TWO-SPEED CROSSWORD Cryptic

This two-speed crossword has two sets of clues, but just one grid. If you can’t solve the Cryptic clues, try the Quick.

ACROSS

1 Set moves afoot for a rise,

perhaps (4,5)

8 Unoriginal animal (3)

9 Not the first students to be not

the best (6,5)

11 Discourages mad comeback

for writers (7)

12 Snooped and saw spider

beheaded and mangled (5)

13 Spoil whisky (6)

15 Such language is not a

setback for half the guests (6) 17 A step taken in paperhanging,

perhaps (5)

18 Edward finds debts boring (7) 20 In spite of that, notes Helen’s

upset (11)

22 The stupid one in 9 (3)

23 Turn stale in consequence (9)

DOWN

2 Card men take as a threat (3) 3 The meaning of the chosen

sentence (5)

4 About ninety, sees badly – it’s

just too much! (6)

5 Top treatment is phoney, poor

– not right! (7)

6 The chairman’s last word in

selecting actors? (7,4) 7 What he wears when he has

a speech to deliver? (9)

10 Practical house at Westminster seen round (6-5)

11 Paper said to vanish (9)

14 100 have lost weight as a

result of washing? (7) 16 Standing in protest at usual

cover-up (6)

19 Live and prosper giving up

nothing (5)

21 He is thus never ever

lacking (3)