This crossword No. 22955 clues and answers were published on Tue 07 Oct 2003 and the puzzle can be visited by following The Guardian Cryptic Crossword No. 22955 link.
All Across Clues and Answers:
1-across – Succour can come from refined bishop : BEFRIEND
5-across – Put a stop to drink : SCOTCH
9-across – One of the witch’s early lessons? : SPELLING
10-across – It’s built on a northern river : ANNEXE
12-across – Tenor’s music transposed and misread : MISCONSTRUE
15-across – Punjabi has reversed part of his address : SAHIB
17-across – Eagles can initially excite her : ERNESTINE
18-across – The local biosphere? : ECOSYSTEM
19-across – A penguin, perhaps – one of several! : DIVER
20-across – They keep strangers at bay : COASTGUARDS
24-across – Infection spreading up a leg : PLAGUE
25-across – Countryman getting to his home via Norway : PERUVIAN
26-across – Summary process : DIGEST
27-across – After their flight they see space differently : ESCAPEES
All Down Clues and Answers:
1-down – The wild, original snake : BUSHMASTER
2-down – Where the charges are not charged? : FREESCHOOL
3-down – Accommodation built in a Circle : IGLOO
4-down – It’s not needed on a sentinel’s beat : NONESSENTIAL
6-down – Kind of milk made into 26 : CONDENSED
7-down – So the name … : THEN
8-down – … of the man in the ephod was Uriah : HEEP
11-down – Women like Moses : GRANDMOTHERS
13-down – Cut in the Second XI … : SILVERSIDE
14-down – … shows now in the first-half result : REPRESENTS
16-down – Youngsters required to be prepared to serve at Oxford? : BOYSCOUTS
21-down – Two universities in contention with the French mouthpiece : UVULA
22-down – Murphy was sick when ‘e left : SPUD
23-down – When it goes, it’s the end absolutely : BANG
This crossword has in total 28 where 14 are across and 14 are down.