This crossword No. 21704 clues and answers were published on Thu 30 Sep 1999 and the puzzle can be visited by following The Guardian Cryptic Crossword No. 21704 link.
All Across Clues and Answers:
1-across – Cocky’s got his own cover, it seems : SELFASSURED
9-across – Brazilian diplomacy may be taken as read when there’s trouble : RIOTACT
10-across – Figure 0 on electronic device held by prisoner : OCTAGON
11-across – Kind to fairy that’s out and fairy will be kind when I’m out! : MILKTOOTH
12-across – See 14 : INTHE
13-across – See 19 : SHED
14-across – Let initiative she’d held slip, as always at the 26 21 : THEDEVILIS
16-across – Operator to gain entry for alternative worker in benefit : DOORHANDLE
19-across – Bowl dropped where Ada Doom saw something nasty : WOOD
21-across – See 26 : TABLE
22-across – Drink dispenser left pub – that’s prison : BARLINNIE
24-across – Slight gradient in cliff-top railway : INCLINE
25-across – Circus artist that can hold his drink? : TUMBLER
26-across – Tyneside acquired one, with a feeling of excitement about the price: is it make of deal? : NEGOTIATING
All Down Clues and Answers:
1-down – Ought Queen Elizabeth to love Francis B.? Cut! : SHOULDEROFBACON
2-down – It’s said to precede the quickest repair : LEAST
3-down – Opposition to the round church is somewhere in the Bible : ANTIOCH
4-down – Take a second to see 13, being tight : SLOSHED
5-down – Recover like a dog from the bulk of the River Tees : RETRIEVE
6-down – Computer reversion: like it to voice articles on 19? : DIGITALTOANALOG
7-down – The first proper American stove : PRIMUS
8-down – A second off being clouded over: adverse condition to follow : UNLESS
15-down – Scottish shepherd’s hut is an improved English one : SHIELING
16-down – See 14 : DETAIL
17-down – Absence of saints among the upper aristocracy? : NOBLEST
18-down – Young actress turning role model before Thanksgiving : LORETTA
20-down – Under Prohibition, without an audience, it’s very boring : DREARY
23-down – William : IAMBI
This crossword has in total 28 where 14 are across and 14 are down.