1-across – Build up a sound team of workers : ACCRUE

5-across – Bag studio communication system : TALKBACK

9-across – Heath cut by unemployed comic writer : ERICIDLE

10-across – Restrain brother as above? : BRIDLE

11-across – They show the way trees changed, though at first a slight change : STREETLIGHTS

13-across – Look at more than a hundred places : LOCI

14-across – Idealists, poor dears, getting me right in : DREAMERS

17-across – Analysis of metrical patterns locates containers in Israel : SCANSION

18-across – One mobile holds ten beasts : OXEN

20-across – Balances, they say, and averages resources : WAYSANDMEANS

23-across – Having former PM in charge is like paradise : EDENIC

24-across – Leave without real satisfaction : REQUITAL

25-across – Hold gems ordered for metallic fabric : GOLDMESH

26-across – Force us to leave Guernsey in confusion : ENERGY

2-down – Bill leaves 1, uncertain of successful treatment : CURE

3-down – Slump in the intermission, with no one rising : RECESSION

4-down – Weather to continue? : ENDURE

5-down – The strain of church union : THEWEDDINGMARCH

6-down – Research centre has model cloned finally and tagged : LABELLED

7-down – Begin differently, in essence : BEING

8-down – Sudden, painful withdrawal from unfriendly country : COLDTURKEY

12-down – Risky, like tip-and-run : TOUCHANDGO

15-down – Spirit abroad at night? : MOONSHINE

16-down – Top student is in a small boat : PINNACLE

19-down – Noise heard from sailing ship : BARQUE

21-down – Fellows coming up in a year for the church council? : SYNOD

22-down – Report to outlaw force : BANG

8-across – Joint left in clean type of injury : WHIPLASH

9-across – It could take boat or train to Easy Street : GRAVY

10-across – Smart hit given to kid that’s too smart, say : SWAT

11-across – Greek character first in line to be a barbarian : PHILISTINE

12-across – Part of corset undone : SECTOR

14-across – Those backing winners, some stepping over to collect first : ELITISTS

15-across – Dishevelled member tucks into feast, but no starter : UNKEMPT

17-across – Trendy young reporter on the Guardian is a demon : INCUBUS

20-across – Something lacking definition, such as an elephant’s bottom? : GREYAREA

22-across – Cleaner wants black to drain off : BLEACH

23-across – Peek of card rendered with an appropriate countenance? : POKERFACED

24-across – Male involved in impertinence is slack : LIMP

25-across – Boredom is universal during unlimited sport : ENNUI

26-across – Process involving choice when leaderless : ELECTION

1-down – Chinese dictator’s Farewell to the Sea? : CHOWMEIN

2-down – Show contempt for Turner : SPIT

3-down – Hold up the basket : HAMPER

4-down – Shrink asks for trousers to be pulled up : SHRIVEL

5-down – One has one covered by observing rising spark : IGNITION

6-down – Eleventh hour must entail chaos! : LASTMINUTE

7-down – Young flier with a ring through the ear : CYGNET

13-down – Minute of time points to years, points to years : TEENYWEENY

16-down – Vessel contains nearly all of palm oil : PARAFFIN

18-down – Seldom seen punctuation mark not entirely punc-tuating abstract noun : UNCOMMON

19-down – What to do with a plan, say? The axe? : HATCHET

21-down – Revolutionary, one with testament withheld, ran amok : RIOTED

22-down – Poor country without many to torment : BADGER

24-down – One instrument or another needing no introduction : LUTE

9-across – University in America with large stock : USUAL

10-across – Editor getting in a mess translating Polish : IANHISLOP

11-across – Fighter pilot with influence : FLYWEIGHT

12-across – Arbitrary assertion, for example, about old style : SAYSO

13-across – Clever Dick in Heart of Darkness, getting over first barrier : KNOWALL

15-across – Break in sacred mount : HOLIDAY

17-across – Settle for salary increase? : PAYUP

18-across – A sheep’s memory : RAM

20-across – Fare needed to go aboard : GETON

22-across – Get to hear a group of singers : ACQUIRE

25-across – Poles go round thumping loonies : NUTTERS

26-across – Capability of Chesterton’s father? : BROWN

27-across – Narrow escape from visit to cathedral precinct : CLOSECALL

30-across – Birds trained in Old Street : DOTTERELS

31-across – Stout worker fairly gutted : BEEFY

1-down – Bird making rude noise : RUFF

2-down – Transport group brought about journey’s end for nosy parker : BUSYBODY

3-down – Melancholy sportsman : BLUE

4-down – Odd, as sheep may be, but not goats : SINGULAR

5-down – Snippet is small? Of course! : SNATCH

6-down – Characters in stir arranged escape about crack of dawn : FIRSTLIGHT

7-down – You fool around, being satiated : CLOYED

8-down – Work with petty officer and mate : OPPO

13-down – Ford Prefect’s first yearly letter : KAPPA

14-down – I can stew fruit without kitchen equipment : APPLIANCES

16-down – Animals entertaining North Americans : YANKS

19-down – Second name applied to bird or mammal : MONGOOSE

21-down – Agree to get involved with ten, or one less than twenty : TEENAGER

23-down – Oxford first in even game : QUOITS

24-down – Alien film star – one using acid : ETCHER

26-down – Ordered off before end of game : BADE

28-down – Heidelberg’s river : ELBE

29-down – Drama doesn’t start with songs : LAYS