DOUBLE CROSSWORD

CRYPTIC CLUES

Across

1 A topic about a pudding (7)

5 Cut right into the middle of

the grotto (5)

8 Missing a brass band

sound’s great energy (5)

9 Ken, with luck, transformed

a joint (7)

10 In Delhi, kept on part of

walking tour (4)

11 Fights against trials (8) 13 Building lunar cities is

fantasy (11)

17 Gemstones – new dealer’s

investing a thousand (8)

19 Change what may turn,

turning (4)

21 Warrior returning from

Bali, a rum ascent (7)

22 Continue moving fast at

racecourse (5)

23 Full up from exotic

dates (5) 24 Vividly descriptive diagram I see, so to speak (7)

Down

1 Wasting away, not having a prize (6)

2 Mink and pup

chewed fruit (7)

3 Throw behind it and ricochet round it (4)

4 Nick woggle, and somehow admitting it (13)

5 Noblewoman’s

awfully cute sons (8)

6 Garden tools heading off male ducks (5)

7 Nevertheless,

flat’s old (4,2)

12 Ape drier broken

or fixed (8)

14 Full pint he’d

spilt (2-5)

15 Aurally perceive American head count (6)

16 Then drunk in

charge of a race (6)

18 System meant to hold back ant (5)

20 A song from Miss Callas, but not initially (4)

QUICK CLUES

Across

1 Ricotta-filled pasta ‘cushions’ (7)

5 Thin ice-cream biscuit (5)

8 Roman house (5)

9 Gravestone inscription (7)

10 Phoney (4)

11 Latin phrase for ‘and so

forth’ (2,6)

13 Ideas (11)

17 Take up (a relationship) again (8)

19 Mellows (4)

21 Desirable attribute of a

coastal property (3,4)

22 While Shepherds Watched ___

Flocks, Christmas carol (5)

23 Burn, smart (5)

24 Each evening (7)

Down

1 Take by force (6)

2 Small town (7)

3 Famous UK cricket

ground (4)

4 One of a matching pair in

a family! (9,4)

5 Formal dress including

tailcoat (5,3)

6 Part of a fire (5)

7 Put back in the oven (6)

12 ___ blow, passing knock (8)

14 Lack of attention and

care (7)

15 Crunch moment (6)

16 Into sin (6)

18 Colour of battledress (5)

20 ___ party, pre-wedding do (4)