Clues

1-across – The trick is to categorise the companion : CONSORT

5-across – Old-style exam turned the heat on old-style forfeit : ESCHEAT

10-across – Commotion in place of confinement : STIR

11-across – Beats American childrenÕs game in Three Sisters : FUSTIGATES

12-across – Classical mantrap thatÕs never been touched : VIRGIN

13-across – A couple get put through and cut off : AMPUTATE

14-across – Wild Man of the East in the gallery chasing some Parisian : DESPERADO

16-across – Look hurt when cold drink goes round : WINCE

17-across – It gives edge to drinks round : STROP

19-across – Cleaner copies including past papers : COLDCREAM

23-across – Middle bit of Yorkshire-manÕs fish tail? : ENDOCARP

24-across – Feature of middle age or newspaper : SPREAD

26-across – Five wanting the evensong transposed to a sacred site : STONEHENGE

27-across – Headless donkey in the vortex : EDDY

28-across – BirdÕs better suited to Cartesian co-ordinates : APTERYX

29-across – Semi-staged, The Talking Bird requires staying power : STAMINA

2-down – Pickets in silhouette? : OUTLINE

3-down – Show indifference by being quiet on the mat : SHRUG

4-down – Make allusion about popular distiller : REFINER

6-down – Philby infiltrates one of his ilk, supplying inadequate cover : SKIMPY

7-down – The man to make adjustments receives greeting from the fitter : HEALTHIER

8-down – Germ-free secret agents up for apprehending part of tribe : ASEPTIC

9-down – Touring Greece, perhaps, oneÕs purchases include real estate : ISLANDHOPPING

15-down – Make declaration, I say, before church : PRONOUNCE

18-down – Casual dress in the turret, maybe : TANKTOP

20-down – Decline to eliminate odour? : DESCENT

21-down – Best thing to do to the Titanic when thereÕs an orchestra playing : ABANDON

22-down – China animal given fodder : CATHAY

25-down – Discharge ambassador in peculiar circumstances : RHEUM

8-across – Flagship rounds end of pier : STREAMER

9-across – Cake made by Claire : ECLAIR

10-across – It doesnÍt go far in church : INCH

11-across – Served with pork? Nonsense! : APPLESAUCE

12-across – Doctor in habit of fighting : COMBAT

14-across – Chaperon needed going round place with a rough reputation : CAPEHORN

15-across – A prize for waste : ATROPHY

17-across – Misery that comes out in a gush : ANGUISH

20-across – Violent reaction against corporal punishment : BACKLASH

22-across – Frenzied woman made an error : MAENAD

23-across – Pays a visit, after some persuasion? : COMESROUND

24-across – A mistake whichever way you look at it : BOOB

25-across – They have small parts in a big picture : INSETS

26-across – Shut up tight in the terminus : ENCLOSED

1-down – Refuse to agree to project : STANDOUT

2-down – Yes, truly an inspiration : YEAH

3-down – Great influence of one politician on some legislation : IMPACT

4-down – King surrounded by subjects in sunny region : TROPICS

5-down – Safe vessel, one showing no sign of age : PETERPAN

6-down – Cheerless accommodation booked by Dickens : BLEAKHOUSE

7-down – It cuts things rather fine : MINCER

13-down – Office worker disliked by librarians? : BOOKKEEPER

16-down – Tear shed in a pillow, perhaps : HEADREST

18-down – Main source of strength for a nation : SEAPOWER

19-down – Middle-aged English travel writer : CHAUCER

21-down – Money for a horse : AMOUNT

22-down – When indisposed, IÍd come to consult him : MEDICO

24-down – United Nations look into pre-Christian era : BLOC

8-across – A Rock in the hen-house : PLYMOUTH

9-across – Angel whirring about Italy : EALING

10-across – That is missing from popular bar : YORK

11-across – Chinese tram wobbles without one : MANCHESTER

12-across – Policeman in the back : REDCAR

14-across – With bulge around : SANDWELL

15-across – A quiet car maker : ASHFORD

17-across – Consort crashed : SCORTON

20-across – 7p change! The old return : PEVENSEY

22-across – Larger than usual badgerÍs lair : OSSETT

23-across – Familiarly, black liquor : BIRMINGHAM

24-across – Shell : HULL

25-across – Freshly in half : NEMLYN

26-across – Mineral stream : SALTBURN

1-down – Flowers once sported by ladies : BLOOMERS

2-down – Frenzy in order after a mad start : AMOK

3-down – Time for the adder : SUMMER

4-down – Cynic shouted: ñThese people! : CHINESE

5-down – One treating machine with carbon? : MECHANIC

6-down – Plant making pains, say : GLASSWORKS

7-down – Synthetic neural complex : UNREAL

13-down – It provides grounds for supper : COFFEEMILL

16-down – Booming snore disturbed soldier : RESONANT

18-down – Win a fierce-looking contest abroad with dazzling display : OUTGLARE

19-down – Deviser of legends could make my thirst run out : MYTHIST

21-down – Checked rising of French tendency : EDITED

22-down – Finish applied to pairs of ornaments, most luxurious : ORMOLU

24-down – They are bared when caps are lifted : HUBS

1-across – Crank who did badly in Lent, for example : FADDIST

5-across – Boards with a relative : STEPSON

9-across – Point in lake that might prove richly rewarding : ERNIE

10-across – Defeat on the cricket field, perhaps : OVERTHROW

11-across – TV programme anxiously watched at Cape Canaveral, presumably : COUNTDOWN

12-across – Headgear associated with German soldier : MITRE

13-across – Avoids garments of coarse cloth : DUCKS

15-across – Attack causing displeasure : OFFENSIVE

18-across – Said paper has to go? : DISAPPEAR

19-across – Entire amount put by child on a plate : TOTAL

21-across – Instrument firm’s internal measure : CELLO

23-across – Vacillating invertebrate : SPINELESS

25-across – Artist saying ‘owdo to old actor : DONATELLO

26-across – A declared interest in meat : STEAK

27-across – Asked side to change colour : DESIRED

28-across – Shakespearean’s second source of finance : SLENDER

1-down – Warmly covered at exorbitant cost? : FLEECED

2-down – Inveighs against study on weights : DENOUNCES

3-down – Disinclined to act in plainer terms : INERT

4-down – Two thirds of the deliveries completed? : TWOTOCOME

5-down – Point on bird’s back : STERN

6-down – Site meant originally for a small bar : ESTAMINET

7-down – Supporter’s mistrust : STRUT

8-down – Out of the running at present in this location : NOWHERE

14-down – Drink ale with fan : SUPPORTER

16-down – Get rid of Jeremy’s hearthside implements? : FIREIRONS

17-down – Having the principal role at the front : INTHELEAD

18-down – Resolved to be firm : DECIDED

20-down – Armed Indian tribesmen getting lark to fly round tree : LASHKAR

22-down – Animal said to have connections : LINKS

23-down – Financially sound southern lido, perhaps : SOLID

24-down – Follow sun moving from east to east? : ENSUE

4-across – Band near the top in releases, we hear : FRIEZE

6-across – Order sun when playing a game : ROUNDERS

9-across – Sound of collecting-tin upset? : RATTLE

10-across – A station took in the traitor : APOSTATE

11-across – With which one can get weaving! : WARPANDWEFT

15-across – One lesson is about an animal : LIONESS

17-across – The stuff presented to the viewer is nonsense : EYEWASH

18-across – He has decisive qualities : ADJUDICATOR

22-across – This is a bit phoney : EARPIECE

23-across – Plant’s trouble kept back : DAHLIA

24-across – One giving out around a billion to arouse hostility : EMBITTER

25-across – Snappy costume? : LIVERY

1-down – Shrub first and last appearing on a field : AZALEA

2-down – See compositor about layer to delete : COMPREHEND

3-down – I sent tea around, being cordial : ANISETTE

4-down – Word when going to get on prosperously : FAREWELL

5-down – Police body put down, cut up : INTERPOL

7-down – Northern drink raised spirit : ELAN

8-down – Check part of wineglass : STEM

12-down – One up with pop? : DISCJOCKEY

13-down – One nonetheless to live outside prison : BASTILLE

14-down – Quick to contain injury in dispensary : PHARMACY

16-down – Waste a time with ace being prepared : EMACIATE

19-down – Intelligence headquarters : CRANIA

20-down – Distribute flesh, say … : METE

21-down – … and search for food : GRUB