CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Gossip endlessly about right look for popular 36Dn last year ( 9)

7 Section of legislation popular 36Dn last year ( 4)

8 Detests losing energy in top gear ( 4)

10 All right to swallow dilute liquid in festive periods ( 9)

11 Racketeer’s advance left behind ( 5)

13 One lacking heart to almost sell old Estonian island ... ( 5)

16 ... that is nicer every second ( 2)

17 Starts off terrier instinctively biting into a bone ( 5)

19 See pronounced centre of curvature, popular 36Dn last year ( 4)

20 Interminably huge anatomical tube ( 3)

23 Parents occasionally return for hot drink ( 3)

25 Implant fragment splits nicely from the right ( 6)

27 Absurd e- mail source of amusement, popular 36Dn last year ( 6)

28 Freeing corrupt, mercenary Star Trek race ( 7)

29 Chief information officer follows sister and Roman ambassador ( 6)

30 Musical popular 36Dn last year ( 6)

32 Central Italy against Central Spain, popular 36Dn last year ( 3)

34 Consumed 23Ac stew ( 3)

35 Put down bread rolls the wrong way round ( 4)

38 Father with positive recall, popular 36Dn last year ( 5)

39 Heartless government could be great, small ( 2)

40 Auld Nick settled down with a last gin ( 5)

42 I’m leaving Madeira in disarray, something to give an article ( 1,4)

44 Audit a cop – not part of occupational hazard perhaps, in Mull settlement ( 9)

45 The Spanish and French, popular 36Dn last year ( 4)

46 Some ricochets in site of missile launches ( 4)

47 Quiet Frenchman, for example, to spur on English/ Yiddish nonsense ( 9)

DOWN

1 Flower of Scotland in part publicly derided ( 5)

2 Manhandle from lobby as stated ( 4)

3 Make further corrections to part of agreed itinerary ( 2- 4)

4 Removing capital from country a popular 36Dn last year ( 6)

5 Article on opposition leader a popular 36Dn last year ( 4)

6 Supporter of the arts ( 5)

7/ 43 See philosopher in conversation in long cold spell ( 3,3)

9 Engineering detail of small muscle? ( 4)

11 Red state furious on loch ( 9)

12 Shelter assembled in sunset gets hot inside ( 6,3)

14 Leave stub, possibly raise up ( 9)

15 Icelandic loaf left by 32Ac over money ( 4,5)

18 Struggling, ever be a widow ( 7)

21 Article from central France ( 2)

22 Poor finish dropping new record players ( 2- 3)

24 English see about main road, popular 36Dn last year ( 5)

26 Sign of popular 36Dn last year ( 3)

27 A good official introduction in the past ( 3)

31 UFO pilot occasionally in Leith ( 2)

32 Knowing that is popular 36Dn last year ( 6)

33 Madagascar resident certainly cloned ( 3- 3)

36 Handle openings for new apprentices and manual employees ( 4)

37 Ex- minister dances? ( 5)

39 Good people popular 36Dn last year ( 5)

41 Lifeboat manufacturer popular 36Dn last year ( 4)

42 Orc leader or first Albanian king ( 4)

43 See 7