GENERAL KNOWLEDGE CROSSWORD

WIN A LUXURY CROSS PEN SEE BELOW

ACROSS

1 The sealing off of a place by surrounding it with troops or ships (8) 5 Low, felt hat with curled brim and crown creased lengthways (6) 10 Painting method using an emulsion made of egg yolk (7) 11 Stern in appearance, manner or outlook (7) 12 County flower of Suffolk as named by the charity Plantlife (5) 13 U.S. portrait photographer noted for her photos of Marilyn Monroe (3,6) 14 1957 international agreement founding the European Economic Community (6,2,4) 18 Goalkeeper with a record 125 caps for England (5,7) 21 Menelaus’s brother in Greek mythology (9) 23 Part of a target next to the bull’s eye in archery (5) 24 Expression meaning altogether or in a body (2,5) 25 Kent town lying on the Great Stour (7) 26 Bryan, The Usual Suspects director (6) 27 Jeremy, Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? host (8)

DOWN

1 1990s sitcom starring Rik Mayall (6) 2 Gold or gold leaf used for gilding brass, bronze or other metal (6) 3 Otto, German conductor born in 1885 (9) 4 Musical by Pasek and Paul first performed in 2015 (4,4,6) 6 James, Belgian painter and printmaker noted for his grotesquely fantastic images (5) 7 Theme in Beethoven’s 9th symphony used as the EU’s official anthem (3,2,3) 8 Singer/songwriter Annie Lennox’s birthplace (8) 9 Brokeback Mountain actor (4,10) 15 Martin, English navigator and early explorer of Canada’s north-east coast (9) 16 Lindsay Hoyle is the latest of these in the House of Commons (8) 17 Alison, actress who played Pam Shipman in Gavin & Stacey (8) 19 Graham, Lancashire and ex-England fast-medium pace bowler (6) 20 Rob, Would I Lie To You? presenter (6) 22 ____ Hughes, fictional character played by Shannon Woodward in Westworld (5)

SOLUTION TOMORROW

PLAY our accumulator game! Every day this week, solve the crossword to find the letter in the pink circle. On Friday, we’ll provide instructions to submit your five-letter word for your chance to win a luxury Cross pen. UK residents aged 18+, excl NI. Terms apply. Entries cost 50p.