Daily Answers

9-across – Unusual items, no good in different categories : ESOTERICA

10-across – Vessel in felucca or tanker : AORTA

11-across – Small state in India defended by two vessels, cavalry on the borders capturing it : VATICAN

12-across – Vessel opening after day : FRIGATE

13-across – Cleopatra’s milk supplier? : MUMMY

14-across – Mythological vessel’s command­eered by token vessel : CARGOSHIP

16-across – Something to read on cracking theme with vessel after vessel : THREEMENINABOAT

19-across – Solid verb forms for flyers : LOVEBIRDS

21-across – See 23 : PARTY

22-across – Endless poison’s fed to keeper : CURATOR

23-across – Nautical agreement where companion given role aboard vessel : CHARTER

24-across – Capture 16 when crossing the Chanel? : SEIZE

25-across – Mixed bag in sink on tip, even bits of fruit : POTPOURRI

1-down – Arsenic, for example — a noted conversation stopper? : HEAVYMETAL

2-down – Initial of mine on gold watch for author John : MORTIMER

3-down – Irritable, score having replaced everything in tally : TETCHY

4-down – Initial ship gone, every other one leaving : SIGN

5-down – Vessels in decay loaded with iron on banks of river : CARFERRIES

6-down – First of mariners in a boat at sea somewhere in Canada : MANITOBA

7-down – Inhalation on filling vessel : BREATH

8-down – Result rare, on breaking retail agreement : SALE

14-down – Singer on grass penning epitaph for old English song : CHERRYRIPE

15-down – Loco and carriages show how to go : POTTYTRAIN

17-down – Setter upset, beer upset! : EMBITTER

18-down – See 8 : ORRETURN

20-down – Commandos transported by vessel, obnoxious types : VERMIN

21-down – Wonder if pub has a shortage of wine : PHAROS

22-down – Vessel in question south of Cuba, originally : CASK

23-down – See 11 : CITY

9-across – Occasionally, cell buddies escape : ELUDE

10-across – Meet nurse to consider medical TV show : ENCOUNTER

11-across – Understand queen’s wearing crown lined with fine fabric : PENETRATE

12-across – In rehab I treated addiction : HABIT

13-across – Simple crash involving vehicles blocking bridge : SPARTAN

15-across – Tools cutting right into driers : TROWELS

17-across – Lobby in favour of fencing Yorkshire’s border : FOYER

18-across – Excellent soldier leaves coat : MAC

20-across – Fanta’s first, then open Sprite : FAIRY

22-across – Runs with crazy idea, using rap sheets principally to identify looters : RAIDERS

25-across – Frightful person drinking vermouth before five brought back dizziness : VERTIGO

26-across – Stayed in middle of Colditz with English officer : DWELT

27-across – Long-lasting stain finally covered by rug — it’s coloured : CHROMATIC

30-across – Put together project, securing vote with an attitude : JUXTAPOSE

31-across – Start chess, ultimately, with pawn : SHOCK

1-down – Intense as, say, Jack Palance’s debut : DEEP

2-down – Q & A about uniform on railway creates a dilemma : QUANDARY

3-down – Jazz age was best, conclusively, for enthusiasm : ZEST

4-down – Woman visiting South American country with Mike every year : PERANNUM

5-down – Tolerate mushroom in a cassoulet on vacation : ACCEPT

6-down – Put Up, Up and Away under film, raising tempo initially, and cause a violent reaction : PUSHTOOFAR

7-down – Attempt French for the firm : STABLE

8-down – Summons determination, making good whiskey : WRIT

13-down – Less risky returning in the role of whistle-blower after retirement : SAFER

14-down – Rotten liar’s awful driving : TORRENTIAL

16-down – Military unit capturing last of enemy with zero authority : SAYSO

19-down – Made merry, when Eddy’s almost taken in by rogue : CAVORTED

21-down – TV and papers ousting leader of party before fight : IDIOTBOX

23-down – Cool chopper that could help to get one up a mountain : ICEAXE

24-down – Field men to support cult : SECTOR

26-down – What the tabloids call Boris Johnson when Germany replaces British combat training site : DOJO

28-down – Failed in audition for film : MIST

29-down – Drug that’s acceptable in church? : COKE

1-across – Foul group seizes lithium : SQUALID

5-across – Blockhead has defaced boarding cards : JACKASS

9-across – Picked up next to popular bar : INGOT

10-across – Cook, with endlessly wealthy fool in charge : FRICASSEE

11-across – Thrash repulsive criminal : PULVERISE

12-across – Artist wanting cash : MONET

13-across – Excitement of American after short drink : DRAMA

15-across – Free old individual facing charge : EXONERATE

18-across – Annual check by male with a card showing signs of wear : MOTHEATEN

19-across – Deputy taking credit for cleanse : SCRUB

21-across – Nearly time — time to sleep? : NIGHT

23-across – Some warn about embracing international philanderer : WOMANISER

25-across – Study melting mess : CONFUSION

26-across – Head of couture to demolish fashion : CRAZE

27-across – Colder liquid initially placed in cup : BLEAKER

28-across – Views small supplies not starting : SURVEYS

1-down – Son kissed and lapsed morally? : SLIPPED

2-down – A French worker hides bitterness — it’s not chivalrous : UNGALLANT

3-down – Left two articles in machine : LATHE

4-down – Shy daughter has condition suitable to involve study : DIFFIDENT

5-down – Juliet has posh cool drink : JUICE

6-down – Dour church with no branches? : CHARMLESS

7-down – Vehicles caught leaving concerning crime : ARSON

8-down – Respect unusual sign of authority : SCEPTRE

14-down – Astonished by a direction to fight : AWESTRUCK

16-down – Bit of sugared mint with Eton mess and creams : OINTMENTS

17-down – Swiftly covering boil up some­where above ground : AEROSPACE

18-down – Skirt about Belgium in taxi : MINICAB

20-down – Heard residential pupils in beds : BORDERS

22-down – Information that is for one fulfilling wishes : GENIE

23-down – Noise woke husband in real rage initially : WHIRR

24-down – French city on river is comparatively pleasant : NICER

8-across – Like ten to four on some watches : OPPOSITE

9-across – Outlaw returned four-poster, say, under arrest : NABBED

10-across – Time put into needlework producing not a lot of note? : CROTCHET

11-across – Volume finished with old size of paper : QUARTO

12-across – Contrive, in April, reorganised event featuring Irish quarters : INTERPROVINCIAL

15-across – Reversal of plain boundaries not proceeding in upright way : ONALL

16-across – See 15 : FOURS

20-across – Inside normal UFO, possibly, covering space and time : FOURDIMENSIONAL

21-across – In very small piece, it’s certainly not square : WITHIT

23-across – Male quadruped breaks barricades : RAMPARTS

25-across – Sign name over two others, one of four famous ones : LENNON

26-across – Four up, ominously, as the end approaches? : HORSEMEN

1-down – Economical inclusion of key in opening part of an Italian composition : SPARING

2-down – Native from one quarter runs to here when thrown out : SOUTHERNER

3-down – eg sole four-letter word, in itself, is harmless : FISH

4-down – Become aware of crew reportedly being summoned : SENTFOR

5-down – Not just 25% of invested capital held by one rich country : INIQUITOUS

6-down – Quartet unchanged by upsetting spell : ABBA

7-down – One of four players, not a good one, in football club : WESTHAM

13-down – Making easier page without fourth line I penned in old language inside : PALLIATING

14-down – Four-wheeler put away, held by agent still? Not so : CARBONATED

17-down – Reasons with number of Romans in specs, so to speak : MOTIVES

18-down – Husband wearing suit in domestic circles : HEARTHS

19-down – Part of format the writer used for book : MATTHEW

22-down – Needle that’s four inches in length : HAND

24-down – Observe 19’s follower : MARK

9-across – Arab will be in Italy tomorrow, dropping off daughter : OMANI

10-across – Poorly, cutting last visit as distasteful : UNWELCOME

11-across – King beginning to attack last rebels in the north : ATHELSTAN

12-across – Sound of keys rattling in prison : CLINK

13-across – Can’t find source of whisky young lady drinks : MISLAYS

15-across – In fact, two hands should be replaced by another professional : ACTUARY

17-across – Bed’s base son breaks : ROOST

18-across – Joiner featured in a Shakespeare play, though not much at the start : AND

20-across – A for Aristotle : ALPHA

22-across – Does she have half a case against heartless employer? : ACCUSER

25-across – Pagans adding verse to biblical book : VIKINGS

26-across – Growth of college power : POLYP

27-across – Go out of this world, say, in zero visibility : PEASOUPER

30-across – Gang of criminals send a city wild : SYNDICATE

31-across – Such a screwdriver very attractive? Not quite : SONIC

1-down – Sauce like this always served up : SOYA

2-down – Fast speed over endlessly polluted air in a show of swagger : MACHISMO

3-down – Face having to use an old phone? : DIAL

4-down – Chubby lad’s bottom almost all visible in cast off : PUTTOSEA

5-down – Country recipe with a so-called fish : RWANDA

6-down – Use mouse to follow movement that keeps players together : CLICKTRACK

7-down – Very funny sex with a Dolores : LOLITA

8-down – Widow may have one quick look when speaking : PEAK

13-down – Moony features of musical girl I just met : MARIA

14-down – Iodine for one upset : ANTISEPTIC

16-down – Don’t go to bed, taking in English poet : YEATS

19-down – Gone astray, I have picked up old clothes : DEVIATED

21-down – Being a sport, send quick mess­age to practise at first on golf : PINGPONG

23-down – Settlement: the last to pay : COLONY

24-down – Come back to host a second game, perhaps : REPLAY

26-down – Bunch adopting affected attitudes? : POSY

28-down – Remove section of enormous table : OUST

29-down – Stagger back to the rear as big bird comes over : ROCK