This crossword No. 22976 clues and answers were published on Fri 31 Oct 2003 and the puzzle can be visited by following The Guardian Cryptic Crossword No. 22976 link.
All Across Clues and Answers:
1-across – Singer offering note in jazz music feature in same production : SEWINGMACHINES
8-across – Tidy the latter half of where one eats : GROOM
9-across – See 27 : THISDIST
11-across – Bow in Peking oddly during minor blast : TOPKNOT
12-across – Refuse sat festering in a refuse container : ABSTAIN
13-across – Yarn spun around about shows style : ECLAT
15-across – Bird’s exact heart? : CROSSBILL
17-across – Might one be touching up the Queen on Christmas Day, perhaps? : DECORATOR
20-across – Study having had face-lift? : MUGUP
21-across – US and Canada’s row gets more odious : NASTIER
23-across – Where Napoleon Bonaparte delivered source of drug, having admitted the strain of office work : CORSICA
25-across – Graphical illustration of characters in Chapter 1 : PIECHART
26-across – Dickensian pervert : TWIST
27-across – US Civil War general’s last words were foolishly apathetic and idle … then shot instantly – thud! : THEYCOULDNTHIT
All Down Clues and Answers:
1-down – Noted study : SIGHTREADING
2-down – Singularly I’ve been clumsy, so cry : WHOOP
3-down – One proposing to the Queen of Jordan : NOMINATOR
4-down – Little one goes into two, which goes into 1,100 – basic sort of division : MITOTIC
5-down – Musical no longer in vogue? : CHICAGO
6-down – People making fish fingers heading off to river : INDUS
7-down – A singer poorly with two new heads – it’s catching : ENSNARING
10-down – See 27 : ANELEPHANTAT
14-down – Reluctant to admit Mick’s crook: if he’s easily admitted, call one! : LOCKSMITH
16-down – Good character and bad one about to ruin one : SAMARITAN
18-down – Tempestuous Rent-a-Party? : TORNADO
19-down – Financial centre almost entering tangible performance : RECITAL
22-down – Getting claws out, non-starter, though in need of them? : ITCHY
24-down – Setter may be hard at the end of the rainbow : IRISH
This crossword has in total 28 where 14 are across and 14 are down.