Author name: crosswordanswers

8-across – Sparkling wine left by one former monarch for knight : CAVALIER

9-across – Taped broadcast for expert : ADEPT

10-across – Girl liaises regularly : LASS

11-across – Navy vessel’s independent logbook assistant : SUBSIDIARY

12-across – Frail magical creature holding buzzer sent back : FEEBLE

14-across – Given financial penalty after swindle and imprisoned : CONFINED

15-across – Stout stem : STAUNCH

17-across – College graduate getting axe : CLEAVER

20-across – Fruit from a very old citrus added dash of spice at first : AVOCADOS

22-across – Signals British general and police sergeant : BLEEPS

23-across – Defiant about promises to hold ring : REBELLIOUS

24-across – Unconvincing period of time for auditor : WEAK

25-across – Spare from complex trap : EXTRA

26-across – Engineered roads in Cuba to be dry : SARDONIC

1-down – A garden implement held by favourite bird : PARAKEET

2-down – Acquires receptacles : BAGS

3-down – Time to produce paper : TISSUE

4-down – Horse I caught with a drink : ARABICA

5-down – Sensible share the French returned : RATIONAL

6-down – Run away with one friend getting sanctioned : LEGITIMATE

7-down – Deprive of sun and,initially,vitamin E : STARVE

13-down – Dish brute chats about : BRUSCHETTA

16-down – Rotter I ring about car : CADILLAC

18-down – Impressive impact he amazingly makes : EMPHATIC

19-down – Support Sixth Sense getting Oscar call : ESPOUSE

21-down – One observing sheep right after six : VIEWER

22-down – Doctor orbits dining area : BISTRO

24-down – Seduce female with beastly utterance : WOOF

1-across – I am angry; I may become fanciful : IMAGINARY

6-across – In beds,one’s flipping long-suffering : STOIC

9-across – Quaint insolence upsetting but trivial : INCONSEQUENTIAL

10-across – Believe king should be deposed,being weak : THIN

11-across – Tree flattened,by psychic power? A fib,right? : ESPALIER

14-across – A magazine to deliver,one filled with party spirit : PUNCHBOWL

15-across – Tried the patience of top managers when speaking : BORED

16-across – From the start,no ancient historian underestimated minor prophet : NAHUM

18-across – Hurried to finish the ironing? : PRESSEDON

20-across – Gets wrong impression of motorway cuts : MISHEARS

21-across – A service returns from a distance : AFAR

25-across – In funny cartoon,wag omits enough space : ROOMTOSWINGACAT

26-across – Had extra sleep,to build up supplies : LAYIN

27-across – Prohibited area,as hygienic kitchen should be? : NOFLYZONE

1-down – Fool,standing up to African dictator : IDIOT

2-down – From which you may come away with a lot : AUCTION

3-down – North Europeans won’t open pubs : INNS

4-down – Top copy,with illiterate’s signature : APEX

5-down – <i>QI</i><span> signature for solvers</span> : YOURSELVES

6-down – Saturday better for smart clothes,but … ? : SUNDAYBEST

7-down – Old organ drowning one actor : OLIVIER

8-down – American statesman has some guts,touring drama school : COLORADAN

12-down – Barmen itch excitedly to pour this? : CHAMBERTIN

13-down – In contrast,firm with a thousand working across Olympic city : COMPARISON

14-down – Burn ample rubbish,somewhat shady : PENUMBRAL

17-down – Man’s right-wing background : HISTORY

19-down – In practice,certainly about to perform : DEFACTO

22-down – Bind over again,reducing sureties : RETIE

23-down – Cockney burglar’s land grant? : FIEF

24-down – Like something scrambled,say,extremely gently : EGGY

7-across – Erotic dancer moves body half-heartedly : GOGOBOY

8-across – Federal agents repeatedly patrolling southern lake : DEADSEA

9-across – Succeed in amorous advance : PASS

10-across – Vulnerable judge abruptly suspended cases : ONTHINICE

12-across – Nothing stopping teacher demonstration : PROOF

13-across – <span>Thugs struggling with the introduction to </span><i>Sex On Fire</i> : GUNSHOTS

15-across – <i>Casualty</i><span> scene not the first for Brian Blessed</span> : HOLY

16-across – Spendthrift taking son out for a drink : WATER

17-across – Part of organ I covered in university course : PIPE

18-across – Smelly problem child drinking in rubbish tip : BOMBSITE

20-across – Poet taking over committee : BOARD

21-across – Gang confronting alien travellers who are loaded : THEJETSET

22-across – Brown University released record : TAPE

24-across – Vacant Burmese cat not following most direct route : BEELINE

25-across – Pervert ultimately hid out around spa : DEVIANT

1-down – American’s drink troubles returning : SODA

2-down – Menial person supporting Wolves? : DOGSBODY

3-down – John bored by golf fellows making exit : LOGOFF

4-down – Architect is gender-fluid : DESIGNER

5-down – Somewhat strange love on degree course : ODDISH

6-down – Saint in revolutionary piece from Claude Debussy : BEDE

11-down – <i>The Sting</i><span> shot with special tension</span> : TIGHTNESS

12-down – Still river with hidden current : PHOTO

14-down – Luke Perry originally into climbing regime : TEPID

16-down – I want the kinky six-footer : WHITEANT

17-down – Anna Friel’s latest tip for cooking fruit : PLANTAIN

19-down – Wurzel reversing the Spanish car : BEETLE

20-down – Queen providing support for bottom fat! : BUTTER

21-down – Flower boxes left out : TEES

23-down – Whales crossing North Atlantic : POND

1-across – Maiden with chaps in bed – ‘Here’s How’ in French : COMMENT

5-across – Vegetable to cut,cut and cut : PARSNIP

9-across – One grand by John Snow house : IGLOO

10-across – Juliet’s follower encountered sapper at a distance : KILOMETRE

11-across – March newspaper : WASHINGTONPOST

13-across – Sea eagle in summer nest : ERNE

14-across – Composer who repairs the box,we’re told : TELEMANN

17-across – Press and TV nonsense repelled broker : MEDIATOR

18-across – Walkway seen from Piraeus to Athens : STOA

21-across – Eats with chips.? No sir! Not normally oggies : CORNISHPASTIES

23-across – New militia lacking its leader is deployed to ambush : LIEINWAIT

24-across – Piano,not in time,backing viola’s piece : PETAL

25-across – Forever remain popular,a touch dizzy and healthy : INDWELL

26-across – Train former journalists : EXPRESS

1-down – Copy in bed : CRIB

2-down – Description of lawyer meanly inferred,possibly,by defendant,initially : MYLEARNEDFRIEND

3-down – Record expressions of impatience for ages : EPOCHS

4-down – Receiving thanks,man! : TAKING

5-down – Source of dates from Lampeter : PALMTREE

6-down – Memo – ‘What’s left when adult leaves?’ : REMINDER

7-down – Plays for England here – and the rest of us : NATIONALTHEATRE

8-down – Close partner,yet not so : PRETTYNEAR

12-down – Liver and lime mixed with cold pasta : VERMICELLI

15-down – <i>Bunthorne’s Bride </i><span>is game</span> : PATIENCE

16-down – Postpone work on aircraft delivery : MOTHBALL

19-down – What’ll suggest fencing material? : WATTLE

20-down – In haste,pupils advance : STEPUP

22-down – Additional luxurious fabric is trimmed : PLUS

1-across – Risky food passed round not later than end of Christmas – mind the sprouts! : BABYSIT

5-across – Stupid effin’ old man’s twittering nonsense? : COVFEFE

9-across – Could I be fit for comrade? : AMIGO

10-across – Gluttonous beast,cruciverbalist after missing starter opens booze : WOLVERINE

11-across – Fellow has blueprint written in day for rocket,say : SALADPLANT

12-across – Drop a log on head of hungry bear : POOH

14-across – See 17 Down : MALFUNCTION

18-across – Possible requirement when cut in trade reversed,better finally : ELASTOPLAST

21-across – See 2 Down : PADS

22-across – Steps taken after worker gets near figure in minor skirmish : HANDBAGSAT

25-across – Tripped during competition – in bits : CHOPPEDUP

26-across – Initially gung-ho,unusually aggressive,now official is dropping matter : GUANO

27-across – Safeguard rank defending lieutenant : SHELTER

28-across – See 24 Down : THEBALL

1-down – Cook sounds like an ass,did you say? : BRAISE

2-down – Great work and promotions for cleaners : BRILLO

3-down – Weapons manufacturer in cahoots in the end with writer : SWORDSMITH

4-down – Where water might be taken,not quite drier : TOWEL

5-down – Nude dancing in ring with a marigold : CALENDULA

6-down – Pence under vainglorious egomanic,evidently all kicking off – for him previously? : VEEP

7-down – Serialised copies I’d adapted : EPISODIC

8-down – Charger where mobile finally rested,one having left phone plugged in : ELEPHANT

13-down – A lovely fish – is that not quite right? : ACUTEANGLE

15-down – Nordic jewel’s back,and pearl lost : LAPLANDER

16-down – See 22 Across : TENPACES

17-down – Uncomfortable in bust after minor design failure : WARDROBE

19-down – A Kazakh__ capital in actuality? : ASTANA

20-down – Constitutional guarantees ultimately something of a myth? : STROLL

23-down – Store soaked up : DEPOT

24-down – Screwing originally,what snooker player would do in type of competition : SPOT