DAILY MAIL CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Rod in cocktail bar defrauds account (7,5) 8 Initially, girl simply designed tunic for herself (7) 9 Dessert Mother Hubbard stewed, forgetting method (7) 11 Firm demand sibling mostly in pub attends church (10) 12 Dance and have fun without Victor (4) 14 Call over with Republican for support (8) 16 Challenge international politician waving gun (6) 17 Squeeze leg on way back (3) 19 Change Greek character at gallery (6) 21 Old Jew’s harp needs repairing, I notice (8) 24 Young fox beginning to eat 8 for instance (4) 25 From where to watch £1,000 bear? (10) 27 Haul fish over on sheltered side (7) 28 Deposit extra amount to cover area at home (7) 29 French nobleman and monarchs implement old punishment (7,5)

DOWN

1 e.g. Homer’s boy collaring cheeky children (7) 2 I will shortly start working with EU show (10) 3 Unknown people drifting without oxygen in airship (8) 4 Improve poor children after removing couple at centre (6) 5 Sort of dull hit I’ll put out? (4) 6 Switzerland demolished a posh castle (7) 7 With Gaelic charm, I supply aid for farmers (12) 10 Hung parliament’s healthy regime? (8,4) 13 Paris and Rome managed to recruit one showman (10) 15 Cheek or other facial feature (3) 18 Ring me close to Christmas for elements of speech (8) 20 Dramatic scene, thanks to a blue comic (7) 22 Dog jumps up, seizing new one (7) 23 Old poet’s alcoholfree study (6) 26 Chat to amuse little kids initially (4)