QUICK CLUES:

Across

1. Overseer (10)

7. Delete (5)

8. Go forward (7)

10. Shorten (8)

11. Destiny (4)

13. Penetrate (6)

15. Column (6)

17. Persia (4)

18. Baptize (8)

21. Issue (7)

22. Lock (5)

23. Not put off (10)

Down

1. Blemish (5)

2. Attendance (8)

3. Meal (6)

4. Image (4)

5. Total (7)

6. Discerning (10)

9. Cheerlessness (10)

12. Parson (8)

14. Avoidance (7)

16. Alter (6)

19. Step (5)

20. Magnitude (4)