WEDNESDAY’S SOLUTION (NO 9,274)

– ACROSS: 1 Bedaub. 4 Awful. 7 Oesophagus. 8 Pupa. 9 Drove. 11 Running. 13 Grinder. 15 Forge. 17 Riga. 18 Octahedron. 20 Demur. 21 Apathy. DOWN: 1 Bumper. 2 Area. 3 Booking. 4 Aphid. 5 Fig. 6 Lisle. 7 Opener. 10 Ordain. 12 Grandma. 14 Really. 15 Flood. 16 Ether. 17 Rota. 19 Tom.