BLANKOUT

A crossword you construct yourself, adding the answers and the blanks as you go. The clues are in sets of one, two, three or four, guiding you to one, two, three or four words in each line (across) or column (down) indicated at the beginning of each set of clues. Each complete word has a blank at its beginning and end (unless it’s at the edge of the grid). Blanks are arranged symmetrically. To help you, we’ve given you a start with the answer to the clue on Line 11 – ‘Topical comedy show’ – which yields the word ‘Revue’. This must sit in the centre of the line to preserve the symmetry.

ACROSS

1 Frog-like creature; Snapped; Segment

3 Seasoned politician

5 Interpret, convert

6 Funny pantomime character; Source of light

7 Monarchs and their families 8 Interesting and unusual object; Proposition

9 Opposite of ‘good’; Garment label 10 Feature of a church; House made of snow blocks

11 Topical comedy show

12 Fourth month; Substitute doctor

13 _ _ _ to, supplement; Mineral water resort

14 Phrase such as ‘smell a rat’ or ‘high and dry’; Curry flavouring

15 Bubble in a pipe impeding flow 16 Number of skittle pins; Whet, sharpen 17 Experience anew

19 Musician

21 Thin circular plate; Piece of writing; Conceal

DOWN

A Pronouncement, statement B Pertaining to the mouth; Against C Blemishes; Occupy the throne D Water down; Amorous

E Long garment; Venerated spiritual master in Tibetan Buddhism

F Show of boldness designed to impress; Contain

G Fear, apprehension

H Leave later than intended; Comfy indoor shoes

I Travels for pleasure

J Brief passage; Homeland

K Hindu holy man; Be without L Package sent in the post; Condition of the body

M Appalling; Brief film performance by a famous actor or celebrity N Actual; Second-hand O Presentation, show