Author name: crosswordanswers

1-across – Ethiopian emperor exiled to England : HAILESELASSIE

8-across – Soot – fungus – sleaze : SMUT

9-across – Unecological fishing item : TRAWLNET

10-across – Not exactly tactful : INDELICATE

12-across – <span>Virgin : IRVING

14-across – Got back again : RETOOK

15-across – Plant often bought in December : POINSETTIA

19-across – Firearm forger : GUNSMITH

20-across – Tufty-eared predator : LYNX

21-across – Communication caber : TELEGRAPHPOLE

2-down – Like a couple on a moonlit stroll? : ARMINARM

3-down – It may be skinny or chai : LATTE

4-down – Currently holding office : SITTING

5-down – Cud-chewer and wool-provider : LLAMA

6-down – Creditworthy – eg methanol : SOLVENT

7-down – Particular : ITEM

11-down – Only in your mind : NOTIONAL

13-down – Loggerheads : IMPASSE

14-down – Flower’s fruit : ROSEHIP

16-down – Less friendly : ICIER

17-down – Flower ‘too red’ for Plath : TULIP

18-down – Solstice month : JUNE

1-across – Trumpeting flyer : CANADAGOOSE

9-across – Would you care for another drink? : SAMEAGAIN

10-across – Female gametes : OVA

11-across – More than enough : AMPLE

13-across – Ave Maria’s subject : OURLADY

14-across – Penultimate Nato alphabet letter : YANKEE

15-across – There’s much fat in their humps : CAMELS

18-across – Shall I stop pouring your drink? : SAYWHEN

20-across – See 23 Down : PERON

21-across – Get off! : BOO

22-across – Like some fuels : SMOKELESS

24-across – Ad lib : PLAYITBYEAR

2-down – One of five on a starfish : ARM

3-down – Scholarly setting : ACADEME

4-down – Legendary warrior of great height : AMAZON

5-down – One who might say ‘Good dog!’ : OWNER

6-down – Ad exec,often : SLOGANEER

7-down – Like a walk in the park : ASEASYASABC

8-down – Shiny abbess : BABYISHNESS

12-down – Welsh industrial town famous for lacquered ironware : PONTYPOOL

16-down – Sir Humphrey : APPLEBY

17-down – On the job : INPOST

19-down – Sledge-dog – gruff : HUSKY

23-down – Don’t cry for her,Argentina : EVA

1-across – Procedure for perfecting posture : PILATES

8-across – Film with Dustin Hoffman as ‘Dorothy’ : TOOTSIE

9-across – Shangri-La : NIRVANA

10-across – Besmirched : SULLIED

11-across – Greys,Guards or pine : SCOTS

13-across – Slangy comfort : CUSHINESS

15-across – Birds with collective noun ‘flamboyance’ : FLAMINGOS

18-across – County – twerps : BERKS

21-across – One unlikely to have a tin ear : MAESTRO

22-across – <span>Dory’s condition in </span><i>Finding Nemo</i> : AMNESIA

23-across – Take back on – a redtop : READOPT

24-across – Like a lavishly ceilinged Chapel : SISTINE

1-down – 72 in a firkin : PINTS

2-down – Slowly and stately on a score : LARGO

3-down – Written record : TRANSCRIPTION

4-down – It’s hardly a hurry : STASIS

5-down – Appealing insurance aspect : NOCLAIMSBONUS

6-down – Hanker : ASPIRE

7-down – 007 director Sam : MENDES

12-down – Word before ‘division’,‘phone’ or ‘membrane’ : CELL

14-down – Unwaisted kind of dress : SACK

15-down – They’re in thighs : FEMURS

16-down – eg the Brighton Centre and the International Convention Centre Wales : ARENAS

17-down – Old fourpence coins : GROATS

19-down – Spud cakes : ROSTI

20-down – Tsk! : SHAME

1-across – Pre-assembled : READYMADE

8-across – Prepare for Prue Leith,perhaps : BAKE

9-across – Cloak-and-dagger operations : ESPIONAGE

10-across – Omit – cavort : SKIP

13-across – Meh : TEPID

15-across – Like some swimming pools : HEATED

16-across – Cash cow : EARNER

17-across – Ban – one like 7d : OUTLAW

19-across – Additional : SECOND

20-across – Leaves for lunch? : SALAD

21-across – Bathroom powder : TALC

24-across – As it were : SOTOSPEAK

25-across – Alight – obtain – property : LAND

26-across – Showing shoulders : STRAPLESS

2-down – The life of Riley : EASE

3-down – Supporter of the throne? : DAIS

4-down – Coined – in the money! : MINTED

5-down – AKA bow-wow : DOGGIE

6-down – Bafta-winning Katherine – or napkins : PARKINSON

7-down – Pseudo-Spanish word for a bandit : DESPERADO

11-down – In a husky manner : THROATILY

12-down – Desolate milieu : WASTELAND

13-down – <span>State,setting for </span><i>Rio Bravo</i><span> and </span><i>Hud</i> : TEXAS

14-down – Went out with – old news : DATED

18-down – Avant-garde : WAYOUT

19-down – Tasty triangle : SAMOSA

22-down – Amorphous mineral used as a gemstone : OPAL

23-down – Where crane drivers operate : CABS

1-across – Slick of speech : SMOOTHTONGUED

8-across – Rainbow’s shape : ARC

9-across – Keeper of public records : ARCHIVIST

10-across – Fritter away : SQUANDER

11-across – School for Tom Hiddleston and James Bond : ETON

13-across – Closely fitted necklace : CHOKER

14-across – S/he may wear the ‘1’ shirt : GOALIE

16-across – Not quite closed : AJAR

17-across – Obtaining – attractive : FETCHING

20-across – Rouse : STIMULATE

21-across – It’s the end of one,they sometimes say : ERA

22-across – Men decree them : CREMEDEMENTHE

1-down – They’re administered to wrists : SLAPS

2-down – Story start : ONCEUPONATIME

3-down – Miniature locomotives etc : TRAINSET

4-down – Season,dream or parking : TICKET

5-down – Jimmy or Brad? : NAIL

6-down – Gormless : UNINTELLIGENT

7-down – French term for easing of tension : DETENTE

12-down – Cement,sand,stone and water : CONCRETE

13-down – Cult ___ : CLASSIC

15-down – Look out! : BEWARE

18-down – Status – standing – standard : GRADE

19-down – Die shape : CUBE