CRYPTIC CLUES

ACROSS 1 So, the wee germ mutates to make progress (3,9) 8 Some lemur Alan is painting on wall (5) 9 Backs down about loaned shilling (7) 10 Transport shop turned over (4)

11 Points to wayward blonde made a peer (8) 14 Survey half done about cause of hay fever (6) 15 Governs showers, we hear (6)

17 Caused to be coated with plaster (8)

18 Dodgy moment when starter fails to appear (4) 21 Personal view round wing (7)

23 Dad eats most of loaf in public square (5) 24 Cheese dish found in white barrels (5,7)

DOWN 1 Stomach over morning the full range (5) 2 Co‑star Pauline hid the cloth (9)

3 Remove top of table mat, it’s greasy (4) 4 Blunder by worker wandering (6)

5 That chap would come round to acknowledge it’s sacred (8)

6 Hastened from stranger (3)

7 Private remarks from assistants holding squadron leader (6)

12 Plastic bricks almost set alight with Sunday roast (3,2,4)

13 Good scene, it could be, for the study of heredity (8) 14 Average nonsense from talking bird (6) 16 Informal money for said singer (6)

19 Brewing agent from Skye, a stickler (5)

20 Goad football team endlessly (4)

22 Anger is rarely encouraged initially (3)