Daily Answers

8-across – What Jacob was? Leader of House — stuffy with it : HAIRLESS

9-across – Sadly, I’m doubter about one court making a passing comment : OBITER

10-across – Don’t visit state flooded by river— awash with wood destroyed : STAY

11-across – Reading material with digital access : THUMBINDEX

12-across – See 22 down : GIBSON

14-across – Attempts to cross French sea, being back in boats : TRIREMES

15-across – End of road — politician in criminal case bunks off : DECAMPS

17-across – We turned up to be enthralled by dog showing charm : BEWITCH

20-across – All mice out to eat a shrub : CAMELLIA

22-across – Some pang in animals? Certainly in humans! : ANGINA

23-across – Troublemaker on broadcast intended being heartless, creating harm : IMPAIRMENT

24-across – See 2 : AREA

25-across – See 9 : DICTUM

26-across – Crack from cleric, idiot in church : CREVASSE

1-down – Part of Manhattan is sedate surprisingly : EASTSIDE

2-down – Difficult situation in Stoke Poges churchyard, reportedly? : GREY

3-down – Not a sort of dreamy movement set up in Oxford college : MERTON

4-down – PM to resign? Has to go about it tortuously : ASQUITH

5-down – Rest in sweet place with ruined houses? : BOMBSITE

6-down – Looking to keep home that houses nothing innovative : PIONEERING

7-down – Worship has some here very uplifted : REVERE

13-down – Repairs past being done when one is lacking ___ ? : SPAREPARTS

16-down – Travellers gloomy, drinking beer? Quite the opposite : PILGRIMS

18-down – Upper-class lady against benefit being raised : CONTESSA

19-down – Criminal receiver getting hold of excellent ceramic ware : FAIENCE

21-down – Depression associated with member facing endless shame : ARMPIT

22-down – A hostile bang smashed by champion tennis player : ALTHEA

24-down – See 10 : AWAY

9-across – Giving Gone Girl new review in his extended period at the top : LONGREIGN

10-across – I hear you on the radio : ROGER

11-across – In navy after misfortune blossomed : BLOWN

12-across – Do cursory alteration to trousers : CORDUROYS

13-across – He, as a qualified judge, about to discharge European detained : REFEREE

14-across – Rosemary, who sings soprano with broadcast choral groups : SQUIRES

17-across – Devotee starts off filling in easy 9 down : FIEND

19-across – What enables one to pinpoint place for doctors : GPS

20-across – In days before, this was him : DANTE

21-across – Keep an eye on certain short curtain : SURVEIL

22-across – Joined by crazy admirer : MARRIED

24-across – Refund so, if his work not this amusing? : FULLOFFUN

26-across – Unfortunately, a gap his retirement left? : ALACK

28-across – He tricked his way into this 1 : MAGIC

29-across – Wearing this one looks like nothing on earth : SPACESUIT

1-down – See 19, 22 : CLUB

2-down – Reserving energy, switch positions with unique individual : ONEOFF

3-down – His home game covered by press : IRONBRIDGE

4-down – See 28 : CIRCLE

5-down – Puzzle set, turns and hands it over : ENTRUSTS

6-down – Contributor to our duplicitous language : URDU

7-down – Plenty of success in the past, moving round : AGOODRUN

8-down – Raise tender for statue : EROS

13-down – He was a so-called king : RUFUS

15-down – Being in drink here admitted him to the 19 1 : UNDERWATER

16-down – Endlessly regular, in his place : STEAD

18-down – To block noise, sheriff covering those with these? : EARPLUGS

19-down – Successful ditchers preparing big cold flush : GOLDFISH

22-down – Possible association of his fans, all Tories? : MONDAY

23-down – He was a high-flyer who crashed : ICARUS

24-down – Setting not right for celebrity : FAME

25-down – Clue originally featured in 1 — and never again? : ONCE

27-down – Girl, one on thin ice away from the sides : KATE

1-across – Advisor who’s not welcome to dine in rugby players’ club : BACKSEATDRIVER

8-across – Corrupt leaders in thrash arranged inside Number Ten : TAINT

9-across – Official to an extent securing home cover again : REFINISH

11-across – Artist drawing horse behind farm animal : HOGARTH

12-across – He investigates passing round pickle sandwiches : CORONER

13-across – What must be cracked on vehicle : REBUS

15-across – Expert insight for furnishing : PROVISION

17-across – Husband has problems stifling camp inclinations : HILLSIDES

20-across – Business chief pockets £50 in big fiddle? : CELLO

21-across – It stores crude ancient booze tucked into by setter : OILDRUM

23-across – Sign of virtue from samurai, periodically welcoming new role : AUREOLA

25-across – Chucking away soggy food, about to stuff face : DISPOSAL

26-across – Tea drunk by queen in Royal Gala, say : EATER

27-across – Positions men take up in Waterloo and Austerlitz? : BATTLESTATIONS

1-down – Gutless emperor trembled after very macho glance : BUTCHERSHOOK

2-down – Stick characters in erotic lingerie : CLING

3-down – Takes off part of the weekend, given flowers : SATIRISES

4-down – What pretentious people put on, hot in transport : AIRSHIP

5-down – Ate up most of ham, in reality : DEFACTO

6-down – Bull’s neighbour has meal first off : INNER

7-down – A must see: Stalin getting overthrown : ESSENTIAL

10-down – Old browser? A bot runs ours loosely : BRONTOSAURUS

14-down – British recalling space traveller’s instrument : BALALAIKA

16-down – Getting cross, perhaps, in my play area before time : INCORRECT

18-down – Land’s ground seemed to contain nitrogen : DEMESNE

19-down – Bulb, one often lit up around foyer : SHALLOT

22-down – Plant once again lush, climbing : REPOT

24-down – Boutros Boutros-Ghali’s repeated conclusion : OUTRO

9-across – Party allowed by Yard? That’s chicanery! : DUPLICITY

10-across – One banished from historic mansion leaving quietly? : EXILE

11-across – Love, I talk a lot about big beasts : NILGAIS

12-across – Fighting security measure, he may leave you spellbound : WARLOCK

13-across – Fire individual that’s not succeeded : INGLE

14-across – Drinkers’ song from master during boozy birthday : DITHYRAMB

16-across – ‘All in at election after touring’, as country’s leader once reputedly said : ICANNOTTELLALIE

19-across – Way to get entitlements? One claimed they’re not bent : STRAIGHTS

21-across – Rank of those originally involved in investigation : CASTE

22-across – Why I’m surprised to get backing : WHATFOR

23-across – Bloke largely innocent, on reflection, but keeping the truth hidden : COVERUP

24-across – One successful outcome of trade negotiations — perfect! : IDEAL

25-across – Great man, as Boris really is first! : ALEXANDER

1-down – Is definite about names : IDENTIFIES

2-down – In a diary recalled work meeting one afternoon — this justifies conduct? : APOLOGIA

3-down – Talk about current lawbreaker at sea : PIRATE

4-down – Height of failure? Lie! : MISS

5-down – Yes, seen rarely to possess intelligence — I can vouch for it : EYEWITNESS

6-down – Have confidence over investig­ator : BETRAYAL

7-down – Starts to prevaricate over man in trouble — flipping fatty lump : LIPOMA

8-down – See 4 : PEAK

14-down – In truth, acted deplorably — it means others shouldn’t have to pay the price for you : DUTCHTREAT

15-down – Sweetheart, continue having drinks outside! We look after the workers : BEEKEEPERS

17-down – Digital appliance fine : NAILFILE

18-down – Inspector overshadowed in case : LESTRADE

20-down – Brought up rule with listeners : REARED

21-down – Whip’s greeting included warning : CAVEAT

22-down – Old opponent of Tories now highly content? : WHIG

23-down – Being worthy of respect? Conservative’s looking embarrassed : CRED

8-across – Mrs Jellyby, for one, should improve, speaking ungrammatically : DOGOODER

9-across – Fast direction out of city : PRESTO

10-across – Made a sharp noise, talking in a trance : RAPT

11-across – Cut being painful, get on computer to cancel golf : TENDERLOIN

12-across – Superfluous measure, so I took some back : OTIOSE

14-across – Fill with enthusiasm to revolut­ionise green lives on Earth : ENERGISE

15-across – Club swam the Serpentine : WESTHAM

17-across – Tenor joins singing group during quiet day off : SABBATH

20-across – Appalling racism — it can be very wounding : SCIMITAR

22-across – Glimpse a drum kit, half missing : APERCU

23-across – Agent finally disowns politicians, a spooky set : SPYSTORIES

24-across – Sellers say ‘Don’t stop’ : GOON

25-across – Drinking too much, bishop goes off dribbling : OOZING

26-across – Extremely selfish, muscular Atlas did : SHRUGGED

1-down – I look up one article on another fairy tale : IOLANTHE

2-down – Time to joke, entering into extra financial burden? : MORT

3-down – A little poem for Proust’s girl? : ODETTE

4-down – Noble rank open to knight: earl : GRANDEE

5-down – Strangely, a peer and me touring Hungary may fly together : EPHEMERA

6-down – One lawyer in casual dress beneath consideration : NEGLIGIBLE

7-down – Looks for audience: they fit in well : STAIRS

13-down – Confident visionary said alternative’s not on at first : OPTIMISTIC

16-down – Granted that a large idea may fall short : ALTHOUGH

18-down – Be inactive, as old vein’s opening in heart : TICKOVER

19-down – Goat is ready to start getting drunk, a debauchee : ORGIAST

21-down – Kidnapper’s instruction to make a turn in vehicle : CAPTOR

22-down – Ridiculous way muscles bend at the top : ABSURD

24-down – See 2 : GAGE