Daily Answers

9-across – Play this on 1 March badly, then 1 April : HARMONICA

10-across – Fiddle in the morning at 1 : AMATI

11-across – Question states: Should these be sung with tremolo? : QUAVERS

12-across – Last part learned in upright position : ENDWISE

13-across – European composer nearly withdraws good score, of course : EAGLE

14-across – Clan wars overwhelm Cornish resort, as Spooner has it? : BLOODFEUD

16-across – Euphemistic drama, terribly hot physical test : THESCOTTISHPLAY

19-across – Almost all soldiers in a group love performing musical : BRIGADOON

21-across – Queen takes in one orphan : ANNIE

22-across – Game played in the Dog and Fish : CURLING

23-across – Clansmen continue south, crossing road : GORDONS

24-across – Old landowner’s article defending origins of art nouveau : THANE

25-across – Hide supplier at rebuilt gorilla cages : ALLIGATOR

1-down – Examines old boat, say, getting a bit detached? : CHEQUESTUB

2-down – Instrument needs altering in different places : TRIANGLE

3-down – He wrote the Ancient Mariner : POPEYE

4-down – A wife abandons puzzle and dances : JIGS

5-down – Scots trick one of their own, holding a light : CALEDONIAN

6-down – Pompous type had one curry sent up : LAHDIDAH

7-down – Cross line leaving for take-off : SATIRE

8-down – It’s played very loudly around one eastern county : FIFE

14-down – Say catchphrase over in pub that’s used by climbers : BOTTOMGEAR

15-down – Maybe peck seed Murray ground : DRYMEASURE

17-down – Edit article about new liquorice stick : CLARINET

18-down – Rowdies touring in Spain see dirty jumpers here : LINEOUTS

20-down – Around noon, radio broadcast raid : INROAD

21-down – Charioteer drivers carrying superior gear : AURIGA

22-down – Show around back street : CATS

23-down – In which to see drivers turn left in odd places : GOLF

1-across – Middle-aged English travel writer : CHAUCER

5-across – Anything but widespread agreement : COMPACT

9-across – Not above using two foreign articles : UNDER

10-across – Bribe a cricket side — or just one fielder : SQUARELEG

11-across – Vow to re-write scene or act : CONSECRATE

12-across – News cut short : INFO

14-across – This jumper rides up : PARACHUTIST

18-across – It assists the diver to go up rather than down : SPRINGBOARD

21-across – Lean nurse : TEND

22-across – Assignment requiring a number and place : ALLOCATION

25-across – Face lift? : ELEVATION

26-across – Short pants : GASPS

27-across – Greek letter varies in slope : EPSILON

28-across – Gemstone dealer, maybe, holds a number : EMERALD

1-down – Where one may join the services : CHURCH

2-down – Study painting externally, being passionate : ARDENT

3-down – Agree to write? : CORRESPOND

4-down – Revolting individual seen in flight : RISER

5-down – A class made up of hard cases? : CRUSTACEA

6-down – Mother gets about on a horse : MARE

7-down – Cat-o’-nine-tails remarkably noiseless in the ocean : ATLANTIC

8-down – They’re not static water towers : TUGBOATS

13-down – Prison dispute heard in courtyard : QUADRANGLE

15-down – A wildcat rising? : REBELLION

16-down – Wear ties knotted oddly, so to speak : ASITWERE

17-down – A royal in Canadian capital surrounded by the crowd : PRINCESS

19-down – Feast set out around Italian capital in celebration : FIESTA

20-down – Remaining mint : UNUSED

23-down – Cat to jump off piano : OUNCE

24-down – Complain when one gets involved in law : WAIL

9-across – Overweight actor playing the villain? : HEAVY

10-across – Coins come into this field of study : ECONOMICS

11-across – Do without lost tent that’s been left behind : FORGOTTEN

12-across – Come out with me more than once to have a drink : COCOA

13-across – One or two items on the afternoon menu? : TEACAKE

15-across – Brightened up, when found not guilty : CLEARED

17-across – Splendid organ effect : SWELL

18-across – Little fellow not de­pressed, just confused : ELF

20-across – After time, ceremony becomes commonplace : TRITE

22-across – One more metamor­phosis on earth : ANOTHER

25-across – Red rose embroidered for church screen : REREDOS

26-across – Fruit goes out of fashion : DATES

27-across – Scared, possibly by bully — one given undue respect : SACREDCOW

30-across – Munitions produced by man and master : ARMAMENTS

31-across – Penal reform board : PANEL

1-down – French master responsible for courses : CHEF

2-down – Bearing the cost of transport : CARRIAGE

3-down – Learner — one from a part of Austria? : TYRO

4-down – He appreciates the exquisite tea these provide : AESTHETE

5-down – Drink, when cold, can go the wrong way : COGNAC

6-down – Records the development of Wessex town : DORCHESTER

7-down – Prince demolished part of a king crab : PINCER

8-down – Part of the Burma-Siam landmass : ASIA

13-down – She has the advantage, when climbing : TESSA

14-down – There’s a lack of variety, still : ALLTHESAME

16-down – Suit oneself : DRESS

19-down – Expect warning shout to players : FORECAST

21-down – Disenchanted, dash out upset, it’s lewd. : INDECENT

23-down – Choose one mother — the best! : OPTIMA

24-down – Mounting a revolt : RISING

26-down – Rather dull sailor put under the doctor : DRAB

28-down – Yes, about to include parking spot : ESPY

29-down – A pack animal? : WOLF

1-across – Speculators added to Harry’s recurrent worries : BUGBEARS

5-across – Odd cat in auditorium causing a stir : RUMPUS

9-across – Hazard in mine dismiss­ed by a politician : FIREDAMP

10-across – Successful footballer who’s made an impression? : SCORER

12-across – Hollande’s here — the Queen becomes less cordial : ICIER

13-across – Constant or fading corvine cry? : NEVERMORE

14-across – Service requirement to study text no one recalled : CONSCRIPTION

18-across – Trivial innocent quest arranged, time being short : INCONSEQUENT

21-across – Detached view, previously one held by theologian : DISTANCED

23-across – A Lloyd Webber’s partner for a short while : TRICE

24-across – A lack of facilities set back Glastonbury, some say : AVALON

25-across – Vulgar Latin for pump : INFLATOR

26-across – Favourite place for cruisers focussed on one subject : THEMED

27-across – Worker adopts formal attire, with star in the offing : ADJACENT

1-down – Ditch keeping away researcher : BOFFIN

2-down – Furry pet rabbit regularly feeds on getting up : GERBIL

3-down – Cover, of one colour that is, turned blue : EIDERDOWN

4-down – Criminal in crime scene harking back : REMINISCENCE

6-down – Complaint from northbound hermit lacking solitude on vacation : ULCER

7-down – Occasional inverted commas primarily seen after full stop : PERIODIC

8-down – Soldier drove without changing gear : SERGEANT

11-down – Weighed down, like singer with too many choruses? : OVERBURDENED

15-down – King Cole tucking into rice dish might enjoy this, postprandially : PANATELLA

16-down – Film blocked by agreement distributed in error : MISDEALT

17-down – A must for winter sport site — cake supply! : ICESKATE

19-down – Resistance by union blocking struggle for excellence : VIRTUE

20-down – Alter reference, holding up investigator : FERRET

22-down – Terminal work of a poet? : ANODE

1-across – To wound and wander, destitute : DOWNANDOUT

6-across – Springs soldiers quietly within : SPAS

9-across – Degas evacuated and bathed before putting big picture in bog : SWAMPLANDS

10-across – Untangle for a natural hairdo : AFRO

12-across – I hear an American poet solved the riddle of the pseudo hotel patron … : MYSTERYGUEST

15-across – … some smart aleck, no wit allegedly : KNOWITALL

17-across – Hitherto, two notes are joined : SOFAR

18-across – Tory leader on board for English flower : TRENT

19-across – Gets and holds down : DEPRESSES

20-across – You might at Halloween see Robert on top of slapper, drunk : BOBFORAPPLES

24-across – Land is endlessly sacred : ACRE

25-across – Strength of support arranged inside unopened truss : STURDINESS

26-across – Periods where Fry’s sons choose SATS, some say : DAYS

27-across – Associates fool with first workers : ASSISTANTS

1-down – Indian product of French-Italian agreement : DESI

2-down – Cover sound like a 50 cent song : WRAP

3-down – Why, say, a setter here is disturbed about a Spanish uncle — it’s enough to take one’s breath away : ASPHYXIATION

4-down – Preliminary drawing of drink from the barrel, say : DRAFT

5-down – Knocked back beer and wine, then put on a French undergarment : UNDERSLIP

7-down – Catch a train before poisonous bite : PUFFERFISH

8-down – Little pot, good for putting on : SHORTGRASS

11-down – Could George first digest bananas, before eating good Italian breakfast dish : EGGSBENEDICT

13-down – Hawk’s equipment has a double catch : SKATEBOARD

14-down – Dickens character who undertakes to be a coffin maker : SOWERBERRY

16-down – Upset, as pedants often follow cuts : ANDPASTES

21-down – Malaysian township, whence traveller returns to capital : PERAI

22-down – Frankfurter’s number one bun? Don’t start! : NEUN

23-down – The Origins of a Species popularised savage serpents : ASPS