Daily Answers

8-across – Complain inaudibly? : SOUNDOFF

9-across – Couple have nothing as a result of … : DUETO

10-across – … childish father’s art movement : DADA

11-across – Insecure favourite embraces a king : PRECARIOUS

12-across – Difficult to get on with youth leader : STICKY

14-across – Youth brewed green tea : TEENAGER

15-across – Cup-holding king gives a wave : BREAKER

17-across – Mean to confine flower that’s fibrous : STRINGY

20-across – Force speculator to have a nap : BULLDOZE

22-across – Light carriage initially badly laden : CANDLE

23-across – Court poser upset court official : PROSECUTOR

24-across – Dog food : CHOW

25-across – Political leader promises to be dutiful : PIOUS

26-across – Net value is adjusted — and that’s final! : EVENTUAL

1-down – Rattle on about honour? That’s insignificant! : NOMATTER

2-down – Old coin from an Asian nation : ANNA

3-down – Business gets millions to carry on and agree : COMPLY

4-down – Achieve second gear : EFFECTS

5-down – Nowadays German approval takes money — that’s touching! : ADJACENT

6-down – Remedy for cold found in good offices : MEDICATION

7-down – Book in bulk : VOLUME

13-down – Prince not getting up for dance : CHARLESTON

16-down – Get rid of tax without alternative : EXORCISE

18-down – See inside an Irish bay horse : GALLOWAY

19-down – Priest swallows drug — it helps in flight : FEATHER

21-down – A Parisian conceals cleavage that’s not fully developed : UNRIPE

22-down – French horn collection stays : CORSET

24-down – Mention pronounced eyesore : CITE

1-across – That quick prowl around to find cover : PATCHWORKQUILT

9-across – Ideal stage for Pinafore? : APRON

10-across – Dash of sugar? : SWEETENER

11-across – We yearn for change in 2015 : NEWYEAR

12-across – Pilot reported to be abroad : OVERSEA

13-across – White wines that go with joints? : HOCKS

15-across – Found habit less disturbing : ESTABLISH

17-across – Problem is to learn a French instrument : CONUNDRUM

20-across – Rise late, about one will be right : LIEIN

21-across – Enthusiasts may wax it : LYRICAL

23-across – Apes sobbing, maltreated : GIBBONS

25-across – Being chatty makes Kate vital : TALKATIVE

26-across – Northern region about to hold sporting events : ARENA

27-across – Agreement in writing : CORRESPONDENCE

1-down – It can be dark in bars : PLAINCHOCOLATE

2-down – Half of them brawl and hurl things! : THROW

3-down – Dependants — those that are persistent : HANGERSON

4-down – Comment on what you see? : OBSERVE

5-down – Peek, perhaps, but don’t go in : KEEPOUT

6-down – Loose relative seen topless : UNTIE

7-down – The water chute’s dry counterpart? : LANDSLIDE

8-down – Pause for inspiration? : BREATHINGSPACE

14-down – She’s used to getting low scores : CONTRALTO

16-down – Advertising account presentation to directors : BILLBOARD

18-down – King gains supporters and fights back : RALLIES

19-down – An attractive item that has nothing of interest to a motorist : MAGNETO

22-down – Seat of learning : CHAIR

24-down – Could be Indian form of canoe : OCEAN

1-across – Secretary sends out returns for game, perhaps : PASTIME

5-across – Drink in a large can initially works : ALCOPOP

9-across – Landowner’s hidey-hole for game at Land’s End : LAIRD

10-across – Split journey, taking in golf game : PARTRIDGE

11-across – Radical broadcaster is impressed by England batsman : TROTSKYIST

12-across – It’s not all child’s play going over them! : ALPS

14-across – Game Italian’s behind French driver, twisting in and out : PROSTITUTION

18-across – Potter’s art master’s boring wonky Ming shapes : GAMESMANSHIP

21-across – Crack shot ultimately remains in it : TURN

22-across – Continue wasting spare euros to binge : GOONASPREE

25-across – Main food grown here by Dorset moved over close to Poole : OYSTERBED

26-across – Oust no-frills insurers in recession? Yes : USURP

27-across – This ground includes a 9 to clear the field : HITASIX

28-across – Game rights over old English river : ROEDEER

1-down – Bucket covers hole at a game : PELOTA

2-down – Small child loves snowmobile : SKIDOO

3-down – Lacking a name, Indian accent needs saving : INDISTRESS

4-down – Hungry type at sea drinks last of rum : EMPTY

5-down – Actor is bamboozled by civil service word games : ACROSTICS

6-down – Maybe a king or a queen breaks a record : CARD

7-down – Refuse to be kept here training with racket, holding a pound : PEDALBIN

8-down – Game bloke, one wearing ridiculous pants : PHEASANT

13-down – Polish runner-up at dice game : RUBIKSCUBE

15-down – Spar commercial interrupts play on TV : SHADOWBOX

16-down – It helps 8 to get out to get hog roasted : EGGTOOTH

17-down – Glitterati check butts over : SMARTSET

19-down – Cast rug mostly over player’s back : TROUPE

20-down – Game controller’s about to take a quick look up : KEEPER

23-down – Drain out the pits : NADIR

24-down – Guy reported supporters on course : TEES

9-across – Cook departs, out! Good line and curve : LONGITUDE

10-across – Strain to hear pitiful creature : RETCH

11-across – Catholic reportedly hated getting dressed : CLOTHED

12-across – Physicist’s eccentric old relative grasps mass : FEYNMAN

13-across – Fruit peeled or pealed? : RANG

14-across – Funny Gene’s headland is uninhabited : WILDERNESS

16-across – King George enters: I, mad? A foul plot! : DIAGRAM

17-across – 3 + 20 = 23? QED! : QUANTUM

19-across – Romantic man in love, into proposal : NOMINATION

22-across – Old retired painter abandons society : AGED

24-across – Embarrassed men hate making gas : METHANE

25-across – Foolish dictator’s colourful past is erased : IDIOTIC

26-across – Monsieur’s upset in the finest French town : CREWE

27-across – Learn about day of victory in small vessel : RENALVEIN

1-down – See 17 across : ELECTRODYNAMICS

2-down – Debauched, unlimited womanising can keep you up at night : INSOMNIA

3-down – Short match : LIGHT

4-down – Bishop expresses doubt about theologian and his religion : BUDDHISM

5-down – Grumbled as muscle starts to exercise daily : BEEFED

6-down – They’re unclear signs of aging? : GREYAREAS

7-down – Snooker — it’s my break with cue tip : STYMIE

8-down – Take away illness? Nice! I’d use acupuncture, perhaps : CHINESEMEDICINE

15-down – Prunes can wrinkle with time in constant sun : TRUNCATES

17-down – Qaos regularly going round the bend: 1/2 to 1/10 ratio? : QUOTIENT

18-down – Got back the dodgy midfield? The end of Manchester United : TOGETHER

20-down – Stuff what’s up? : MATTER

21-down – In general, people possess nothing — royal speculation? : THEORY

23-down – Fellow lied about area of expertise : FIELD

1-across – Sun follows this year’s compulsive bed-hopper : SATYR

4-across – Break down without cover for Skoda vehicle? Correct! : DISABUSE

8-across – Listen, Picaroon needs treating like a caring person : INLOCOPARENTIS

10-across – Ballsier, free progressives : LIBERALS

11-across – Polish rejecting English entertainment : IMPROV

12-across – Two items of clothing for person in field : SHORTSTOP

15-across – Italian footballers spend cold months without women : INTER

17-across – Tennis champ’s trophy : ASHES

18-across – Nirvana’s rock, blaring, has kicking intro : SHANGRILA

19-across – Doctors put elementary wrapping around breaks : LETUPS

21-across – Pan what a drug supplier may do : STOCKPOT

24-across – Cheeky sort of paparazzo pursuing person tanning : WHIPPERSNAPPER

25-across – Carpeted with soft design over boring crimson : REPROVED

26-across – Member of religious sect can prove who he is : HASID

1-down – Falter with asinine witticism when drunk? : SHILLYSHALLY

2-down – Half-cut, Tony Blair’s wife hides £50 where payment is due : TOLLBOOTH

3-down – Bishop holds good service, one that flies by : RACER

4-down – Strips down and regularly does gentle exercise : DEPILATES

5-down – We’re told the coast is clear : SURE

6-down – Man, lousy bum, gin’s making insensitive : BENUMBING

7-down – More self-conscious person having a fling? : SHIER

9-down – Subdued Balls and Miliband welcoming upright head of state : OVERMASTERED

13-down – Rubbish penned by cryptic setter — it should make you think : TESTPAPER

14-down – Forced to admit routine is rehearsed : PRACTISED

16-down – Dogs consuming bit of fruit — beginning to eat, they expel gas in America : TAILPIPES

20-down – It’s said tea garden borders a US lake : TAHOE

22-down – Don’t go with change, defending Latin : CLASH

23-down – Fuel very Marxist uprising : DERV