Daily Answers

7-across – £50 charges to procure exclusive dress for occasion : BALLGOWN

9-across – Setters like Hollywood productions : ASPICS

10-across – Stone axes with no backs : ONYX

11-across – A blow within faction, journalist getting shot : CATAPULTED

12-across – In retro pubs it’s a popular liqueur : PASTIS

14-across – Slip away when queen enters, overcome : VANQUISH

15-across – Pointed window essential in theatre : LANCET

17-across – Strangeness of headless corpse Inspector West finally cracks : ODDITY

20-across – Women’s group storing free skater’s sports gear : WATERSKI

22-across – Jumper of sorts sprinted, covering a good length : RAGLAN

23-across – Disheartened envoy for one misses visual aids : EYEGLASSES

24-across – Outcome of evacuating 50% of underground jail cells? : DUNG

25-across – Indigenous American’s uncle? : PAWNEE

26-across – Those traversing south-west state both uncovered prospects : HORIZONS

1-down – Top-grade partners cutting post one intended to fill on board : MAINSAIL

2-down – Ongoing mutation of viral infection a bad sign? : FLUX

3-down – Those in service favouring church society : FORCES

4-down – Hotel annex in which spectre finally materialised : HAPPENED

5-down – Commending a grand pupil, working right away : APPLAUDING

6-down – Retrieve cards, doubling black suits : ACCESS

8-down – Local agent’s ultimate green housing : NATIVE

13-down – Doctor Ken with antigen for Thomas? : TANKENGINE

16-down – Harry Andersen caught : ENSNARED

18-down – Strong fancy netting required after close of play : YEARNING

19-down – Pretentious school clothing’s in the van : KITSCH

21-down – A New York Yankee clinging to Washington come what may : ANYWAY

22-down – Men stopping to relax here? : RESORT

24-down – Shock announcement of Times : DAZE

1-across – When news is on usually officer listens : ATTENDS

5-across – Check scenery support : SETBACK

10-across – Leave Egypt’s borders around eleven : EXIT

11-across – Xmas missive inspiring old western playwright : NOELCOWARD

12-across – Juliet swung round topless, getting derided : JEERED

13-across – Woman smuggled documents inside for playwright : SHERIDAN

14-across – Fancy Dorothy scoffing beef as standard practice! : ORTHODOXY

16-across – Stainer’s notes held by male alto : HENNA

17-across – Book range in the end but not completely : ATLAS

19-across – Computer’s the way to capture Joe’s tricky display : MAGICSHOW

23-across – After spring, darkness reduced, just about : WELLNIGH

24-across – Tidy jasmine at entrance, clipping what’s choking it : NEATEN

26-across – Cast hated snags, the ones behind the scenes : STAGEHANDS

27-across – Squad leaves at start of Macbeth : TEAM

28-across – One examines canines first after depression : DENTIST

29-across – Stuck in woods, Romeo can’t help giggling : CORPSES

2-down – Demand Yankee auditor’s time of reckoning? : TAXYEAR

3-down – Record trouble with canal — it is vanishing : ENTER

4-down – Stripped duke finished hiding uniform : DENUDED

6-down – Abstain from drug that is cut : ESCHEW

7-down – Bachelor eats with son running round? Such vulgarity! : BAWDINESS

8-down – Almost cut short new hanging : CURTAIN

9-down – Engineer examined such a dramatic device : DEUSEXMACHINA

15-down – One in the pits wears this halo? : HEADLIGHT

18-down – The Stage article about enthralling atmosphere : THEATRE

20-down – Individual is firm about dramatist : IONESCO

21-down – Note Norma perhaps fronting work in 18 : OPERATE

22-down – Hose this GT after it’s overhauled : TIGHTS

25-down – Behave badly in a time-consuming contest : ACTUP

8-across – Loose coins ruin her plans : SHRAPNEL

9-across – 3 vehicle clamped in Kensington Gardens : TONGA

10-across – Perhaps Washington Post journalist took drugs : USED

11-across – Current head of school quits physics, say, about little cash at the beginning : INCIPIENCE

12-across – Trotsky buys pint with old money : LEPTON

14-across – Taste a delicate starter of pâté beforehand : APPETITE

16-across – Scoundrel breaks into song in rural paradise : ARCADIA

18-across – Criminal prepared to kidnap queen : CROOKED

21-across – One running out of clothes? : STREAKER

23-across – During two days US player once ran : DASHED

24-across – Provide excessively favourable conditions down under? : FEATHERBED

26-across – Fellow leaves capital £1,000 pine : LONG

27-across – Choppers — helicopters transport emergency equipment to retiring leaders : TEETH

28-across – Dig out old wine — terrible! It lacks body : EXCAVATE

1-down – Hunter with dreadful curse has to be kept inside : CHASSEUR

2-down – Tough little pieces skinned : HARD

3-down – Keeling over, said to be legless in pub or restaurant : INDIAN

4-down – Very slow girl eats up single calorie : GLACIAL

5-down – How to go from capitals of Spain, Russia, Qatar and Peru. : STOP

6-down – Ideas at home on cooking venison with a bit of thyme : INVENTIONS

7-down – Master race’s talisman : MASCOT

13-down – Dire Straits event has no new time for parodies : TRAVESTIES

15-down – Even Dad’s starting to recede : PAR

17-down – Perhaps 3 in 1,000? : INK

19-down – God wants daughter to protect bird forever : ETERNITY

20-down – Difficulty for retiring opera singer to sack alto : PROBLEM

22-down – Doctor close to pay agreement : TREATY

23-down – Work out 2 ÷ 500 : DEDUCE

25-down – Multiple choice includes repetition : ECHO

26-down – Desire to solve cryptic without thesaurus – finally! : LOVE

1-across – Dad on bass held back music of his youth? : BRITPOP

5-across – Wild flower trail expanded : DOGROSE

9-across – Auditor’s assessment for variety show : REVUE

10-across – Provides commentary for girl leading seaman round gallery : ANNOTATES

11-across – Select a particular song and walk out : TAKETHEAIR

12-across – Swallow or martin consuming other birds’ food? : WORM

14-across – Artwork could make attendant blush, were I to go in : WATERCOLOUR

18-across – Combatant repressing rage left bar, starting ignition : FIRELIGHTER

21-across – Husband roped in to sample traditionally female craft : SHIP

22-across – Tracked down and slaughtered another rat : RANTOEARTH

25-across – Old team showing its age, getting rusty? : OXIDATING

26-across – Little doggies carrying master’s shoes : PUMPS

27-across – Screwed up large stopper to protect drum : EARPLUG

28-across – Flipping annoyed on backing corrupt fighters in ring : TOREROS

1-down – Blast fellow switching sides during contest : BERATE

2-down – Call on president, assuming envoy’s content : INVOKE

3-down – Attractive means of getting a drink, more or less : PRETTYWELL

4-down – Official home for bishop wanting a post : PLACE

5-down – Old three-halfpenny comic incomplete, one part damaged : DANDIPRAT

6-down – One way of getting out as match proceeds : GATE

7-down – Established novelist links up on air : ORTHODOX

8-down – One outcome of simple test for sucker? : EASYMARK

13-down – Troops look cross mounting guard at entrance : DOORKEEPER

15-down – Against harsh assessment of some bedding : TOGRATING

16-down – Not keen on horse trained overseas : OFFSHORE

17-down – Blustery at first with more showers, becoming brighter : BRAINIER

19-down – Shock in city rising after treasurer cleared out : TREMOR

20-down – Asian primate rushes all over the place : RHESUS

23-down – Penny-pinching firm : TIGHT

24-down – Good time for delivery? : BALL

9-across – In effect, leads from Tristan and Isolde very emotional after a Wagner piece? : OPERATIVE

10-across – Mock exam occasionally set that’s tricky : TEASE

11-across – Back to university following common cold : PARKY

12-across – Shows testicles at the front: small trunks : TEACHESTS

13-across – Exercise to become hard when tender at one time : PESETAS

14-across – Race around motorway? This might catch it : DASHCAM

17-across – About to tackle husband wearing the eau de Cologne? : RHINE

19-across – Bits in random access for computer : MAC

20-across – Drugs running in both directions cross county : ESSEX

21-across – English public school’s opening grounds : ESTATES

22-across – Mostly shout loudly to get hotel page? This one? : BELLHOP

24-across – Cleared out jumble sale held by strange number from church : JERUSALEM

26-across – I do start to see figures : ICONS

28-across – Conservative with shock lead : CHAIR

29-across – Ignore ads: terribly pompous : GRANDIOSE

1-down – Washer might go through this hole in drain : SOAP

2-down – Tries to take in tailor’s top suit : HEARTS

3-down – Relaxed cryptic setter in a state of financial security? : EASYSTREET

4-down – Runs down slope: is step ungainly? : PISTES

5-down – That woman at supermarket has Covid; initially family shields like this : HERALDIC

6-down – Chase hard with the rest in front : ETCH

7-down – Republican one fires rifles : RANSACKS

8-down – Studies points following detective’s case : DENS

13-down – Prince, idiot to break down : PARSE

15-down – Time to dump date: kiss at the back for thrills : SPELLBINDS

16-down – Military Intelligence wrong over mistake : MIXUP

18-down – Break hip: travel for replacement : INTERVAL

19-down – Put out a smiling shot : MISALIGN

22-down – Tramp having appropriate hippy place to put money? : BUMBAG

23-down – Curse as Home Office loves to host party? : HOODOO

24-down – Sailor’s flag at sea : JACK

25-down – Wrap samosa: rice stuffing : SARI

27-down – Great, no parking! One will charge : SUER