GIANT CROSSWORD
CHOOSE cryptic or quick, answers are the same. SOLUTION ON MONDAY
FOR A CHANCE TO WIN £750: Solve crossword to reveal the word reading down the shaded boxes. HOW TO ENTER: Call 0901 293 6231 and leave six-letter answer and details, or TEXT 65700 with the word XWORD, your answer and name. Texts and calls cost £1 plus standard network charges. One winner chosen from all correct entries received between 00.01 today (Saturday) and 23.59 tomorrow (Sunday). UK residents aged 18+, excl NI. Full terms apply, see Page 46. NEED A CLUE? Text HINT to 65700 for six answers, or call 0901 293 6235. Texts and calls cost £1 plus standard network charges. Today’s clues available from 00.01 Saturday to 23.30 on Sunday.
CRYPTIC CLUES ACROSS
12 Go bonkers with potholes let to develop (4,3,4) 13 Popular figure retains backing for junior trainee (6) 14 Winding trail around middle of sound is customary (6) 16 Release obtained without charge (4) 17 With energy drained, something’s altered composer of tunes (9) 18 Fuss interrupts service for gas (5) 19 Assistance kept by Rachel perhaps (4) 20 Explain away sort of gross novel with no end of sophistication (5,4) 22 Criticism gets to remain (5) 23 Labourers in a depressed state with minimal effort? (5,4) 27 Attribute shown by British in race is fantastic (7) 30 Worry about retrograde occupation (6) 31 Dodge animal on pond, say (4) 32 Prophetess is backed by second of clairvoyants (5) 35 Quickly go with Frenchman behind place to view animals (4) 36 Foul tentacled creature seen around a lake (7) 38 Embittered soldier’s first period of service initially forgotten (4) 39 Quiet mate is switching hobby (7) 42 Male in break manipulated board (6) 45 One with deliveries missing large tree-bound retreat? (5) 46 Hanging frame is still unstable holding rose, not very large (7) 47 Small pig makes snorting noise heading off (4) 48 Ordinary group of students present burden (4) 50 Four felt to be mistaken after clearing old fungus (7) 52 Part of step for one giving up retirement? (5) 54 Pair of learners in swimming venue returned to be idle (6) 56 Normal dog, say, rounds a low wall (7) 57 Tangle in block noticed (4) 59 Frail UK citizen let off (7) 61 Solid body prompt to seal source of business (4) 64 A tender nurse finally is to stay (5) 66 Confused impression made by extremists in brutal uproar (4) 67 One sifting tip has to walk unsteadily (6) 69 Jane is confused trailing black hunting dog (7) 72 Noted duo excited to hold Oscar as exceptional thing? (3,3,3) 73 Disreputable Swede, not married, with woman (5) 74 Very funny term that’s reduced pledges of repayment? (9) 79 A spell excluding love for neighbour (4) 81 Scope in U.S. group with appeal (5) 82 Solid file reviewed areas for drilling? (9) 83 Cheeky element in camper truthfully (4) 85 Symbol given by two fellows to exit from a computer (3,3) 86 Was first to incorporate information in traditional story (6) 87 Article probing someone that’s dependable and amusing in musical style (4,3,4)
DOWN
1 Serve tea in rain (4) 2 Break from sitting in alcove (6) 3 One giving massage is phony rogue withholding name (6) 4 Special basket without current tool (7) 5 Excite profligate type about latest of luxuries (5) 6 Short dance in play is likely (2,3,5) 7 Strange day supporting Australian film director (5) 8 How one might describe a successful army beforehand? (2,7) 9 Explosive device represented danger close to range (7) 10 Irritating feeling in sales talk with power cut (4) 11 Female with everyone on holiday gets to decline gradually (4,4) 15 I rue TV that’s ruined patience, maybe (6) 21 Young woman beginning to observe cowboy’s accessory? (5) 24 Tired friend sadly losing independent ambition becomes aimless figure (7) 25 Western needing grant gets to flounder (6) 26 Cite a duke, dim figure without a heart (6) 28 Strange drinking haunt closing early for Cuban dance (5) 29 Reserve held up coach (3) 33 Swollen thing screwed in by old American (7) 34 Retainer and a second kept by volatile Slav (6) 37 Put an end to singing amid awful funeral song (5) 40 Squash among fruit (5) 41 Trial arranged in Cyprus has defined nature (7) 43 Australian in main curiously showing obsession (5) 44 Young one characterised by curiosity? (6) 46 What a pulse reveals in youth robbed? (5) 49 Blighter in this way doubly trapping poor Dan (2-3-2) 51 Splendour in ferry that’s rebuilt right away (6) 53 Varied views on liberal turn (6) 55 Clubs taken in by temptation to get riches (5) 58 Tone top hit reproduced is apposite (2,3,5) 60 Tear gas seen at regular intervals for a long period (3) 62 Building in Japan one understood principally to be small and elegant (5) 63 See in rebuilt Hull firm no hard bakery supplier? (5,4) 65 Old boy struggling in outskirts of Barrow has serious setback (4,4) 68 Part of body, tight-knit group, caught out in commotion (6) 70 Scare first type leaving street in a mess (7) 71 Be averse to lie kid’s concocted (7) 75 A spec’s first dispatched for approval (6) 76 Tainted young offender certain to lose head (6) 77 Elevated platform for men only online (5) 78 Scheme around island for aviator (5) 80 Blast also supplied by first of trumpeters (4) 84 Annoy characters put in peril eventually (4)
QUICK CLUES ACROSS
12 Go off the rails (4,3,4) 13 Trainee (6) 14 Customary (6) 16 Liberate (4) 17 Composer of tunes (9) 18 Gas (5) 19 Assist (4) 20 Explain away (5,4) 22 Criticism (5) 23 With ease (5,4) 27 Attribute (7) 30 Occupation (6) 31 Dodge (4) 32 Prophetess (5) 35 Quickly travel (4) 36 Foul (7) 38 Embittered (4) 39 Hobby (7) 42 Board (6) 45 Arbour (5) 46 Hanging frame (7) 47 Small pig (4) 48 Burden (4) 50 Fungus (7) 52 Part of step (5) 54 Sprawl (6) 56 Low wall (7) 57 Tangle (4) 59 Frail (7) 61 Solid body (4) 64 Remain (5) 66 Confused impression (4) 67 Reel (6) 69 Hunting dog (7) 72 Exception (3,3,3) 73 Disreputable (5) 74 Very funny (9) 79 Adjoin (4) 81 Scope (5) 82 Drilled areas (9) 83 Cheeky (4) 85 Exit from a computer (3,3) 86 Traditional story (6) 87 Style of music (4,3,4)
DOWN
1 Stream (4) 2 Alcove (6) 3 Non-surgical practitioner (6) 4 Tool (7) 5 Stir (5) 6 Likely (2,3,5) 7 Strange (5) 8 Beforehand (2,7) 9 Small bomb (7) 10 Irritating sensation (4) 11 Gradually decline (4,4) 15 Moral quality (6) 21 Long rope (5) 24 Aimless person (7) 25 Flounder (6) 26 Cite (6) 28 Cuban dance (5) 29 Coach (3) 33 Swollen (7) 34 Retainer (6) 37 Lament (5) 40 Fruit (5) 41 Clearness (7) 43 Obsession (5) 44 Young cat (6) 46 Pulsate (5) 49 Blighter (2-3-2) 51 Splendour (6) 53 Turn (6) 55 Riches (5) 58 Apposite (2,3,5) 60 Period (3) 62 Small and elegant (5) 63 Factory for grinding corn (5,4) 65 Serious setback (4,4) 68 Commotion (6) 70 Scare (7) 71 Be averse to (7) 75 Agreement (6) 76 Tainted (6) 77 Elevated platform (5) 78 Steer (5) 80 Blast (4) 84 Annoy (4)