This crossword No. 25709 clues and answers were published on Wed 08 Aug 2012 and the puzzle can be visited by following The Guardian Cryptic Crossword No. 25709 link.
All Across Clues and Answers:
1-across – Tricky situation, having to preserve a mischievous child : PICKLE
4-across – Dull Second and Third from Prokofiev, ending in Vaughan Williams’ mortified cry? : MATRON
9-across – See 26 : STAR
10-across – Popular figure into reforming, yet law unto herself, the Queen : THEROYALWE
11-across – Old 26 9, lightweight in store : MOZART
12-across – Bearing right, work to see name on old US aircraft : NORTHROP
13-across – So brevity different! : VERBOSITY
15-across – Weak film about boxing : ROCKY
16-across – Strike small arachnid : SMITE
18-across – Little time to cry, protecting wife after a month in siege : TROJANWAR
22-across – Empty hen house duck found centrally in street : SCOOPOUT
23-across – Farm animals talked regularly behind domestic animal : CATTLE
25-across – Patient accommodating seconds, parts to find hot meals : CASSEROLES
26-across – Both thin and thick stuff written by me — quite some name! : MEGA
27-across – Invalid guided around a rider : LAPSED
28-across – New beginnings in double entendres, Uranus circling 9 being taken from behind : UNUSED
All Down Clues and Answers:
1-down – Staff around but it needs filling : POTHOLE
2-down – Catholic penetrating spy organisation, getting about : CIRCA
3-down – Child in stories that’s not saying enough : LITOTES
5-down – A poet entertaining circle on a ship : ABOARD
6-down – Feel low, as every daughter in line heading for nuptials : REACHDOWN
7-down – Publication for whom monkey writes cryptic : NEWYORK
8-down – Brunette with plait plaited, sweet thing : PEANUTBRITTLE
14-down – Pubs’ motto, possibly? : BOTTOMSUP
17-down – Paul’s set up drink, then game wrapped in fruit, but no starter for 26 9 : MICHAEL
19-down – See 17 : JACKSON
20-down – Welshman’s grasped member, it’s claimed : ALLEGED
21-down – 26 9, model no more : MONROE
24-down – See 7 : TIMES
This crossword has in total 29 where 16 are across and 13 are down.