1-across – Way to avoid a court case,sometimes : SETTLEMENT

7-across – Saw or walk? : CIRCULAR

8-across – It’s set to catch one out : TRAP

9-across – Night in Paris : NUIT

10-across – Hesitant : DITHERY

12-across – Vital sign : RESPIRATION

14-across – Move off in different directions : SCATTER

16-across – Swindle : SCAM

19-across – Conflict between the Montagues and Capulets,for example : FEUD

20-across – Troublemaker : HOOLIGAN

21-across – Onlooker : EYEWITNESS

1-down – Young family member : SCION

2-down – Game plan : TACTICS

3-down – Allen or Tomlin? : LILY

4-down – Nutty cake decorator : MARZIPAN

5-down – As you would expect : NATCH

6-down – Way to avoid congestion : RATRUN

11-down – Entertaining distraction : SIDESHOW

12-down – Material wealth : RICHES

13-down – Gradient : INCLINE

15-down – Hot drink? : TODDY

17-down – Grumbles : MOANS

18-down – Bowl – word-processing choice : FONT

1-across – Activity centre? : HIVE

3-across – Cleaned up : REFORMED

8-across – Change direction : TURN

9-across – Disparage : BELITTLE

11-across – Contrite : APOLOGETIC

14-across – One has an independent existence : ENTITY

15-across – Prickly pear,perhaps : CACTUS

17-across – In-person : FACETOFACE

20-across – Allay concerns : REASSURE

21-across – Cut : SNUB

22-across – Sweet – circular window : BULLSEYE

23-across – Bank’s counterpart in the Scottish countryside : BRAE

1-down – Bathtime essential for most : HOTWATER

2-down – Martini essential : VERMOUTH

4-down – Bootlace holder : EYELET

5-down – Person who started it : ORIGINATOR

6-down – Common misconception : MYTH

7-down – Fight for satisfaction? : DUEL

10-down – Cassoulets : LOSTCAUSES

12-down – Make tea with it : STRAINER

13-down – Line up : ASSEMBLE

16-down – Not quite : NEARLY

18-down – Pub food : GRUB

19-down – Play it to be helpful : BALL

1-across – They can be a form of shorthand : ABBREVIATIONS

8-across – Neat – edging : TRIM

9-across – Musical instrument played without physical contact : THEREMIN

10-across – Province on Canada’s eastern seaboard : NOVASCOTIA

12-across – One may be first,second or third,grammatically : PERSON

14-across – Hanging flower cluster : CATKIN

15-across – Place for fire drill? : RIFLERANGE

19-across – It indicates direction of travel : SIGNPOST

20-across – Pivot point : AXIS

21-across – It’s often used to assess whether one’s overweight : BODYMASSINDEX

2-down – On loan : BORROWED

3-down – Cuban dance : RUMBA

4-down – Pope’s official residence : VATICAN

5-down – On the lookout : ALERT

6-down – Rough : INEXACT

7-down – Find it and others at one’s fingertips? : NAIL

11-down – Front row at the circus : RINGSIDE

13-down – Elastic : SPRINGY

14-down – Invents : CREATES

16-down – Shrek’s princess : FIONA

17-down – Another time : AGAIN

18-down – Outdoor swimming pool : LIDO

1-across – <span>Clown’s role in </span><i>Hamlet</i> : GRAVEDIGGER

9-across – Make an exact copy : REPLICATE

10-across – Burton or Berners-Lee? : TIM

11-across – Make a case : ARGUE

13-across – Offensive,shocking : OBSCENE

14-across – Sly : CRAFTY

15-across – Platitude : TRUISM

18-across – Belt,bill or room? : UTILITY

20-across – Powerful individual : TITAN

21-across – US actress and singer ___ Arthur,died 2009 : BEA

22-across – Intermediary : GOBETWEEN

24-across – Way to improve air quality : VENTILATION

2-down – Churchyard carving : RIP

3-down – Most ineffectual : VAINEST

4-down – Completely right : DEADON

5-down – One may be educated – or lucky : GUESS

6-down – Radical : EXTREMIST

7-down – Panko in Japanese cooking : BREADCRUMBS

8-down – Not forever : IMPERMANENT

12-down – Via target : GRAVITATE

16-down – Knocking noise : RATATAT

17-down – Percussion instrument,often played in pairs : CYMBAL

19-down – Metal block : INGOT

23-down – Self-esteem : EGO

1-across – More precipitous : STEEPER

8-across – Disc – artificial shiny fabric,used to line clothes : ACETATE

9-across – Sensible : PRUDENT

10-across – Pump up : INFLATE

11-across – The Holy Grail,for instance : RELIC

13-across – Donors,etc : CONSORTED

15-across – Ancient Greek citadel : ACROPOLIS

18-across – Pieces ‘of’ it were silver : EIGHT

21-across – Captivated : SMITTEN

22-across – Energy pipeline : GASMAIN

23-across – It helps one see through a mask : EYEHOLE

24-across – : REDRESS

1-down – Tuesday or typhoon? : SUPER

2-down – Even – match : EQUAL

3-down – Obsession : PREOCCUPATION

4-down – Allotted portion : RATION

5-down – Calm and collected : SELFPOSSESSED

6-down – Dark volcanic rock : BASALT

7-down – Key to a map : LEGEND

12-down – Clapton or Cantona? : ERIC

14-down – Every individual : EACH

15-down – Yes or no? : ANSWER

16-down – Derelict : RUINED

17-down – Remain for more time than usual : LINGER

19-down – Eat little and often : GRAZE

20-down – Grasping pair? : TONGS