TWO-WAY TEASER

TWO sets of clues but the answers are the same...

CRYPTIC CLUES

ACROSS

1 Gave one’s reply to news read

out (8)

5 Sobbed softly in the rain (4) 8 Fur of the cat that ate the

duck? (4)

9 Little Mo, completely in a

state! (8)

10 Not the same as being oddly

mismatched (7)

12 Messy mud for miles,

maybe (5)

13 A score and a half! (6)

15 The animals arrived, then left

for the south (6)

17 Very quietly gets a drink out,

and something to eat (5) 18 Licence for a monastic head to join an independent party (7)

22 A lot is accepted in error (8) 23 Cafe front? (4)

24 Being already bad, they can’t

go off! (4)

25 Assemblies, as at Ascot? (8)

DOWN

1 Bill for electricity a nobleman

gets (7)

2 Gaze at something brightly

glowing – a cigarette end (5) 3 Dance or drink with a

bachelor (5)

4 In Hindustani, it means

powder (4)

6 Being dodgy, use evil

manoeuvres (7)

7 The vegan may see it as

rubbish (5)

11 Release a letter from the

BBC (5)

12 Agitatedly paces the room (5) 14 I’m in the position to be put

upon (7)

16 Smiles in order to impress (7) 17 Meant to upset the media (5)

19 It may enable you to make

your choice from a distance (5) 20 Run away from soldiers amid

clamour (5)

21 Quickly read over a letter to

a runner (4)

QUICK CLUES

ACROSS 1 Replied (8)

5 Shed tears (4)

8 Jacket (4)

9 US river and state (8) 10 Different (7) 12 Mucous substance (5) 13 Three tens (6) 15 Humped animals (6) 17 Pippin (5)

18 Liberty (7) 22 Erroneous (8)

23 Confront (4) 24 Failures (4) 25 Gatherings (8)

DOWN 1 Version (7)

2 Gaze (5)

3 Cuban dance (5) 4 Tiny particles (4) 6 Evasive (7)

7 Item of offal (5) 11 Release (5)

12 Free area (5) 14 Levied (7)

16 Smiles coyly (7) 17 Intended (5) 19 Target distance (5) 20 Flow away (5) 21 Pass lightly over (4)