Daily Answers

1-across – In excruciating terminal pain,you said? That’s awkward : GAUCHE

4-across – Englishmen’s ball : POMPOM

9-across – Massive heart,cryptically? : EARTHSHATTERING

10-across – In this country one permitted to get heart,liver or kidney : GIBLET

11-across – Footballers hogging the centre of attention? That’s pants! : KNICKERS

12-across – East of France consuming load of this delicacy : ESCARGOT

14-across – Keeps longing internally as they laugh : HYENAS

15-across – <span>‘Marine life law rejected by RSPC leader’ – </span><i>The Guardian</i> : WALRUS

18-across – Given a fine joke Philistine discarded : PUNISHED

21-across – Eats out after a brief rest: minute steak,fish ‘n’ chips or haute cuisine,for example : ANAPAEST

22-across – Awards for SUVs? : OSCARS

24-across – Income tax malarkey 75%? Ridiculous! : EXCLAMATIONMARK

25-across – Tennis score ends with indistinguishable seeds : SESAME

26-across – My usual heartless chaotic refuge : ASYLUM

1-down – Be inappropriate with young Indian woman : GOAMISS

2-down – Up to the point when circling crow flies off jauntily : UNTIL

3-down – Head of household turned aghast seeing this on X : HASHTAG

5-down – Wealthy East German first reality denier : OSTRICH

6-down – Soldier and poet to speak of birds : PARAKEETS

7-down – After thirty seconds,rave about goddess : MINERVA

8-down – King Edward dressed for dinner? : JACKET

13-down – An agricultural product and where it’s stashed up for the citadel : ACROPOLIS

16-down – Supported by previous partners,woman getting extensions : ANNEXES

17-down – Relative pace and quiet : STEPMUM

18-down – See 8 : POTATO

19-down – Business invested in gas supply primarily for right-wingers : NEOCONS

20-down – Eastenders pick up percussion through it : EARDRUM

23-down – Beast arrived and left : CAMEL

1-across – A merry man,one said to be cooking food : FRIARTUCK

9-across – Stress I had to avoid mishap : ACCENT

10-across – Rousing slogan,but be in tears after fight : BATTLECRY

11-across – Offspring holding beer mug? Exactly : SPOTON

12-across – Great to adhere mostly to soft drink : FANTASTIC

13-across – Fail to deal with troubled region : IGNORE

17-across – I’m surprised breakdown organisation covers horse : AHA

19-across – Ironing lessons outside school hours? : EVENING

20-across – See 19 : CLASSES

21-across – Half a US state is a source of metals : ORE

23-across – Get computer going again with another kick? : REBOOT

27-across – Exhausted oneself,but a few deliveries brought success : OVERDIDIT

28-across – Carried over island : BORNEO

29-across – Nice black sheep perhaps one I particularly detest : BETENOIRE

30-across – Shoot a ploughman : TILLER

31-across – Sailor’s shanty remixed with Mac : YACHTSMAN

2-down – Part of the army once more deposing one president : REAGAN

3-down – Shrewd as Pharaoh,the leader of Egypt : ASTUTE

4-down – The first religious believer : THEIST

5-down – Excited choirs arrive in the St Austell area : CORNISH

6-down – One unfairly blamed as the first to smear cloak with butter : SCAPEGOAT

7-down – This luxury accommodation is the tops : PENTHOUSE

8-down – Act of resistance no problem for army command : STANDEASY

14-down – Miscreant concerned with affirmation of will : REPROBATE

15-down – Safety procedure needed when digging up pavement? : KERBDRILL

16-down – Loaf,starter that may be needed for a simple meal : TINOPENER

17-down – Past making an attempt : AGO

18-down – One may win over a king : ACE

22-down – See 5 : RIVIERA

24-down – Tree covering river bottom : BREECH

25-down – Not straight,lads becoming wild animals : BISONS

26-down – Some easier rambles in the mountains : SIERRA

1-across – Dictator broken by dismissal,rub salt in wound : PUTTHE

4-across – Peer offering testament on seafood,shortly : SQUINT

9-across – Sea monster finishing off Balearic islands? : ORCA

10-across – Pressure on America if a shambles,to all appearances : PRIMAFACIE

11-across – See 1 : BOOTIN

12-across – See 22 : THEWOODS

13-across – Will claims Dick works near building site? : BRICKYARD

15-across – See 21 : RAGE

16-across – Deal stuffed,by the sound of it? : PACT

17-across – Good to see message about humanity originally attributed to monastery : WATCHABLE

21-across – Party leader has admitted tellin’ stories to lose the plot : FLYINTOA

22-across – Particular area,part of body doctor showed: foot : NECKOF

24-across – Having curbed expression,1-0 ahead of an Italian team : INTERMILAN

25-across – Bluenose Republican in scumbag : PRIG

26-across – Sun features European article in reports : RELAYS

27-across – Credit given to journalist via bank : BYLINE

1-down – Issue hurdling boat in discipline with obstacles : PARKOUR

2-down – Dead round : TOAST

3-down – Old money has Ivy League member in clover,say : HAPENNY

5-down – One not drinking alcohol,tiniest amount of Cinzano spat out by duck? : QUAKER

6-down – Very soon plague carrier brought a flame : INAMORATA

7-down – Play with leading character in turmoil,case of denial in general : TWIDDLE

8-down – Spectacular drop as champion hits the canvas,Ali’s arms held up : VICTORIAFALLS

14-down – Ridge in black rock for insect : COCHINEAL

16-down – Used up,looking at new token for beer : PILSNER

18-down – Grant that’s secured absolutely not for the French clergy : CANONRY

19-down – Beastly and brave rule on ineffective banks : LEONINE

20-down – Squat where food processor stored by operative : STUMPY

23-down – Afford to listen to island? : CAPRI

5-across – Where hopeful suitor Lee’s practised? : HOUSES

6-across – Rider revealed as demanding type gets marching orders : GODIVA

9-across – Investigator many rejected for not showing emotion : STOLID

10-across – The runs unfortunately going round,one discovers : UNEARTHS

11-across – Head of family better off to begin with : CAPO

12-across – Opposes how new stadium is to be built : WITHSTANDS

13-across – See 5 : OFILLREPUTE

18-across – Rubbish,mush! Weather’s awful outside,not hot : WASTEPAPER

21-across – Very rich man in Bow area not academic : ELON

22-across – China on the same wavelength but no-one else,it’s said : SOULMATE

23-across – Making every effort for tax cheat and boor : ALLOUT

24-across – Be amorous with sound from lower school covering : SMOOCH

25-across – What clearly is time for British to get promotion : ADVERT

1-down – Beginning of game offering respite for put-upon schoolkid : BULLYOFF

2-down – I object to Old Bill initially taking wife in field : MEADOW

3-down – Whitewashes pay for drink : COVERSUP

4-down – Follower of Romeo with attractive quality holding one boob : SIERRA

5-down – Finishing off his work : HITMAN

7-down – Suckers with a local Tory grandee : APHIDS

8-down – Crude! Is past being diverted by such elements of humour : CUSTARDPIES

14-down – One paid to attend clean form of entertainment? Maybe not : LAPDANCE

15-down – Depression? That could be Everton : THEBLUES

16-down – Well-publicised article – doctor getting into a lot of trouble : FAMOUS

17-down – Gripped by desire,occasionally touch stripper : LOCUST

19-down – National hero working in shop : TELLON

20-down – Country club for golfers admitting women : RWANDA

8-across – No beer,as Dicky is on the drink : SEABORNE

9-across – North American news,plus tip from family nurse : NANNY

10-across – Jams broadcast giving access to the underworld : STYX

11-across – <span>Old capital,</span><i>per se</i><span>? Polish virtually</span> : PERSEPOLIS

12-across – Fellow at stern is very cold : FRIGID

14-across – Negative Frenchman in hot region abroad : NORMANDY

15-across – Name involved in racial slur,like ‘brainbox’ : CRANIAL

17-across – Spotted cloth by rocks : BLOTCHY

20-across – Neglectfully late wrapping present? Fine : ETHEREAL

22-across – Line intersecting Sussex and Kent,etc. lacks power : SECANT

23-across – Put out hot vents that are concentrated on prey? : CROSSHAIRS

24-across – Wind in roof – oh no! : FOHN

25-across – Unrefined group needs to change its direction : CRASS

26-across – Rule soundly applied to trip that puts a damper on things : RAINFALL

1-down – Don’s shaking,etc,being ensnared by siren : LECTURER

2-down – One is,in a different form,unknown mountain-dweller : IBEX

3-down – Experience drug overdose,getting support : TRIPOD

4-down – Carriage direction : BEARING

5-down – Part of the whole embarrassment of ‘relating’ : INTEGRAL

6-down – Criminal in court – man’s not at all like Keats! : UNROMANTIC

7-down – Male milk producer is over a lot : MYRIAD

13-down – Biscuit from Sandy’s pile : GINGERSNAP

16-down – In a way,Brummie is attached to your old gemstone : AMETHYST

18-down – Husband with bear grip : HANDHOLD

19-down – One large cut is limiting ex-queen’s capital : ALGIERS

21-down – Number of times to see the heartless grasping filthy rich : THRICE

22-down – Finch wrong to restrain runner : SISKIN

24-down – Relief : FAFF