Double Crossword

CRYPTIC CLUES

ACROSS

1 Associate with a biscuit (6)

5 Sag down initially with bad back (5)

9 Vessels taking sheep round river (5)

10 Hiker runs in front of slow walker (7)

11 Objects to extremes (4)

12 Mixed it in once. Went up in smoke? (8)

16 Healing boom involved blood pigment (11)

18 One present later in the evening by river (8)

21 After midnight, doctor finds bullets (4)

23 Coaching without a stew of dumplings (7)

24 More casual actor (5)

25 Ensure Plymouth holds the answer (5)

26 Tempt some of the apprentices (6)

DOWN

2 Finished plan for financial arrangement (9)

3 No quiet required for food (4)

4 Urge to be an arsonist? (7,6)

6 Disprove by contradicting awkward brute (5)

7 Canoe wrecked in the sea (5)

8 Allude to rising and falling (5)

13 An honour receiving old music maker (4)

14 Silly about mother in the vernacular (9)

15 Sign of ladies not beginning (4)

17 Regal as two boys (5)

19 Get in different shade (5)

20 Do well for forty in Rome, it’s said (5)

22 Direction out of Cowes, traditionally (4)

QUICK CLUES

ACROSS

1 Incline (6)

5 Electronic device used for reading (1‑4)

9 In the company of (5)

10 Extension (of a licence, eg) (7)

11 Mentally healthy (4)

12 Black leopards (8)

16 With hair in tight braids (11)

18 Combining two items in a single unit (3‑2‑3)

21 Old Russian emperor (4)

23 Leaves (7)

24 Below zero on a temperature scale (5)

25 Blue‑green gem, or woman’s name (5)

26 Favourable regard (6)

DOWN

2 Rotter (9)

3 Rim (4)

4 Pretend not to notice (4,1,5,3)

6 Copper ___, tree variety (5)

7 Broadcasting live (2,3)

8 Temporary stop in action (5)

13 Skill in dealing with sensitive issues (4)

14 From then on (4,5)

15 Curry favour (4)

17 Insolent (5)

19 Slack (5)

20 Frostily (5)

22 Exclude, leave out (4)