TWO-WAY TEASER

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

CRYPTIC CLUES

ACROSS

1 A bit of topside? That’s

a blow! (8)

5 Round trip? (4)

8 It’s difficult being

adamant (4)

9 Conjuror with a wonderful

name (8)

10 Some more spectators

should show deference (7) 12 My tea, non-vegetarian,

can be solidly satisfying (5) 13 Became faint and died

holding a military medal (6) 15 Where the Greeks can provide heat for the Poles! (6)

17 Goddesses with many

functions (5)

18 Silly hen with some chance

to improve (7)

22 Avoid interruption of the introductory music with a heady bit of Chopin (8) 23 Dull edition of the Bard (4) 24 Times when Gladys, not

half glum, is upset (4) 25 SOS we get broadcast when something meets with disaster! (4,4)

DOWN

1 Accustomed to embrace the woman, having been introduced (7)

2 A capital place to get

plastered? (5)

3 Funny fellow who’s

company for many, I see (5) 4 Draws vessels (4)

6 Apish churchman? (7) 7 French town of Dickensian

character (5)

11 Containers used in sewer

construction (5)

12 In which to equal the

opponent’s efforts? (5) 14 A question of who done

it? (7)

16 Her best brew is what the

Australians call beer (7) 17 Seemed fed up with a

low-powered bike (5) 19 She’s relatively nice out

East (5)

20 The angel runs wild when

at a loose end! (5)

21 A vital breather (4)

QUICK CLUES ACROSS

1 Upward punch (8) 5 Whirl (4)

8 Difficult (4) 9 Conjurer (8) 10 Deference (7) 12 Fleshy (5)

13 Made less bright (6) 15 Greek city (6) 17 Ponders (5) 18 Improve (7)

22 Debar (8)

23 Dreary (4)

24 Periods of time (4) 25 Is lost or destroyed,

informally (4,4)

DOWN

1 Escorted (7)

2 French capital (5) 3 Funny (5)

4 Pulls hard (4) 6 Archbishop (7)

7 Bill Sikes’s girlfriend (5) 11 Jugs (5)

12 Contest (5)

14 Enigma (7)

16 Sweet powder (7) 17 Was listless (5) 19 Female relative (5) 20 Look after (5)

21 Bodily organ (4)

ANSWERS IN TOMORROW’S