This crossword No. 21726 clues and answers were published on Tue 26 Oct 1999 and the puzzle can be visited by following The Guardian Cryptic Crossword No. 21726 link.
All Across Clues and Answers:
1-across – Pretentious woman with plenty of brass? : LADYMUCK
5-across – Play opens here, with a battle : ACTION
9-across – Rocker’s rival dwelt around here: what wickedness! : DEVILDOM
10-across – Eager as the North Wind : BOREAS
12-across – He solved Turandot’s riddle with some musical affectation : CALAF
13-across – Pinter’s tender scene shot again in the car : CARETAKER
14-across – The Lettuce-Wiper, Oil-Changer and Ant-Destroyer – that’s some magazine! : COSMOPOLITAN
18-across – King sat reluctantly nude at first: so what’s wrong with the photograph? : UNDEREXPOSED
21-across – Smart performer once could be male relation : LIONTAMER
23-across – Extremist usurping Lenin, Trotsky, Rasputin and their leaders : ULTRA
24-across – René has lost the Benefits Agency: what’s his game? : ECARTE
25-across – Dined at the club? On the contrary, indulged! : SPOONFED
26-across – Crippen’s Ethel changed parts and turned side : ELEVEN
27-across – Like Simon, the cross-bearer, a cynic about to convert : CYRENAIC
All Down Clues and Answers:
1-down – The same lousy characters surrounding this symbol of Nazi retribution : LIDICE
2-down – Might cavil as devoted disputant : DEVILS
3-down – Othello left flat out in this part of the distillery : MALTFLOOR
4-down – About to consume alco-pop, saw a wasteful way out of Rome : CLOACAMAXIMA
6-down – Influence cast after May 31 : CLOUT
7-down – Glider could freeze fish : ICESKATE
8-down – Piggy-wig controlled with this shilling’s worth? : NOSERING
11-down – The art of the Enigma Variations? : CRYPTOGRAPHY
15-down – Sweetener might lose value : LAEVULOSE
16-down – Boss taking a lead from Bill Sykes? : BULLSEYE
17-down – See 2 : ADVOCATE
19-down – Waller’s rising note: I’ll hear it in the Hebrides : STAFFA
20-down – Lyrical, possibly Shakespearian : BARDIC
22-down – Bird-man’s tribute : TITHE
This crossword has in total 28 where 14 are across and 14 are down.