Daily Answers

8-across – Someone helping at Old Trafford without computer assistance : MANUALLY

9-across – Marsupial’s time in sleeping place : ROOST

10-across – Vulgar supporter returns at start of football : NAFF

11-across – Pipe up with strangely poetic hymn : CHIMNEYPOT

12-across – Given alcohol, Charlie tucked in and made a face : WINCED

14-across – Beer long brewed in French city : GRENOBLE

15-across – Make several arrangements for each person unable to speak : PERMUTE

17-across – Shout at infant, a wuss : CRYBABY

20-across – Having eaten, die in agony as prisoner : DETAINEE

22-across – One is engaged in concluding this agreement : PRENUP

23-across – Hard-up daughter stirs gluey porridge : UGLYSISTER

24-across – Unusual pressure in seat : RUMP

25-across – In this part of the UK everyone is an Irishman : NIALL

26-across – Advertise post, a dishonest scheme : PUTUPJOB

1-down – Explosive material in this publication : MAGAZINE

2-down – Slap on the wrist : CUFF

3-down – Peaceful location finally lost identity : PLACID

4-down – Char wraps your medical instrument : SYRINGE

5-down – Relative was sorry about nobility : GRANDEUR

6-down – Stuntman struggling duly boobed : BODYDOUBLE

7-down – First to see abusive poster as constitutional : STROLL

13-down – It’s a two-seater, as the saying goes! : COMPANYCAR

16-down – Material could be felt : TANGIBLE

18-down – A rare occasion, being depressed, to wander listlessly : BLUEMOON

19-down – Secret police fiddling postage : GESTAPO

21-down – Delacroix shows some European DNA : EUGENE

22-down – Marine predator, one in the Caribbean? : PIRATE

24-down – Stringy Rovers’ striker eats a bit of pasta : ROPY

1-across – Trying person in party may be doing so : HAVINGABASH

9-across – African rodent, squealer with dark patch in front : MOLERAT

10-across – Go miles abroad for source of fine porcelain : LIMOGES

11-across – Demand turning up, it’s overdue : STIPULATE

12-across – Climate activist’s share of meagre takings : GRETA

13-across – Initial clue : SIGN

14-across – Greeting from hotspot, with further line conclusively appended : HELLOTHERE

16-across – Care I’d taken in Cannes and thereabouts : PROVIDENCE

19-across – Bet it’s a boat! : PUNT

21-across – Rascal’s trick piano : SCAMP

22-across – Torches moving abeam in uncertain motion : FLAMBEAUX

24-across – Level of public transport with more up front? : BUSTIER

25-across – Plot in bay surrounding retro pub : CONNIVE

26-across – Parents manage to crush one’s spirit : MOTHERSRUIN

1-down – Bowling legend with ball in sort of window demanding concessions : HOLDINGTORANSOM

2-down – Upset about rivals displaying fine artworks : VIRTU

3-down – Donkey to value fertiliser : NITRATE

4-down – Medicinal plant, originally at £50 topping list, we’re told : ALLHEAL

5-down – Almost everyone could ultimately slay giant : ALMIGHTY

6-down – Advanced instruction from Red China toughie garbled : HIGHEREDUCATION

7-down – Diverts rising waters, skirting problem : AMUSES

8-down – Take off enormous unlined cloak : ESCAPE

15-down – ‘Setter in mile race’ : MISPRINT

16-down – Go on through, with prior authorisation : PASSBY

17-down – Apply in French on behalf of church … : ENFORCE

18-down – … part of church cut off on Sunday, creating opportunities : CHANCES

20-down – Revenue staff, no more than half score, Spooner says : TAXMEN

23-down – Anti-labour slogan in this sub-Saharan speech? : BANTU

1-across – Adult wrens exercised urge to move : WANDERLUST

6-across – Junk plans rejected : SPAM

9-across – Awkwardness of one getting undressed holding record and bird : INEPTITUDE

10-across – Eager to move into silver : AGOG

12-across – Ridiculous poseur, dancing clutching Bill : PREPOSTEROUS

15-across – Let out grass around end of April, showing some heart : VENTRICLE

17-across – Rubbish outside of our bit of machinery : ROTOR

18-across – Checks showers for auditor : REINS

19-across – Spongy muscle needs at first to be covered in ice : ABSORBENT

20-across – Old Peruvian slope is glowing : INCANDESCENT

24-across – Plant is found across Rhode Island : IRIS

25-across – Protest ignited by institute concerned with ruin : DEMOLITION

26-across – Silences heartless criminal groups : GAGS

27-across – Enticing gin mixed with vile gin : INVEIGLING

1-down – Almost hold on to fine stray : WAIF

2-down – Miss Norway enjoyed exhibition dance, initially : NEED

3-down – Adventurous recording includes quiet knight returning : ENTERPRISING

4-down – Reduction in previous tension, happy to follow premier of long film : LETUP

5-down – Avoids angle on staircase : SIDESTEPS

7-down – Swine taking age to evacuate ground finally, having misdirected supporters : PIGEONTOED

8-down – Sorcerer arrests first traitor getting justice : MAGISTRATE

11-down – Trying to embrace fashion is very upsetting : HEARTRENDING

13-down – Dominant across old part of Yorkshire : OVERRIDING

14-down – Taking off with a Parisian, travelling for free : UNHITCHING

16-down – Clean home out for reptile : CHAMELEON

21-down – Smother husband in drug : CHOKE

22-down – Bird winning the hearts of rakish showbiz elite : KIWI

23-down – Catch small horse : SNAG

9-across – Performing twice in Tosca is stimulating for a soloist? : ONANISTIC

10-across – Refurbished loo contains very old moulding : OVOLO

11-across – Demanding person from Oldham needing a break? : EXACTOR

12-across – African fish’s name maybe grasped by sailors : RWANDAN

13-across – Conservative going kind of pink, concerned with speech : ORAL

14-across – Person grilling odd sandwiches is not out to lunch : QUESTIONER

16-across – What reprobates do after some tobacco’s in pocket : QUIDSIN

17-across – Boxing a long time, clobber despicable people : TOERAGS

19-across – Establishing distance from two directions before time rambling : ESTRANGING

22-across – Cash returns for Jack, say : TOOL

24-across – Invest and invest, investing reserve : STANDIN

25-across – Liking less parking in transport : ENCHANT

26-across – Plain Welsh seaside resort, no northern dud : LLANO

27-across – Screen star in a period of abstention cutting alcohol : VALENTINO

1-down – Passion dominates game, we hear, in pointless tennis position : LOVECONQUERSALL

2-down – Spy Indian princess rejecting article without thanks : MATAHARI

3-down – One showing Mary pastry case from trattoria : PIETA

4-down – Opener gets run out in captivating draw : STARTURN

5-down – Many runs perhaps in Twenty20? : SCORES

6-down – Shrewder retaining ball, male player : WOMANISER

7-down – Thoroughly soppy git by place of retreat : SODDEN

8-down – Blunt answer’s received about legislative measure : JOINTRESOLUTION

15-down – Take in various keys, say, and polish roughly : ISLANDHOP

17-down – Gaudy little skirts are popular with consumers : TINSELLY

18-down – One nameless dreamer with a bouquet : AROMATIC

20-down – Revolutionary Communist wears brown, without exception : TOAMAN

21-down – Banking centre, say, raised what’s held in Russian banks : GENEVA

23-down – Son has ice cream or small cake : SCONE

7-across – Cover for the Times entertaining the City : PROTECT

8-across – Bar brawl in 60 minutes or 7? : HARBOUR

9-across – Warning soldiers after cry of surprise : OMEN

10-across – I left serious old building without perfume : ODOURLESS

12-across – Colour coding’s initial test : CORAL

13-across – Standing before holy man, for example, one on retreat : PRESTIGE

15-across – Democrat party leader departing in boat : DORY

16-across – Vehicles honked, first travelling to the rear : TANKS

17-across – Judge impounding European bank : REEF

18-across – Popular account: English royal abdicated over a breach : INVASION

20-across – Advice rejected about long division : SPLIT

21-across – Even Daley’s twisting and turning is brought to a standstill : PARALYSED

22-across – Two papers follow the Guardian’s foremost talent : GIFT

24-across – Discovery of caring female replacing male : FINDING

25-across – Fitter of crown for the king? : DENTIST

1-down – Debussy’s prelude has odd beat : DRUM

2-down – 23 mean to eat bread regularly : STINGRAY

3-down – Teach ladies and gents to climb over church : SCHOOL

4-down – Group of prominent scientists support writer’s blocks : BARRIERS

5-down – Missing worker catches mad cow disease : ABSENT

6-down – Swear in debate there’s no hell : CUSS

11-down – Before Sunday, no Pope destroyed books of rivals : OPPONENTS

12-down – Conservative lied at first — now in trouble, the buffoon : CLOWN

14-down – Super important : GREAT

16-down – Small dalliance : TRIFLING

17-down – Demote ambassador backing heartless renegade : RELEGATE

19-down – A hairdo, say, to wear down : ABRADE

20-down – Australian city’s extremely sorry cartoonist is sacked : SYDNEY

21-down – One moving into home gets settled : PAID

23-down – Fairly loud animal? : FISH