Daily Answers

1-across – Wine barrel trimmed to make instrument : SACKBUT

5-across – Daughters interrupted by expression of hesitation I have produced : DERIVED

9-across – They criticise struggle to fill water containers beside river : REVIEWERS

10-across – Parents accommodate heading for Rome : PARMA

11-across – Chilled response about source of unusual accent : BURR

12-across – Love – i.e., bums heaving – in these? : BLUEMOVIES

14-across – Prepared to come round to fix instrument : SPINET

15-across – Detective encountering nonsense about one US city : DETROIT

16-across – Week One in US series is sentimental : MAWKISH

18-across – Nothing new purchased, having missed opening : NOUGHT

20-across – Yorkshire produce an encouragement for Arab? : RIDINGCROP

21-across – Much-favoured bridge team where lawyers gather : INNS

24-across – Short story identifying detective, in brief? : CONTE

25-across – Little space to be engrossed in accommodating a venture : ENDEAVOUR

26-across – Dictionary is holding up returning name of complex : OEDIPUS

27-across – List best type of desks? : ROLLTOP

1-down – Cancel membership fee after receiving credit : SCRUB

2-down – Conceal part of innings in tournament : COVERUP

3-down – Runs after people gathering for a drink : BEER

4-down – Somehow pitches tent OK, securing height and length? Things become more complex : THEPLOTTHICKENS

5-down – Monks heading for Hell, largest first? : DESCENDINGORDER

6-down – Left in charge over European committee appointment : RAPPORTEUR

7-down – Check I leave after taking in conclusion of another Hitchcock film : VERTIGO

8-down – Determined a Duke should be borne by galloping steed : DEADSET

13-down – Source of drugs, I note, given to male politician : INDIANHEMP

16-down – Leather companies taking different directions after excess trimmed : MOROCCO

17-down – Welsh papers stop including English spread : WIDENED

19-down – Display hospital article on inflammatory disease : HANGOUT

22-down – Second year completed? Sweet : SYRUP

23-down – College had reduced students : HALL

8-across – Flourish with no direct line on the phone : CURLICUE

9-across – Loves speed and energy : OOMPH

10-across – Feel good in a crazy way : AMOK

11-across – Thatcher’s work is … free : ONTHEHOUSE

12-across – Toils at the back building boats : GRAFTS

14-across – Biochemist’s first idea for treatment set back medical condition : DIABETES

16-across – Many an imperfection changes sides : DEFECTS

18-across – One recommending plug protection : ADVISOR

21-across – What magnifies is left among people’s following animals : ZOOMLENS

23-across – A hunk messed around with a wiseman : KAHUNA

24-across – City subway not quite European : METROPOLIS

26-across – When to leave African country to chase exotic item : TIME

27-across – Muesli Einstein eats on a lazy morning? : LIEIN

28-across – Coming out with pride, finally getting together : EMERGING

1-down – Engulf wobbly bum in woollen fabric : SUBMERGE

2-down – Criticism of a little snow, mostly : FLAK

3-down – An X where ducks are in America : ACROSS

4-down – Energy with current compound : PEPTIDE

5-down – Even LSD is OK as a way of generating affection : LOVE

6-down – Make poor spelling naughty in a down clue? : IMPOVERISH

7-down – Pure speed of light expedition : CHASTE

13-down – Where to buy a jumper? : FLEAMARKET

15-down – See 5 : AND

17-down – See 3 : THE

19-down – It’s soothing to have date with no programme : OINTMENT

20-down – Note change in book for the church : PSALTER

22-down – Just gathering Philistine’s clothing in public view : OPENLY

23-down – See 5 : KISSES

25-down – See 3 : POND

26-down – See 26 Across : TOGO

8-across – Musical snob on convoluted reason cover can be discounted? : NOCLAIMS

9-across – See 8 : BONUS

10-across – Joke about northern band : GANG

11-across – Ultimately filing last of criminal charges quickest – also most horrific : GHASTLIEST

12-across – Deal maybe when doctor gets into row : TIMBER

14-across – Democrat First Lady meeting hacks and pioneers : DEVELOPS

16-across – Cool vision for childhood : INFANCY

18-across – Mean to change a flower : ANEMONE

21-across – Order passbooks in two parts – no trouble : OBEDIENT

23-across – Come cycling around side part of America : MEXICO

24-across – Brothers promise to carry occasionally handy weapon : BROADSWORD

26-across – Wife having new zip to open dress : GOWN

27-across – Life in disarray with San Diego’s capital invested in somewhere medics are fatigued? : FIELD

28-across – See 27 : HOSPITAL

1-down – Contribution from people supporting party : DONATION

2-down – Labour flagging striking victory : SLOG

3-down – Some sampling errors remain : LINGER

4-down – Is left with son for Christmas and Easter, say : ISLANDS

5-down – Touch instrument on the counter : ABUT

6-down – Disappointment as I discovered wild Manx cat roaming : ANTICLIMAX

7-down – Finishes as Aussies stumps regularly taken out : USESUP

13-down – Harry Ramsden with ban for Hellmann’s and Heinz, say : BRANDNAMES

15-down – Just seconds in every car and truck : VAN

17-down – Sign something Trump brings to the table? : CUE

19-down – Drink with Don to build ties, say : NECKWEAR

20-down – Decline America’s cup : ATROPHY

22-down – Deprived of hat to cover Frenchman’s head : BEREFT

23-down – Fashionable second course : MODISH

25-down – Turf accountant’s first drink : SODA

26-down – Good, clear framework : GRID

1-across – Little character shown by husband in corporation occupying permanent residence : TOMTHUMB

6-across – Main country for monster : MEDUSA

9-across – Defective directive defended by agent : FLAWED

10-across – Machine gun dude fed to a Scot surreptitiously : STACCATO

11-across – Curious things I see with cat or cuckoo : ESOTERICA

13-across – Home of fried chicken and pork pie for pop icon : KYLIE

15-across – Cricket side takes part of wicket out for a while? : ONBAIL

17-across – Swift – doing what it does? : FLYING

18-across – Thief looking at gull from behind : LOOTER

19-across – Those from outskirts of 21 across on posh carriage : LANDAU

21-across – Country found coming through Mali by air : LIBYA

22-across – Spooner’s admonishment to ankle-biting chickens, the tops! : POLONECKS

25-across – Bird sanctuary foreign to herons : HENROOST

26-across – By the sound of it, albatross an albatross? : BURDEN

28-across – Issue securing pile, able to click into place : SNAPON

29-across – Movement of turntable perhaps derailing train too : ROTATION

2-down – One bird or another dropping head : OWL

3-down – That is an expression of pain in 16 down? : TOWIT

4-down – Little rubbish is endured with ultimate character incarcerated : UNDERSIZED

5-down – Tick caught by mite cut in half : BISECT

6-down – Last seen of vegetarianism, then swallow – this? : MEAT

7-down – Parrot perhaps – when sick? : DICKYBIRD

8-down – Vulnerable type meeting bird : SITTINGDUCK

12-down – Canary, relative of 8 down? : STOOLPIGEON

14-down – Gal with rook mistaken, however, for the Sparrow from Minsk : OLGAKORBUT

16-down – Explosive device in birdcage, say? : BOOBYTRAP

20-down – 2 down that smells : HOOTER

23-down – Heron bagged by hunter, gentleman from the south : EGRET

24-down – American diver – turkey, dodo or drongo? : LOON

27-down – Music genre, ‘ouse arising : EMO

9-across – Rabbit on piano? Respect! : PRATE

10-across – Racing track could make you crown a career : CRESTARUN

11-across – ‘Easy Way to Achievement’ or ‘Two Times A Lady’, perhaps : ROYALROAD

12-across – Overweight? Get back into shape! : PLUMP

13-across – One way and another, I’m enthralled by ‘Ask about a Garden Shrub’ : SKIMMIA

15-across – Flow-interrupter put on party’s oddballs! : WEIRDOS

17-across – Senior of two European articles : ELDER

18-across – Dick’s storm centre : EYE

20-across – What’s resorted to by the hot-headed shark : TOPEE

22-across – Ace revealed when Pat has dealt cards : DABHAND

25-across – Branch gets in male attire : GARMENT

26-across – Looks after Pence’s mates : PAIRS

27-across – Response of subordinate primate is about right : AYEAYESIR

30-across – Agreeing to re-write hymn on air : INHARMONY

31-across – Large craft conveying capers : LARKS

1-down – Urge football team to drop point : SPUR

2-down – Mrs Johnson’s Beetle? : LADYBIRD

3-down – Dicky’s opposite lift-shaft? : WELL

4-down – King’s taps possibly producing a cold beverage and two vitamins : ACCOLADE

5-down – Riverside area supplying alcoholic drink that’s unpleasant : MEADOW

6-down – Cast tries to follow stages in Cinderella’s family role : STEPSISTER

7-down – Earth’s circle lacks nothing : GROUND

8-down – Spell ‘slates’ backwards : SNAP

13-down – Profound rejection after initially stimulating drug : SPEED

14-down – Ducks making response during business get-togethers : MERGANSERS

16-down – Breaking up thoroughfare to make water course : SWEET

19-down – Excellent ability to discern military standard watch : EAGLEEYE

21-down – Sale organised amid unadulterated delight : PLEASURE

23-down – Promising book fair : BRIGHT

24-down – Persist as fierce type : DRAGON

26-down – Rather formal chief fails to finish : PRIM

28-down – Once you are going to cry : YELL

29-down – Speaker’s lines increased : ROSE