Daily Answers

1-across – Force charged with protecting bird’s favourite perch : SPECIALBRANCH

10-across – Walkway twisting across road in inelegant fashion : AWKWARDLY

11-across – A dog takes a turn round small wood : BALSA

12-across – Follow it out of the bathroom? : ENSUE

13-across – Very bad manager runs to get fit : EXECRABLE

14-across – Our neighbour’s quiet,not loud,frolics : PRANCES

16-across – Random mixture from artist taken by partner to Wells : FARRAGO

18-across – Barrier’s a source of annoyance? : OFFENCE

20-across – A book to do crosswords,free : ABSOLVE

21-across – Preferring food additive left out : FAVOURING

23-across – Some Americans are jerks : YANKS

24-across – In group of musicians nobody is on time : NONET

25-across – Maker of figures perhaps carrying out trick with ease : ICESKATER

26-across – Making aggressive threats sent Gibraltar wild : SABRERATTLING

2-down – Fish with rod – it’s comparatively plain : PIKESTAFF

3-down – Desperately want to be less than wholly cowardly : CRAVE

4-down – Speak to a daughter over clothes : ADDRESS

5-down – Herb damaged by a flea : BAYLEAF

6-down – Yellowish fat said to be ingredient of perfume : AMBERGRIS

7-down – Is one’s fame brief? : CELEB

8-down – Perhaps polyurethane demonstration interrupting work in garden : WATERPROOFING

9-down – Forced to check size of such clothes? : MADETOMEASURE

15-down – For example,copper’s behaviour regularly poor : CONDUCTOR

17-down – From Northern town,heading off for cemetery : ARLINGTON

19-down – With instruction I improve a little more if I decide to turn up : EDIFIER

20-down – A nutmeg prepared to grow larger : AUGMENT

22-down – Plant initially valued by old Peruvian : VINCA

23-down – Burden borne by large countryman : YOKEL

1-across – Smart dish in toast that’s cut : SAPIENT

5-across – Girl with plait,going right and left,plaited – this? : PIGTAIL

9-across – Bullies easy to defeat,we hear,in British sporting event : COWES

10-across – Great player in contest hosted by city of the Balkans : MOVIESTAR

11-across – As infant’s movement odorous initially,full nappies emptied,or a potty : ONALLFOURS

12-across – See 9 : WEEK

14-across – See 17 Down : NIGHTINGALE

18-across – Rousing stuff,I left amid applause at the end of the evening? : SALVOLATILE

21-across – Motion passed in middle of 24-hour period? : TURD

22-across – Feller taking lift on saddle : LUMBERJACK

25-across – Find a bridge beside stream : RUNACROSS

26-across – Leader in terrifying prat : TRUMP

27-across – Get rid of tips in cafe when tips collected : CLEANSE

28-across – Support reverend,or several nurses : ENDORSE

1-down – Little time upon hill in region : SECTOR

2-down – Two-foot fruit? : PAWPAW

3-down – Fantastic tales concerned with river in South African city : EASTLONDON

4-down – Speed with which workforce set up? : TEMPO

5-down – Italian singer hearing one note in three,famously? : PAVAROTTI

6-down – Rose garden we regularly cleared away : GREW

7-down – Ordering a beer – and being judged? : ATTHEBAR

8-down – Bird with a long extendable neck? Or tucked in : LORIKEET

13-down – Complete gent I suspect highly thought-of : INTEGRATED

15-down – Gritty,I’ve beaten you,nanna! : GRANULOSE

16-down – Puzzling score,tie fixed? : ESOTERIC

17-down – Tender scene where the Ponte Vecchio would take a battering after dark? : FLORENCE

19-down – Might this car’s engine be purring? : JAGUAR

20-down – Funny jokes about capital in particular – one of those? : SKOPJE

23-down – Hammer beats tack : BASTE

24-down – Sign you can’t trust Paul! : ICON

1-across – Shag pile’s end braids damaged? : SEABIRD

5-across – Second middling mark given to female : SCHERZO

9-across – Idolatrous virtuoso player,not popular one : PAGAN

10-across – Dinner date might be so,if electricity’s lacking? : CANDLELIT

11-across – Star,eyes rolling,appearing in blockbuster early Chaplin film : EASYSTREET

12-across – ‘Mate’ works both ways : OPPO

14-across – Doctor says ‘three cracks to reveal guard’s question’ : WHOGOESTHERE

18-across – Assembly overseers,such as Sheraton and Chippendale : CHAIRPERSONS

21-across – Bite lip : EDGE

22-across – Spike needs gravy for pot : STAKEMONEY

25-across – Trouble breaking into run – end circling plain : UNADORNED

26-across – Clubs with oriental rooms? : SUITE

27-across – Lands: Maine,Ohio,Florida etc? : ESTATES

28-across – Star depressed when night-time approaches : SUNDOWN

1-down – Drinker’s snack? : SUPPER

2-down – Dignified gold rush : AUGUST

3-down – Very high region spreading poison at present : IONOSPHERE

4-down – Staff around the church rejected ornamentation : DECOR

5-down – Possibly unable to feel stupid? : SENSELESS

6-down – See 24 : HILL

7-down – Fell back on showing electronic circuits in colour : RELAPSED

8-down – Tailor of tuxedo defeated by craft : OUTFOXED

13-down – Maybe Jagger and mother’s performing ‘Carver’? : STONEMASON

15-down – Regards pathetic steering group leader : GREETINGS

16-down – Bloke had to crack cryptic clues list : SCHEDULE

17-down – Talk big: ‘Jupiter’,say : GASGIANT

19-down – ‘Blue’,as one might say on venturing inside without date : INDIGO

20-down – Wife put on very kinky negligée top – fantastic beast! : WYVERN

23-down – Prestige gained by awkward type with nation’s backing : KUDOS

24-down – Western cemetery stall in a bad way : BOOT

1-across – Butchers abuse flamingos,but few can be named : FAMOUSBELGIANS

8-across – Wastrel diligently keeps himself laid back : IDLER

9-across – Wine stored in cosy home is most unpleasant : NASTIEST

11-across – Excuse a second rate crack : ABSOLVE

12-across – Strategy to eliminate quiet Asian music : GAMELAN

13-across – Leave half of cafe deli to military student : CADET

15-across – Take time to decide about repositioning stone pile : SLEEPONIT

17-across – Announced soft drink with a big fuss : MELODRAMA

20-across – Idiot taking on personal problem for singer … : BASSO

21-across – … will do a broadcast although unwell : LAIDLOW

23-across – Force to make journey home : DRIVEIN

25-across – Lackey might turn around to find where to keep shirt : HANGERON

26-across – It’s not suitable to reveal top tip in it : INAPT

27-across – Hear of pair of soccer teams facing insurmountable problem : CATCHTWENTYTWO

1-down – Awkward topic FA claim is one already settled : FAITACCOMPLI

2-down – Exploits of male types … : MILKS

3-down – … not reported on as it’s irrelevant : UNRELATED

4-down – Are they mad when they’re doing it? : BONKERS

5-down – Food drop placed in passage : LASAGNE

6-down – As part of bid I omitted specific language : IDIOM

7-down – Desperate singletons abandon love to get young chicks : NESTLINGS

10-down – Marching orders that test speakers : ONETWOONETWO

14-down – Artist has a hit with a religious figure : DALAILAMA

16-down – Bar legal protection for special marketing consultant : PUBLICIST

18-down – Wild rats surround pair – it’s as bad as it gets : ATWORST

19-down – Impression beer has,having some bite : ALDENTE

22-down – Reason legal officer gives innocent client tips : LOGIC

24-down – Cut up over court demand : EXACT

7-across – Way traitor changed game plan : STRATAGEM

8-across – Mother on returning finds traveller : NOMAD

9-across – Guide died next to one clergyman’s residence : DIRECTORY

10-across – Strong husband overwhelmed by shame : PITHY

12-across – Live warning in advance : BEFORE

13-across – Engineered and hence improved : ENHANCED

14-across – Hid strays regularly in hut : STASHED

17-across – Small heart label with glue on : STICKER

20-across – Pair hire out piece of jewellery : BRACELET

22-across – 50% off rich Eastern European stew regularly and other food stuff : CHEESE

24-across – True resident having change of heart : LOYAL

25-across – Thought five lost out in misguided investment : SENTIMENT

26-across – Small land mass is left by alien : ISLET

27-across – Priest having final,final bit of white wine getting drunk : PLASTERED

1-down – Conflict from saint abounding : STRIFE

2-down – Very hungry bird over America : RAVENOUS

3-down – Throw the French into bastille? : CASTLE

4-down – Try net that’s offered up for comfort : HEARTEN

5-down – Signal satellite to accept note : MOTION

6-down – Money pool for fabric : CASHMERE

11-down – Bird caught cap : CHAT

15-down – Ties root around animal : TORTOISE

16-down – Touches headless fish : EELS

18-down – Macerate disgusting meal : CREAMTEA

19-down – Play game : OTHELLO

21-down – Nationalist following conservative party is afraid : CRAVEN

22-down – Before exam copper is most astute : CUTEST

23-down – Depressed star gaining understanding : SUNKEN