TWO-WAY TEASER

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

CRYPTIC CLUES

ACROSS

1 It can give you a tanning! (8)

5 Very experienced in stage direction! (4)

8 Nobleman’s choice of numbers (4)

9 Possibly even anti Italian! (8)

10 Like one semi-dear friend in a perfect world (7)

12 Such dubious deals should be brought to light! (5)

13 Benefit put back in the drawer (6)

15 Modern dancing centre (6)

17 Stupid, yes; but “dunce” is not the answer (5)

18 Funny figures in fossil fuel (7)

22 In bands, they give people a bit of a fright (8)

23 A puce jumper (4)

24 Jerks, maybe, but they have considerable power (4)

25 Knowing the area, he thinks he’s clever (8)

DOWN

1 When about to be sick, to rise foolishly is not so clever (7)

2 It’s never broken when you keep your cool (5)

3 Paid pounds for a chairman’s hammer (5)

4 Colourful line in explosive (4)

6 Wry look when part of one’s face is covered in dirt (7)

7 Only two letters, but that’s just fine (5)

11 Great Elgar composition (5)

12 Old-fashioned engine driver (5)

14 Champions have such charming ways! (7)

16 In farming, you have to plough for a long time (7)

17 A society girl takes it in charge (5)

19 Nice place – but is it deserted? (5)

20 Complaint of a senior officer, I see (5)

21 Bad weather doesn’t make for good television (4)

QUICK CLUES

ACROSS

1 Solar brightness (8)

5 Elderly (4)

8 A peer (4)

9 Type of window blind (8)

10 Perfectly (7)

12 Dishonest (5)

13 Recompense (6)

15 Of late date (6)

17 Thick (5)

18 Amusing (7)

22 Robbers (8)

23 Agile insect (4)

24 Pulls hard (4)

25 Know-all (8)

DOWN

1 More fatuous (7)

2 Audacity (5)

3 Small hammer (5)

4 Tinge (4)

6 Distorted facial

expression (7)

7 Fop (5)

11 Big (5)

12 Water vapour (5)

14 Triumphing (7)

16 Land cultivation (7)

17 Charge against account (5)

19 Fertile spot (5)

20 Abdominal illness (5)

21 Precipitation (4)

ANSWERS IN TOMORROW’S