1-across – Positive thinking : OPTIMISM

5-across – Bird with ability to mimic human voice : MYNA

9-across – Beaton or B. DeMille? : CECIL

10-across – Gymnastic entertainer : ACROBAT

11-across – Not sincere : DISINGENUOUS

13-across – Sid – or Julius? : CAESAR

14-across – One of the family – or one of the gang? : MEMBER

17-across – Must-have : PREREQUISITE

20-across – Runs in tights : LADDERS

21-across – Apply : EXERT

22-across – Follow orders : OBEY

23-across – Mint : BRANDNEW

1-down – As soon as : ONCE

2-down – Nice to touch : TACTILE

3-down – Having many aspects : MULTIFACETED

4-down – Hirsute : SHAGGY

6-down – Lout : YOBBO

7-down – Creative skill : ARTISTRY

8-down – 1818 Mary Shelley novel : FRANKENSTEIN

12-down – Resort on Mexico’s Pacific coast : ACAPULCO

15-down – In the middle of : BETWEEN

16-down – It marks one’s place on a computer : CURSOR

18-down – <span>Comedian Murphy or </span><i>Frasier</i><span> dog</span> : EDDIE

19-down – Simmer : STEW

1-across – It’s traditionally practised during Lent : ABSTINENCE

7-across – Without a weapon : UNARMED

8-across – Join forces : UNITE

10-across – Mike,goal or house? : OPEN

11-across – Supposed : PUTATIVE

13-across – Add on : APPEND

15-across – Divine – or alternative? : COMEDY

17-across – Excessive admiration : IDOLATRY

18-across – Small amount – move in a hurry : DASH

21-across – One way to stop traffic? : BRAKE

22-across – Warning to offender : CAUTION

23-across – Pale and thin : CADAVEROUS

1-down – Rapidly : APACE

2-down – A few : SOME

3-down – Rare soft silvery metal – dim uni : INDIUM

4-down – One teaches : EDUCATOR

5-down – Cooking style : CUISINE

6-down – In a vulnerable position : OUTONALIMB

9-down – The lot : EVERYTHING

12-down – Behind closed doors : INCAMERA

14-down – Proportional : PRORATA

16-down – Nursery : CRECHE

19-down – Wrong : AMISS

20-down – Car prefix : AUTO

1-across – Sniffy : DISMISSIVE

7-across – Wide-ranging : ECLECTIC

8-across – Lips,music or the room? : READ

9-across – Not in favour : ANTI

10-across – New York City torchbearer : LIBERTY

12-across – Fabricate / process : MANUFACTURE

14-across – Very aware : MINDFUL

16-across – Facebook and Instagram owner : META

19-across – On top of that : ALSO

20-across – Quickly : INAHURRY

21-across – Common language : VERNACULAR

1-down – Russian summer house : DACHA

2-down – Add sugar,perhaps : SWEETEN

3-down – Tiny part : IOTA

4-down – Concise : SUCCINCT

5-down – Find one at the roadside : VERGE

6-down – Make : RATTLE

11-down – Outpouring of emotion : EFFUSION

12-down – For the most part : MAINLY

13-down – Disproportionate : UNEQUAL

15-down – Bagpipe part : DRONE

17-down – Clothes horse : AIRER

18-down – Bolan or Chagall? : MARC

1-across – Occupied : BUSY

3-across – Extravagant – gold pair : PRODIGAL

8-across – ‘ … more gold than a ___-horse can draw’ : DRAY

9-across – Damp : MOISTURE

11-across – I totally agree! : ABSOLUTELY

14-across – Macbeth’s victim : DUNCAN

15-across – Violently attack : ASSAIL

17-across – Wholesome : SALUBRIOUS

20-across – Call signal? : RINGTONE

21-across – Not recorded : LIVE

22-across – Pathé footage : NEWSREEL

23-across – It’s said to be more : LESS

1-down – Barren place : BADLANDS

2-down – Farewell performance : SWANSONG

4-down – Where birds or bats come to rest : ROOSTS

5-down – Announcement : DISCLOSURE

6-down – Excessive quantity : GLUT

7-down – Twisted the truth : LIED

10-down – More enjoyable – rate Naples : PLEASANTER

12-down – Turn to gas – VIP arose : VAPORISE

13-down – Reflects light : GLISTENS

16-down – Membrillo ingredient : QUINCE

18-down – Sussex river : ARUN

19-down – Chew on : GNAW

1-across – Focus : CONCENTRATION

8-across – Brass,boy or big? : BAND

9-across – Starving : RAVENOUS

10-across – Raised deck at the front of a ship – clearest of : FORECASTLE

12-across – Fumbled shot : MISCUE

14-across – Trivial matter : DETAIL

15-across – UK parliament’s emblem : PORTCULLIS

19-across – Peak pudding? : MERINGUE

20-across – Gallagher or Coward? : NOEL

21-across – Futility : POINTLESSNESS

2-down – <span>Haydn’s </span><i>The Creation,</i><span>say</span> : ORATORIO

3-down – Specialist team : CADRE

4-down – Tell a story : NARRATE

5-down – Metal fastening : RIVET

6-down – Most nerve-racking : TENSEST

7-down – Work of art : OPUS

11-down – Lacking compassion : PITILESS

13-down – Cartoon punchline / label : CAPTION

14-down – <i>The ______ of Malfi</i><span>,John Webster play</span> : DUCHESS

16-down – Majestic : REGAL

17-down – Natural fabric prone to creasing : LINEN

18-down – Working-class,local or folk? : HERO