CRYPTIC CROSSWORD
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 your name. Texts and calls cost £1 plus standard network charges. Or enter by post by sending completed crossword to Daily Mail Prize Crossword 16,597, 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 datestamped no later than the following day to qualify. Calls/texts must be received by 23.59; answers change at 00.01. UK residents aged 18+, exc NI. Terms apply, see Page 56.
ACROSS
1 What’s needed for a stable marriage? Superior reproduction (4-8) 8 Old and bald, strangely eccentric (7) 9 Retired 24 drinks a quiet cuppa here (7) 11 Shattered president managed to cross line (10) 12 Release without cost (4) 14 Handle gold in party with king and aristocrat (8) 16 Brown’s third award (6) 17 Overtake chum on way back (3) 19 Rigid memory stick (6) 21 Organise a contest for small vehicle (8) 24 Shakespeare’s vetoed
on radio (4) 25 Residential streets experience narrow escape (5,5) 27 Fancy forgetting
first entrance! (7) 28 Mates left in
sporty cars (7) 29 Ruthless boor upset Black American friends (4,8)
DOWN
1 Madrid gent covered up attempt to kidnap a student (7) 2 Angry moves limiting North Sea rate? It may slip (6,4) 3 File left containing nothing but nonsense (8) 4 Doctor tried controlling husband’s tremble (6) 5 Exercise foal and cob perhaps (4) 6 Manoeuvres near the Asian capital (7) 7 Bold increase could become substantial (12) 10 Propose stressed form of verb (7,5) 13 Cook secured a BA serving this at Christmas? (5,5) 15 Almost empty pub (3) 18 Pet stays up running around middle of kitchen (8) 20 Hide state of Africa (7) 22 Small boats ignoring top authoritative sources (7) 23 Province’s controversial result (6) 26 Don’t pass one in
SW river (4)