GIANT CROSSWORD
CHOOSE cryptic or quick, answers are the same.
SOLUTIONS ON MONDAY
CRYPTIC CLUES
ACROSS
12 Inventor enthralled by catchy commercial tunes or high-pitched ringers (6,5)
13 Mystery is resolved in game (6)
14 Fighter of a modest background commonly gets to use hands awkwardly (6)
16 Completely surprise enthusiasts coming from the East (4)
17 Doddery lord facing struggle in West with outlook on life (5-4)
18 Measure of liquid left before complicated rite (5)
19 Fixed look from Georgia with a calm philosophy largely (4)
20 Get rid of backward cart in a place for dismantling old cars (9)
22 Put forward a number of diners (5)
23 Frenchman with nice mate concocted a seasonal ingredient (9)
27 Sparkly decoration, something ultimately put with stuff in bins (7)
30 Reject crazy request for silk fabric (6)
31 Advantage in unlimited account book (4)
32 Exciting day when reviewed following ambassador (5)
35 Individual seen around front of crib previously (4)
36 First sign of grating, low noise makes one complain (7) 38 Leading light in past, arguably (4)
39 Wet and rainy possibly overlooking area? It’s typical of a cold period (7)
42 Follow poster put in exhibition (6)
45 Force shown by several canines? (5)
46 Pair completed book revealing pithy saying (7)
47 Sign of affection shown in one that’s shifted cattle (4)
48 Applaud first of comedians on circuit (4)
50 Men cited for corruption with time gone? It’s widely prevalent (7)
52 Fool entering middle of plot has rope with a noose (5)
54 After putting back firearm, obtain a lump of metal (6)
56 For outsiders, distinctly malign line of rulers (7)
57 A start to tour in part of the UK for an opponent (4)
59 Caterer endlessly working to include liberal syrup (7)
61 Vow encapsulating hero at home (4)
64 A group of police consuming last of lager and bitter (5)
66 Alcoholic drink in section of window in eatery (4)
67 Grab new source of humour in middle of week (6)
69 Faults daughter missed after acquiring following goods (7)
72 Fit TV, yes, with a struggle around middle of joint for a celebration (9)
73 Pass round female garment (5)
74 Monopoly, maybe, making a group of directors fearless (5,4)
79 Character’s seasonal missive (4)
81 Old English actor ending in repertory sounding thin in tone (5)
82 Neat English footballer has accompaniments to turkey? (9)
83 Meat dish first off ready for eating (4)
85 Decoration for a Christmas tree is lent out (6)
86 Old boy is given extended rectangular thing (6)
87 Fine, open and undemanding start to season showing vivid illuminations? (5,6)
QUICK CLUES
ACROSS
12 High-pitched ringers (6,5)
13 Mystery (6)
14 Use hands awkwardly (6)
16 Astound (4)
17 Outlook on life (5-4)
18 Liquid measure (5)
19 Fixed look (4)
20 Place for dismantling old cars (9)
22 Desk (5)
23 Seasonal ingredient (9)
27 Sparkly decoration (7)
30 Silk fabric (6)
31 Border (4)
32 Exciting (5)
35 Previously (4)
36 Complain (7)
38 Celebrity (4)
39 Typical of a cold period (7)
42 Darkness (6)
45 Force (5)
46 Pithy saying (7)
47 Cattle (4)
48 Applaud (4)
50 Widely prevalent (7)
52 Rope with noose (5)
54 Lump (6)
56 Line of rulers (7)
57 Opponent (4)
59 Syrup (7)
61 Vow (4)
64 Bitter (5)
66 Alcoholic drink (4)
67 Hire (6)
69 Goods (7)
72 Joyous
celebration (9)
73 Go round (5)
74 Indoor pursuit (5,4)
79 Greetings missive (4)
81 Thin in tone (5)
82 Dish accompaniments (9)
83 Ready for eating (4)
85 Showy threads (6)
86 Rectangle (6)
87 Christmas tree illuminations (5,6)
DOWN
1 Present (4)
2 Plan for meeting (6)
3 Latitude (6)
4 Young troublemakers (7)
5 Sword (5)
6 Frozen clumps (10)
7 Quick-moving (5)
8 Bird (9)
9 Crime (7)
10 Offensively self-satisfied (4)
11 Wintry storm (8)
15 Chirping insect (6)
21 Punctuation mark (5)
24 Musical expert (7)
25 Tree decoration (6)
26 Small pleasure-boat (6)
28 Fashion (5)
29 Breakfast food (3)
33 Care (7)
34 Decorative fastening (6)
37 Moral system (5)
40 Old bailiff (5)
41 Exult (7)
43 Berried shrub (5)
44 Garland (6)
46 Steer (5)
49 Keyboard player (7)
51 Trough (6)
53 Vehicle for snow (6)
55 Web-footed bird (5)
58 Winter sport (3,7)
60 Mischievous being (3)
62 Outward symbol (5)
63 Evergreen shrub (9)
65 Climbing plant (8)
68 Pungent bulb (6)
70 Protective coat (7)
71 Nation (7)
75 Outcome (6)
76 Filling station (6)
77 Recurring series (5)
78 Bedaub (5)
80 Hurry (4)
84 Meat spread (4)
DOWN
1 Present person serving on a newspaper (4)
2 Time taken by Northern U.S. lawyer in plan for meeting (6)
3 Slippery sort turning up on course gets latitude (6)
4 Troublesome children emptied register in refurbished store (7)
5 Something that might cut a piece of grass (5)
6 Wintry phenomena as new folks go wandering (10)
7 Quick-moving Australian with short sleeveless jacket (5)
8 Role on narrow hilltop for a bird (9)
9 Crime of one receiving stolen property (7)
10 Son for all to see in sports car is offensively self-satisfied (4)
11 Poet entertains Elizabeth, character following the rest, in snowy storm (8)
15 Chirpy type caught by a director in U.S. organisation (6)
21 Military officer forgetting Spanish article and punctuation mark (5)
24 Scholar accompanied by European sort that’s refined musical expert (7)
25 Canadian singer carrying a tree decoration (6)
26 Exercise followed by adult in unusually old pleasure-boat (6)
28 Incline to accept Republican in fashion (5)
29 Source of goodness in, say, breakfast food (3)
33 One inside is in this care (7)
34 Present fastening in front of basket or bin when sorted out (6)
37 Revolutionary name defending hard moral system (5)
40 Priest retains energy facing English bailiff of old (5)
41 Exult about woman on base for a winter gala? (7)
43 Festive decoration completely lacking in opening (5)
44 Water is sprayed on back of such a garland (6) 46 Distributed oil in part for one in a cockpit (5)
49 Keyboard player in past played around island (7)
51 One in charge of office ignoring a focus of Christmas celebration? (6)
53 Second learner supported by figure shortly in a vehicle for snow (6)
55 Sticky stuff seen (not half) as seasonal food (5)
58 Site, lacking after pounds go missing,
designed for a winter sport (3,7)
60 Mischievous being hiding in belfry (3)
62 Jerry’s rival keeping note as a symbol (5)
63 Site motel developed for an evergreen shrub (9)
65 Climate’s wrong for a climbing plant (8)
68 A girl upset by cold gets pungent bulb (6)
70 A lover is excited when acquiring large protective coat (7)
71 State gets to be of significance on railway (7)
75 Rules are broken before end of tournament as a consequence (6)
76 Guy’s first taken with a feeling of anger in filling station (6)
77 Travel in an eco-friendly way in a recurring series (5)
78 Writer in South America on river produces unpleasant rumour (5)
80 Duke remains showing stylishness (4)
84 Penny consumed a meat spread (4)