling (7)
19 Jack boasted about triumph
over mother before noon (7)
20 Order dish out again (7)
22 Trickery seen during
detective’s game (5)