CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 It’s crazy and wrong getting involved in disorder (7) 5 Potter’s pet, weighed after treatment, losing energy (6) 9 Material is somewhat more than supple (7) 10 Recent arrival proceeds with first of renovations (7) 11 Drink deep (3) 12 FBI order spy to vary hobbies, for instance (5,2,4) 13 Charles for one ignores new fee (5) 14 Top rugby player bans Scotsman (9) 16 Present right sum of money collected in service (9) 17 Source of headache? Mistakes union introduced (5) 19 Coke and ice spread over cabbage soup (4-1-6) 22 Cell, say, at front of gaol (3) 23 Flower developed in Lima, Peru after Spain left (7) 24 Space vehicle or Gnat perhaps? (7) 26 Onset of stiff joints said to be sign of cold maybe (6) 27 Friendly doctor goes back to comfort English relatives (7)

DOWN

1 Wimp extracts all he can from work (7) 2 I’d assist distressed group’s unhappiness (15) 3 Strike gold, preserving one’s self-esteem (3) 4 Throw mud at sheep running round middle of field (5) 5 Harry’s PA trained to control one setter (4,5) 6 Met up for a drink (5) 7 Irish anemometer designed to be warmer (9,6) 8 Drawer made of carbon fibre (6) 12 Dim stand holds litres (5) 14 Penniless newspaper beginning to expand agency (9) 15 Passage is swamped in beer (5) 16 Fill old chalice found in Cyprus (6) 18 Made more palatable new gear in south of France (7) 20 Contents of V&A museum are entertaining (5) 21 Thousands surround one very big booth (5) 25 Discard book at home (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 16,366, 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 70.