CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Got dean at it again (8)

5 Star turns out to be an emperor (4) 9 Ingrained dirt, ghastly on front of escritoire (5)

10 Anyway, decorate again (7)

11 Skirt which sounds like a tie! (4)

12 Began to pocket loot, initially surprised (8) 14 Sound of coin placed on black desk (6)

15 When next inside home of the Acropolis (6)

18 Fish to struggle awkwardly (8)

20 Handled soft material (4)

23 State region endless in operatic song (7)

24 Admit love for women getting up wordplay (3,2)

25 Oven joint, but no starter (4) 26 University teacher terribly cruel keeping time for the Queen (8)

DOWN

1 Awful gnats causing worry! (5) 2 Laugh about wife’s social site (7) 3 Ominous time where teams losing leader (4) 4 Mistakes Queen for a returning sailor (6) 6 Left with copies to return flower part (5)

7 Unusual red rose on altar screen (7)

8 Manage to knot rope before tea break (7)

13 Keep teasing West Country town (7)

14 Polish a lot, but not tail, for wild ox (7)

16 One earl turned into old queen! (7)

17 Legislative body seen at odds (6)

19 Skips through ballroom, it seems (5)

21 Heavy drinker swilling port, about a quarter (5)

22 Sound way to source (4)