CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Doctors receiving little cash yen for such clothes? (4-3) 5 Reject racket involving producer of litter (6) 9 Stand for reading large recent comic (7) 10 Officially introduce clothing in error (5,2) 11 She has a couple of names (3) 12 Modern tale about quiet Scottish island (11) 13 Expand small oil supplier (5) 14 Teach boy about old people in bus (9) 16 Very ordinary university church vault gets grant (9) 17 Venomous creature in summer? (5) 19 Tennis pro played with me everywhere (11) 22 Useless American guy doesn’t finish (3) 23 Papers to do with hearing include one that’s thick (7) 24 Trust black priest accompanying First Lady (7) 26 Nut topped fish dish originally (6) 27 One theatre assistant or another (7)

DOWN

1 Attractive girls entertain a Romeo in Bucks (7) 2 Minor display of Latin coins impressing mad queen (15) 3 Outstanding pair of players, wasting time, ... (3) 4 ... upset broadcaster, carrying on for ages (5) 5 Fritter away one’s drink during meeting (9) 6 Rear special seabird (5) 7 Passion – a characteristic of humans (4-11) 8 It’s mean cutting margins of video games company (6) 12 Lift rocks with harbour mud (5) 14 Combined business drinks with this French duke (9) 15 Red card limited Scottish team (5) 16 Leader takes a bow for this during and after concert (6) 18 More visibly embarrassed about English animals (3,4) 20 Occupation requires cropping area at back of house (5) 21 Drive in journalist receiving award (5) 25 Stretch out story (3)

NEED A CLUE? Text TIP to 65700 to receive FOUR answers to today’s crossword, or call 0901 293 6236. Texts and calls cost £1 plus standard network charges. Today’s clues available between 00.01 today and 23.30 only.

FOR your chance to win, solve the crossword to reveal the word reading down the shaded boxes. HOW TO ENTER: Call 0901 293 6233 and leave today’s answer and your details, or TEXT 65700 with the word CRYPTIC, your answer and your name. Texts and calls cost £1 plus standard network charges. Or enter by post by sending completed crossword to Daily Mail Prize Crossword 16251, PO Box 28, Colchester, Essex CO2 8GF. Please include your name and address. One weekly winner chosen from all correct daily entries received between 00.01 Monday and 23.59 Friday. Postal entries must be datestamped no later than the following day to qualify. Calls/texts must be received by 23.59; answers change at 00.01. UK residents aged 18+, exc NI. Terms apply, see Page 72.