CRYPTIC CROSSWORD
No. 16,042
FOR your chance to win, solve the crossword to reveal the word reading down the shaded boxes. HOW TO ENTER: Call 0901 293 6233 and leave today’s answer and your details, or TEXT 65700 with the word CRYPTIC, your answer and then your name. Texts and calls cost £1 plus your standard network charges. Or enter by post by sending completed crossword to Daily Mail Prize Crossword 16,042, PO Box 28, Colchester, Essex CO2 8GF. Please include your name and address. One weekly winner chosen from all correct daily entries received between 00.01 Monday and 23.59 Friday. Postal entries must be date-stamped no later than the following day to qualify. Calls/texts must be received by 23.59; answers change at 00.01. Full terms apply, see Page 66.
ACROSS
1 Pen king in lair, inebriated (7) 5 Jokes cracked about quiet European capital (6) 9 Desire to trap snake that’s touchy (7) 10 Secretary rings a good service that’ll cure everything (7) 11 Jazz hit (3) 12 Old-fashioned cricketer’s special numbers (6,5) 13 Henry invested in drink and beef (5) 14 Turn on one cash register in gallery (9) 16 Crafty trap-door hides head of hairy spider, say (9) 17 Project scene of WWII battle (5) 19 Wolves matured with each trainee’s all-in contract (7,4) 22 Track competitive period of stags (3) 23 Group of teachers grade more bananas (7) 24 Good sieve for baker? (7) 26 Notice opening appearance (6) 27 Sally’s part of speech initially in ceremony (7)
DOWN
1 Fiddler’s action in party with new front (4-3) 2 Simple duties can vary with this inspiring work (15) 3 Carp, upsetting 10,000? (3) 4 Indian leader once in need, hard up occasionally (5) 5 Split apart roughly during broadcast (9) 6 Person in debt accommodates new proprietor (5) 7 Seaman (Ordinary) on autumn winds — he does many jobs (4,2,3,6) 8 Badger interrupts Martha’s sleep (6) 12 Pierce small fruit (5) 14 Like GCHQ, first conceal all but last letter (3,6) 15 Malign Spanish article supporting liberation (5) 16 Add program, then close (6) 18 Radical cut introduction to book about compiler (7) 20 Continue to stand (5) 21 Dedicated swing music missing a grand (5) 25 He’s annoying and wicked, losing debtor’s notes (3)
NEED A CLUE? Text the word TIP to 65700 to receive four answers to today’s crossword or call 0901 293 6236. Texts and calls cost £1 plus standard network charges. Today’s clues available between 00.01 today and 23.30 only.