1-across – Dull pain : ACHE

3-across – Write or draw in this,but don’t blot it! : COPYBOOK

8-across – Break,pull or taxi : RANK

9-across – Hepworth or Gormley,e.g. : SCULPTOR

11-across – Someone who talks incessantly : CHATTERBOX

14-across – Body art – military entertainment : TATTOO

15-across – In short supply : SCARCE

17-across – Punctuation mark : APOSTROPHE

20-across – Fully aware of what is involved : OPENEYED

21-across – Chanel or Gauff : COCO

22-across – Consider deeply,reflect : MEDITATE

23-across – <span>Body parts bidden </span><i>Farewell</i><span> by Hemingway</span> : ARMS

1-down – Extremely cruel act : ATROCITY

2-down – Pre-wedding social gathering,generally women only : HENPARTY

4-down – Academy Awards : OSCARS

5-down – Football referee’s warning sign : YELLOWCARD

6-down – Solemn promise : OATH

7-down – Pavement edging : KERB

10-down – Poster spit : STROPPIEST

12-down – Opening in floor or ceiling : TRAPDOOR

13-down – Bountiful : GENEROUS

16-down – Appearance presented : ASPECT

18-down – Move rapidly – video chat meeting : ZOOM

19-down – Alcoholic honey-based drink : MEAD

1-across – Exhibit greedy anticipation : SMACKONESLIPS

8-across – Organ,full or bus : STOP

9-across – Name date : EMANATED

10-across – Nickname for Hollywood : TINSELTOWN

12-across – Count and check takings at end of trading day : CASHUP

14-across – Out-of-date,unoriginal : OLDHAT

15-across – Fishy misleading clue? : REDHERRING

19-across – Bribe ire : BERIBERI

20-across – Disco number-one single of 1979 : YMCA

21-across – Fairground spiral slide : HELTERSKELTER

2-down – Fabulous,based on stories : MYTHICAL

3-down – Manages satisfactorily : COPES

4-down – Coincide in part with : OVERLAP

5-down – Greek muse of lyric poetry – orate : ERATO

6-down – Knowledgeable : LEARNED

7-down – Southend has the world’s longest one for pleasure : PIER

11-down – Crustacean that sticks to ships’ bottoms : BARNACLE

13-down – Player of stringed instrument : HARPIST

14-down – Tall four-sided tapering pillar : OBELISK

16-down – Literary term for bleak and miserable : DREAR

17-down – Icing,jelly or flush : ROYAL

18-down – Fundraising event with stalls and refreshments : FETE

1-across – Hare on a pail : AEOLIANHARP

9-across – Listening carefully : ATTENTIVE

10-across – Black stuff – sailor : TAR

11-across – Avoid,perhaps illegally : DODGE

13-across – Bridged,arched over : SPANNED

14-across – Becoming less severe : EASING

15-across – Choice,possibility : OPTION

18-across – Black stuff – molasses : TREACLE

20-across – Full English perhaps : FRYUP

21-across – Crisp long-leaved lettuce : COS

22-across – Communicate effectively – or : PUTACROSS

24-across – Data input devices used to take payments : CARDREADERS

2-down – Word before ‘dirt’ or ‘humble pie’ : EAT

3-down – Transparent case : LANTERN

4-down – Surrounded by : AMIDST

5-down – Laughing African carnivore : HYENA

6-down – Plumpness : ROTUNDITY

7-down – Cluedo weapon : CANDLESTICK

8-down – Store or settlement in remote area : TRADINGPOST

12-down – Sappy side : DYSPEPSIA

16-down – Solemn and humourless – like a Teletubby? : POFACED

17-down – Put this on for a cuppa : KETTLE

19-down – Roman god of love : CUPID

23-down – Blade : OAR

1-across – Air cops : PROSAIC

8-across – Gorge,binge : OVEREAT

9-across – Imaginary mischievous creature : GREMLIN

10-across – Stealthy : FURTIVE

11-across – Jargon,words used very informally : SLANG

13-across – Three under par or birdie? : ALBATROSS

15-across – Sticky stuff for wrapping parcels : SELLOTAPE

18-across – Permanent fastener : RIVET

21-across – West Indian ballad : CALYPSO

22-across – Wind,salmon or helicopter : CHINOOK

23-across – Raise : ELEVATE

24-across – To shake : THEOAKS

1-down – Young male attendants : PAGES

2-down – Musical drama : OPERA

3-down – Gorilla ape rat : ALLIGATORPEAR

4-down – Informal private discussion : CONFAB

5-down – Hush-hush US federal agency : SECRETSERVICE

6-down – Sheep with fine,luxurious wool : MERINO

7-down – Aquatic piscivores of the weasel family : OTTERS

12-down – Citrus fruit : LIME

14-down – Lace,horn or maker : SHOE

15-down – Association football : SOCCER

16-down – Soothed : LULLED

17-down – Wading bird with curved bill : AVOCET

19-down – <span>Musical instrument – </span><i>Twelfth Night </i><span>character</span> : VIOLA

20-down – Film sequences recorded without interruption : TAKES

1-across – Starry Little Bear ? : URSAMINOR

8-across – Greek cheese : FETA

9-across – Pouched mammal,e.g. kangaroo : MARSUPIAL

10-across – Gripping tool – immoral habit : VICE

13-across – Less than zero : MINUS

15-across – Owl or nose : HOOTER

16-across – In a strangely frightening way : EERILY

17-across – Person or item supposed to bring good luck : MASCOT

19-across – Road often bordered by trees : AVENUE

20-across – Mother-of-pearl – crane : NACRE

21-across – Haze intensified by pollutants : SMOG

24-across – Meanie doc : MACEDOINE

25-across – Cereal grain – Anneka or Tim : RICE

26-across – Newspaper article : EDITORIAL

2-down – Behind : REAR

3-down – Domed or vaulted recess in church : APSE

4-down – Damage or weaken : IMPAIR

5-down – Impervious to light : OPAQUE

6-down – Lacking : DEFICIENT

7-down – Precautionary measure in the event of a fall : SAFETYNET

11-down – Science – attraction between people : CHEMISTRY

12-down – Playground game involving numbered squares : HOPSCOTCH

13-down – Galia,water or cantaloupe : MELON

14-down – Deliver the first ball of a point : SERVE

18-down – Sleeveless tunic – outer dress of a medieval peasant : TABARD

19-down – Take into custody : ARREST

22-down – Grapes,puss or dough : SOUR

23-down – <span>___ Sewell,</span><i>Black Beauty</i><span> author</span> : ANNA