CRYPTIC CLUES

Across

1 This roc bothered another bird (7)

5 Films Bruce regularly to inspire (5)

8 Amusing toy? That’s about right (5)

9 There’s grease around any ship’s rope (7) 10 Returning gentleman has one flower (4) 11 Daughter broadcasting trite American rubbish! (8)

13 Two fools at home consumed kill (11)

17 Got dean at it again (8) 19 Current units hidden by lampshade (4)

21 Piece of furniture for the ministers? (7) 22 A poem which is positively charged (5) 23 Engineers in the trio (5) 24 Bit of a castle, or bit of a sheep? (7)

Down

1 Grandly decree no raid, perhaps (6)

2 Hot regions, right in talking points (7) 3 Unemployed star, they say (4)

4 Disorderly slide (6-7) 5 Mostly disregard social worker who’s rude (8) 6 Criticise explosion (5) 7 Most senior colonel destined to hide (6) 12 Game which may be tried? (8)

14 Boy has a high ball returned in game at the fair (7) 15 Businessman is corpulent beast (3,3) 16 Upward slope has a smell (6)

18 Brute chewed up the root (5)

20 Fellow initially to provide weapons for grange (4)