This crossword No. 23666 clues and answers were published on Wed 18 Jan 2006 and the puzzle can be visited by following The Guardian Cryptic Crossword No. 23666 link.
All Across Clues and Answers:
1-across – Able to pay back Fanny Adams for 500 buckles : AFFORD
5-across – Be around in frilly collar for cold shoulder : REBUFF
8-across – Albert leaves opera to fish : HERRING
9-across – Buff card allocated to followers : FANCLUB
11-across – Instant incentive? Don’t even think about it! : SPUROFTHEMOMENT
12-across – Old solvers with a right to some time : YEAR
13-across – Very old pet comes to island with lake by calling : VOCATIONAL
17-across – Shield sniffer retreating round wounded companion with drug : ESCUTCHEON
18-across – Having got on, agreed about having been left out : AGED
20-across – Why fat girl I pine about is potentially dangerous : PLAYINGWITHFIRE
23-across – Masseurs get overshoes in New York : RUBBERS
24-across – From the start, lessons will be simple : ARTLESS
25-across – Small-minded about redhead being attractive : PRETTY
26-across – Neighbours playing with German youth initially may display ill will : ENMITY
All Down Clues and Answers:
2-down – According to prescription, cast’s top class and non-clerical : FORMULAIC
3-down – Prayer for gold is working! : ORISON
4-down – Canine’s canine found by Violet : DOGSTOOTH
5-down – Pixie : RIFLE
6-down – Bono in hospital? On the contrary, with expression almost of exuberant friendliness : BONHOMIE
7-down – River’s direction can be deceptive : FALSE
8-down – My Pat and Esther are volatile, having a tendency to fly off the handle : HASTYTEMPER
10-down – Wartime fashion? : BATTLEDRESS
14-down – Tottering in boat, Mae can’t stand : ABOMINATE
15-down – Chap following poor Nigel is forgetful : NEGLIGENT
16-down – Malicious gossip gets around, conveyed without being loud : STRIDENT
19-down – Time of the openings of royal homes you thoughtfully had mentioned : RHYTHM
21-down – Gascoigne losing his head is a caution : AMBER
22-down – Man across the way is windy : GUSTY
This crossword has in total 28 where 14 are across and 14 are down.