Daily Answers

1-across – Labyrinth here? Almost recognise one direction — help! : KNOSSOS

5-across – But this cuckoo is a songbird : BUSHTIT

9-across – See 17 : BANDA

10-across – Producer of huge shock is electric — and yet shocking! : LEICESTER

11-across – Introduced to hunts, minor tragedy at first beguiles : SWEETTALKS

12-across – Bear right entering Trump’s country : URSA

14-across – For African natives, if left imprisoned, could I be described as a funky Asian dictator? : HIPPOPOTAMI

18-across – Candid in flyer? : PLAINSPOKEN

21-across – See 10 : CITY

22-across – Beelzebub, one probably now healed? : OLDSCRATCH

25-across – Spooner’s sticky thing doubly distant — that’s not peculiar? : FUNNYHAHA

26-across – Received by monarchy, perhaps overly excited? : HYPER

27-across – Detention sounding saucy? : CUSTODY

28-across – Flies parted, I pissed : DIPTERA

1-down – Stop child wiping bottom on bunk : KIBOSH

2-down – Writer’s requirement to go through dictionary sounded beastly : OINKED

3-down – Mobile home’s part converted to accommodate an unspecified number : SMARTPHONE

4-down – Sauce primarily, furthermore : SALSA

5-down – Between back walls, stack and line up masonry : BRICKWORK

6-down – Slough hut : SHED

7-down – Old King Cole’s heart inspiring uplifting tune — class! : TUTORIAL

8-down – Quiet inland swimmer : TERRAPIN

13-down – Local store has shaved the fuzz for Spooner? : CORNERSHOP

15-down – Offer money to pen column describing tiny nipples : PAPILLARY

16-down – Particular muscle providing parts thus : SPECIFIC

17-down – Company in battle, you might say, overcoming a former African leader : HASTINGS

19-down – Basic connector : STAPLE

20-down – Mountain porter perhaps missing peak badly : SHERPA

23-down – Grass proves attractive when coming up : SWARD

24-down – Once called the universal doner, reportedly a mistake : TYPO

1-across – What’s said when one’s due to be cuddled by future partner : GETAROOM

5-across – Rubber rings held by campaigners next to motorway : CONDOM

9-across – How big top is making you upset : CAPSIZE

10-across – He checks the blue pens qualify : SPASSKY

11-across – Announced foundation course : ROUTE

12-across – Opening popular bit of summer course in Russia : INAUGURAL

13-across – IT-speak on the BBC, able to get translated : TECHNOBABBLE

17-across – Act of authorising a goal line technology, init­ially, is complex : LEGALISATION

20-across – Can early bet inform odds, when backing one to get up? : MONTBLANC

22-across – Please tell leader off : ELATE

23-across – Alternatively, ten said aid sent as I tend to fracture after separation : INSTEAD

24-across – Famous item in entrants’ pockets : EMINENT

25-across – Cryptic crossword finally found in papers taken by woman : HIDDEN

26-across – Felt constituent’s very large following when leading : ASBESTOS

1-down – It’s driven tooth upwards, colliding with craft : GOCART

2-down – Pushy parent ultimately spreading disease : TYPHUS

3-down – Object forcefully as her allies crumbled : RAISEHELL

4-down – Joined item in bedroom — it won’t happen again! : ONENIGHTSTAND

6-down – Swinger didn’t get called : ORANG

7-down – Writer comes after top journo over detail : DESCRIBE

8-down – Yes, a film about insects : MAYFLIES

10-down – These in stock? Sees at ground : SEASONTICKETS

14-down – Pay for return of issue once : ATONETIME

15-down – Prize bull’s a bit big : PLUMPISH

16-down – Worried about gonads, ie balls : AGONISED

18-down – Bring up secretary’s cleavage : PARENT

19-down – Some privates switched positions : TESTES

21-down – Note resounding upturns when there’s no resistance : BREVE

4-across – Hat left in shady spot : BOWLER

6-across – Man used badly by Norse explorer : AMUNDSEN

9-across – Accessory for many an artist attracts tax : CRAVAT

10-across – Desperately want to keep grannie’s promise : COVENANT

11-across – Check mail in print? That’s capital! : BLOCKLETTER

15-across – Hopes to keep husband in forces : THRUSTS

17-across – Biscuit old actor gives Hazel : NUTTREE

18-across – Blossom makes church official initially feel let down : ELDERFLOWER

22-across – Girl gets merchandise inadvertently : UNAWARES

23-across – I get so agitated no one should ignore me : EGOIST

24-across – Isn’t poet poorly? Hurry! : STEPONIT

25-across – Groups of workmen embracing oriental sacred flower : GANGES

1-down – Comment on old currency : REMARK

2-down – Trafficker retains a French solicitor : IMPORTUNER

3-down – Six-footer entertains soldier surreptitiously : INSECRET

4-down – Disparage defender’s incisiveness : BACKBITE

5-down – Arms becoming tired carrying piano leg : WEAPONRY

7-down – Lead is found in Costa Rica : STAR

8-down – Heads out to lunch : NUTS

12-down – I see today’s problem! Take your time! : EASYDOESIT

13-down – Poet admitting to holding up branch : BROWNING

14-down – Rubbish put out? It rusted : DETRITUS

16-down – Girl to betray furniture designer : SHERATON

19-down – Record and preserve an impasse : LOGJAM

20-down – Comfortable about weaponry : GUNS

21-down – Mark gets superb staff : MACE

9-across – Vehicle manoeuvre — real comedy act? : RIGHTTURN

10-across – Seaside entertainer’s sock : PUNCH

11-across – Indulge yourself: say pointed part backwards : BINGE

12-across – Measuring out letter Y takes one : TELEMETRY

13-across – Use sprinkler on second pitch? : SPATTER

14-across – It’s rotten over in Mood County : SUFFOLK

17-across – Meet with elected scoundrel : INCUR

19-across – Tree bark of sorts : BAY

20-across – Glass utility houses slow section : LASSU

21-across – Refined spy boss spelled out expired : EMENDED

22-across – Foot, whose bait drifts downstream : TROTTER

24-across – Unplanned number one, Love Right Girl : HITORMISS

26-across – Predatory bird’s form of relaxation : HOBBY

28-across – Part of crossword unfinished and afternoon’s over? Clot! : CLUMP

29-across – Sally goes to pieces in film outfit : EQUIPMENT

1-down – Rail, one ascending mount : ARAB

2-down – The business connecting one with low-down US lawyer : AGENDA

3-down – Setter’s cryptic clue opening rose to show acceptability with the young : STREETCRED

4-down – Watch Diana? : HUNTER

5-down – Fish return I agree for island : ANGLESEY

6-down – Is a cartographer up for contents of tin? : SPAM

7-down – Oily uranium counts varied round university : UNCTUOUS

8-down – Crafty greeting applies Henry of York sources : AHOY

13-down – County person having a fling, noisily : SHIRE

15-down – So optimistic there’s no room for the other two virtues? : FULLOFHOPE

16-down – Two kings about to tear around a wood ball : KNURR

18-down – Box fan is brown : CHESTNUT

19-down – Plot mark on new sheets etc : BEDLINEN

22-down – For use when sneeze almost audible? : TISSUE

23-down – Violin’s soundboard temperature, which responds to touch : TABLET

24-down – Modest structure has no opening for writer : HACK

25-down – Hitch film : ROPE

27-down – Hairy creature still to secure independence : YETI

9-across – A child-killer commonly rejected love : ADORE

10-across – Worry about work in America and Spain being complicated : ELABORATE

11-across – Did without underclothing at home — that’s supposedly logical : LEFTBRAIN

12-across – Order the Chambers app? : EDICT

13-across – Dressmaker Tom dies in agony : MODISTE

15-across – Flyer’s overalls not very messy : ROSELLA

17-across – Area that’s wet and hot on planet : MARSH

18-across – Impudence, sacking good-for-nothing? On the contrary : ALL

20-across – Hello — a toy : DOLLY

22-across – A doctor grew up to be saint : AMBROSE

25-across – Erected missile site north in Europe, you say : UPSILON

26-across – Consultant drops notice in a flap : VISOR

27-across – To open self up, keep observing : BEHOLDING

30-across – I, say, come for vacation, say : PRONOUNCE

31-across – Smallholding in credit regularly : CROFT

1-down – Intelligent computer left in dining room : HALL

2-down – One passing on secret award I’d received : CONFIDER

3-down – Reverberate, for example, but not much : VERB

4-down – Out of uniform, mark down artist for head of state : DEVALERA

5-down – Gather foreign station is accepting new recruits from the front : GARNER

6-down – Sedate type is troubled with bedsores : SOBERSIDES

7-down – Book up a little table in a diner : DANIEL

8-down – Defeat good enemy? : BEST

13-down – Parent’s second novel not opened : MOMMA

14-down – North African ladies, hard up, follow such regulars into place of learning : SCHOOLROOM

16-down – A line authentic Nazis put first : ARYAN

19-down – Howl perhaps that’s horrible subsequently suppressed : LAUGHTER

21-down – Bounce clumsily along holding a coin for sweet : LOLLIPOP

23-down – Man’s encore: to go on one leg : BISHOP

24-down – The tide may be heading away from part of duck’s foot : EBBING

26-down – Very intelligent creature to avoid cigarettes? : VAPE

28-down – Use tongue for a short musical phrase : LICK

29-down – So useful a person wasn’t paid anything? : GOTO