Daily Answers

1-across – Device causing the enemy to fail : TIMEBOMB

5-across – A non-alcoholic drink required, when devoid of stress : ATONIC

9-across – Sea bird sending over another, on which George dines : GREATSKUA

11-across – Element proving office language non-starter : ARGON

12-across – Navy district of Northern Ireland entertained by illegitimate short red dwarf : BARNARDSSTAR

15-across – English block: Dutch sphere : EDAM

16-across – Royal tradition changing around, Greek character’s claimed : SWANUPPING

18-across – Pot reds : KHMERROUGE

19-across – Bird’s jaw : CHAT

21-across – Hope a retreating Roman Scot catches Italy invading country : ANTICIPATION

24-across – Bird that’s yellow, caught flying off : RAVEN

25-across – ER from country backing the Reformation? : ELIZABETH

26-across – Old flame finds love through hormonal treatment, gaining urge : EXHORT

27-across – Plant border in distress : AGRIMONY

1-down – Country awaiting dispatch? : TOGO

2-down – Chance upon food, say : MEET

3-down – Take chance over fish shop : BETRAY

4-down – Sulk about a man who, given ecstasy, is experiencing just that? : MAKINGWHOOPEE

6-down – Managed month beneath tip of aircraft wing : TRANSEPT

7-down – Pound into doubly close beam that’s weak : NIGHTLIGHT

8-down – 2 get on with Grace, surprisingly : CONGREGATE

10-down – Piece bringing follicular embarrassment to the scantily clad Cockney? : AIRONAGSTRING

13-down – Bow tie : PECKHAMRYE

14-down – Bleat about getting married in hotel – very hard for religious occasion : BARMITZVAH

17-down – Composer Beethoven’s First has fight with unfinished Emperor : BRUCKNER

20-down – African consequently overcoming African nation : SOMALI

22-down – Love to frequent boozer occasionally : ZERO

23-down – Question about cheese, ultimately – what’s discarded? : WHEY

1-across – : CRIDU

4-across – : JOHNBULL

8-across – : ARTISTSINCRIME

10-across – : SEMITISM

11-across – : VIENNA

12-across – : NATTERING

15-across – : OCTET

17-across – : RODEO

18-across – : KINGSTOWN

19-across – : MIFFED

21-across – : QUIZSHOW

24-across – : XENOTRANSPLANT

25-across – : YEASAYER

26-across – : POKER

1-down – : CHATSYNDROME

2-down – : INTIMATED

3-down – : UPSET

4-down – : JOSSSTICK

5-down – : HAND

6-down – : BARRICOES

7-down – : LEMON

9-down – : WASTINGWATER

13-down – : EROGENOUS

14-down – : GUNRUNNER

16-down – : TOOTHMARK

20-down – : FRERE

22-down – : ZIPUP

23-down – : DRAY

1-across – Public address in this state shortly – where’s 10? : PENNSYLVANIA

8-across – A big rise in the camera business? : OLYMPUS

9-across – Boy giving 10’s 26 part 1 backchat : PHILLIP

11-across – Think to contradict verdict initially given on the second of February : BELIEVE

12-across – Silence of the Birds, by GB playwright? : SHAVIAN

13-across – First signs of early spring … snowdrop’s opening … first signs of early spring … snowdrop’s opening repeatedly … : ESSES

14-across – Wife has her lumps regularly checked out for diseased growths : DUTCHELMS

16-across – Piano played badly? That’s not unknown with this piano piece : SOFTPEDAL

19-across – Bit of a problem, meteorologically, for a small creature : EMMET

21-across – One ruling that results from endless repeats of 26? : NOMARCH

23-across – Early showing of 10’s leader before official inspection : PREVIEW

24-across – French letters found in sleeping quarters : BILLETS

25-across – Month intrinsically better for a female boat crew? : OCTETTE

26-across – Film homosexual eating sandwich – one with ham in it, and a little duck : GROUNDHOGDAY

1-down – Female 10’s 26 part 1’s half daft about : PHYLLIS

2-down – Small children taking exercise during spring outing – no force required : NIPPERS

3-down – Deferred start to spring? Part of America awaited judgment : SUSPENDED

4-down – Runs cut off by opponents during play : LOPES

5-down – The greatest newspaper lifted hearts in an Indian city : ALIGARH

6-down – Bard repeatedly denied bearing malice : ILLWILL

7-down – Attempt to get on Big Brother list initially, before turning bonkers in the home of 10’s 26 part 1 : GOBBLERSKNOB

10-down – At sun-up we cross New York, off to 26’s location : PUNXSUTAWNEY

15-down – Top English hotel re-ordered an 8 accessory? : TELEPHOTO

17-down – Bum ref upset outside left – he dropped the ball : FUMBLER

18-down – Upstart assistant to king and goddess, briefly : PARVENU

19-down – Up before court? Balls! : ERECTED

20-down – My lot is suffering with damp : MOISTLY

22-down – Wearing stockings, say, in those days : HOSED

9-across – Every bit of checked cotton fabric topped by creator of 17 : ALLINGHAM

10-across – Manage return getting hard time : EPOCH

11-across – Black mood of the French couple : DESPAIR

12-across – Fliers’ ‘aircut? : AIRCREW

13-across – Name of someone I love : NEIL

14-across – Letters to me, Mister? Possibly, like most of our creators’ work : POSTMORTEM

15-across – Motion of member : LEGWORK

17-across – Wild flower for winner out of hospital : CAMPION

19-across – I turn early out of ordinary language : UNLITERARY

22-across – 13’s given right of possession : LIEN

23-across – It’s on the road for a while, d’you hear, you chaps? : BITUMEN

24-across – God is within – don’t speak the language : SPANISH

26-across – Make another journey with a pictorial puzzle? : REBUS

27-across – Journeying by train moving round point : ITINERANT

1-down – Churchman’s book begun by one : CARDINALNUMBERS

2-down – Red port? : FLUSHING

3-down – Irish saint from 25 : ENDA

4-down – Homes pronounced without hesitation to be of inferior quality : SHERLOCK

5-down – Mark left by bit of monkey business? : IMPART

6-down – Home organised to keep royal oil available – that’s where it should stay : HEIRLOOM

7-down – 4 to order one tripe : POIROT

8-down – Novel with name one with novel : THEWOMANINWHITE

16-down – ? No, I choose good visibility : OPTIMISM

17-down – About time – is Bond creator of 7? : CHRISTIE

18-down – Little object going back to one state when hostile : INIMICAL

20-down – Leaves alone, having you to follow? : LETSBE

21-down – Graded home for creator of 26 : RANKIN

25-down – A retreat into port : ADEN

9-across – Two animals in 1 miss point of herb : HOREHOUND

10-across – Turn both ways and turn to rock : ULURU

11-across – Writer on French river : SURTEES

12-across – River encircling gold rush : TORRENT

13-across – Bess’s partner losing head in rave : ORGY

14-across – Attorney gives drink to one that’s stoned : PERRYMASON

16-across – It raises the right that’s wrong to start with : THERMAL

17-across – Mob observed blades working together : GANGSAW

19-across – Guise in which I came to earth at ease : FACILITATE

22-across – See 23 : SCOT

24-across – Being processed while travelling? : INTRAIN

25-across – Spotted one American writer regressing into fat : LEOPARD

26-across – Prepare for marriage? : GROOM

27-across – Inferior language with note causing expansion : INFLATING

1-down – A lot of actors’ organisations hold to f-family 8, according to 11 : THESPORTOFKINGS

2-down – Conclude sittings supporting villain : PROROGUE

3-down – Man in group could be 20 : SHEET

4-down – Summary: loonies get damnation : NUTSHELL

5-down – Person in charge of 3 used it originally for piece : EDITOR

6-down – Ask about one day’s complaint : QUERIMONY

7-down – Venue for 21 in New York, often 1? : QUEENS

8-down – Night wind to stir during embraces now banned : HUNTINGWITHDOGS

15-down – Rifles ship carrying poet : SMALLARMS

17-down – Story with no ending provided: horse around and cease to be a nerd : GETALIFE

18-down – Type of dialogue in acrostic form : SOCRATIC

20-down – Plant for spinner and golfer : COTTON

21-down – 1, perhaps, hence court? : TENNIS

23-down – Meeting for 1, perhaps, without a train : ROYAL