CROSSWORD NO 1,886 ★ £500 TO BE WON

TO ENTER Complete the crossword and count how many times the letter ‘A’ appears in the grid. Text YOU followed by a space, your answer (the number of ‘A’s) and name to 65700, eg, YOU 9 Sue Smith. Texts cost £1 plus your standard network rate. Or telephone 0905 652 2141 and leave your answer and details. Calls cost £1 plus your telephone company’s network access charge. Or post your entry to

YOU Crossword No 1,886, PO Box 3451, Norwich NR7 7NR. Entries will be accepted until 11.59pm on Friday 5 January. One random winner from all correct entries will win £250 and five runners-up will win £50 each. If you enter after the closing date you will not be included but may still be charged. Phone and text helpline: 0330 100 0601. Winners will be notified by phone within 14 days. Solution in two weeks.

ACROSS

1 The person most likely to win a contest (5-6)

7 Unruly crowd (3)

9 Gavin, the British journalist and broadcaster (5)

10 Dosh made with little effort, sometimes dishonestly (4,5)

11 Disgraced, debased (8)

12 Mr Williams who was awarded the 1, 18 down by Stoke-on-trent (6)

14 Maiden name of the current Princess of Wales (9)

15 Money spent in France, Germany, Spain, etc (5)

17 Thin mattress on a low wooden frame that can be used as a bed (5)

19 Not having been exhibited or brought to public notice (9)

21 Be that as it may (4,2)

23 Where Tony Christie (deservedly!) was awarded the

1, 18 down (8)

25 Where Gary Lineker was awarded the

1, 18 down (9)

26 Distinguished, renowned (5)

27 Place for a pig (3)

28 Slade singer awarded the

1, 18 down by Walsall (5,6)

DOWN

1 (and 18 down) Honour conferred by (usually) one’s birthplace (7,2,3,4)

2 Indebted, bound, grateful (7)

3 Hard-wearing outdoor cover (9)

4 Humdrum, ordinary (10)

5 John, the 19thcentury English

town planner (4)

6 Shakespeare character in the Nato phonetic alphabet (5)

7 Asfoundina hotel bedroom (7)

8 Danny, the film director who was awarded the 1, 18 down by Bury (5)

13 What people from different social, racial or religious groups do when they wed (10)

15 International language (9)

16 Food requested in a restaurant to be served with the main dish (4,5)

18 See 1 down

20 Greeted, acknowledged (7)

21 Janet, Robin, Bret Easton, etc (5)

22 Michael, the actor, who was awarded the 1, 18 down by Neath Port Talbot (5)

24 Style of poker (4)