CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 From the monarch, a sign of willingness (5)

6 The gunners wildly mob this character (5)

9 Attack in numbers, about three (7) 10 Performed, using one’s current name (5)

11 Food for days? (5)

12 The little man’s hospital (5) 13 Shape of the punster’s departed parrot? (7) 15 Side street boy (3) 17 Work flat out at the laundry (4)

18 Agitatedly stir up a pedant (6)

19 Being eminent, would she ask charity for some of the humble? (5)

20 Quick at figures, always? (6) 22 It may come down and go up (4)

24 Caught and held (3) 25 Villains a priest reformed (7) 26 One capable of many a sin (5)

27 Firm evidence in print (5) 28 Having applied, was included (3,2)

29 Rub away until eradicated! (4,3)

30 Coppers made to go round till exhausted (5)

31 More than a nob? (5)

DOWN

2 Agent of a loud Thespian (6) 3 Evenly distributed, nominally (6)

4 The right I had to be free (3) 5 Cry of a little old lady possessing nothing (5)

6 On which to speak, or possibly play guitar (7)

7 Cry that goes up when there’s not enough salad? (4)

8 Couples holding things up (6)

12 Presumably he packs a punch (5)

13 Arrest a public leader in church (5)

14 Cried like a miserable fellow (5)

15 Piece of turf, of course (5) 16 They remain one way to wreck a bus (5) 18 Student embraced by Iris? (5)

19 Fine bet made to a sportsman’s advantage (7) 21 Punish Paul for being shifty about a car (6) 22 Former African U-boats, possibly (6)

23 One serving a meal around the dining centre (6) 25 Longed to be a good little boy (5)

26 Blue part of the Emerald Isle (4)

28 That earlier quip about polly being gone? (3)