Daily Answers

1-across – Native American dog bites wildcat : CHOCTAW

5-across – Something tasty served up, gentle delivery breaks to the left : SPAGBOL

9-across – 1960s’ film back in vogue, if laddish : ALFIE

10-across – Contrary granny from Finland posh, everyone agrees : UNANIMOUS

11-across – Thug denies bombing, as lesser explosion acknowledged in Berlin : GESUNDHEIT

12-across – See 17 : BALL

14-across – Unfortunate if, in clues to cryptic, one’s a write-in? : INFELICITOUS

18-across – Those landed in hot water following home secretary, reportedly in difficult situation? : PRETTYKETTLE

21-across – Dose of mercurial ointment for cut : LOIN

22-across – Appropriate name, Bambi, attached to delicate creature : COMMANDEER

25-across – Put foot down with joke about little boy punching copper : QUICKENUP

26-across – Whacking cane, flipping clever idea, pupil finally bending over : LARGE

27-across – Unable to see how maid is mad, so to speak? : EYELESS

28-across – Battery not funny: where next after conviction? : DRYCELL

1-down – Storm that’s electrical : CHARGE

2-down – See 18 : OFFISH

3-down – Make oneself worried on leaving hospital, one thinks it’s broken : TIEINKNOTS

4-down – Arrogant writer originally stuck-up, I’m repulsed by that author : WAUGH

5-down – Revolutionary ways to secure nail, I gathered : STALINIST

6-down – Passionate in a short film : AVID

7-down – US dancing bear eating something sticky up : BOOGALOO

8-down – Pale but upright? : LISTLESS

13-down – Anyhow, organ like nothing? : WILLYNILLY

15-down – Hunters should, first of all, kill notorious enemies off : ELKHOUNDS

16-down – Top cabal after program for needlework design : APPLIQUE

17-down – The weak probably wouldn’t catch it, given spherical pill : MEDICINE

19-down – What’s better than twice-cited 4, did you say? Better author : GEORGE

20-down – See 19 : ORWELL

23-down – Two-wheeler was idling miserably : MOPED

24-down – Loft extension’s beginning somewhere in Scotland : SKYE

9-across – Tradition to include prom finale in retreat : HERMITAGE

10-across – Some heartache at home in Hampstead? : HEATH

11-across – What may help sleep is blend regularly used by conservatives : BEDTIME

12-across – See 11 : STORIES

13-across – Ultimately, trivia help me climax? Yes : APEX

14-across – Special ‘lorry class’ motor race : RALLYCROSS

16-across – Split hairs? Use a fine-toothed comb : NITPICK

17-across – Rich fellow being stupid and loud : WELLOFF

19-across – I’m surprised solver’s keeping mum : YOUDONTSAY

22-across – Scholar missing short holiday as a result of injury : SCAR

24-across – Feeds well and puts to bed : TUCKSIN

25-across – Not fast enough for capital in drag : TOOSLOW

26-across – Sex in the City fine with love … : NOOKY

27-across – … and another lie about another secret : LEICESTER

1-down – Is it good to kiss and tell? : THEBLARNEYSTONE

2-down – Award without end pitch : GRADIENT

3-down – Municipal rise and fall : CIVIC

4-down – Bikes initially have come home without a saddle : BAREBACK

5-down – Start to withstand what might go pop? : WEASEL

6-down – Safe at last, wrapped in cloth, cut off from supernatural stuff : THEOCCULT

7-down – Coins wasted securing a better establishment : CASINO

8-down – Underwear storage in artists’ bosoms : CHESTSOFDRAWERS

15-down – Little sister hugs so many when playing game : SIMONSAYS

17-down – Get less convincing victory protecting the planet : WEARTHIN

18-down – Elaborate clues to ‘a kiss’ : OSCULATE

20-down – Uniform: spelled out, it’s square : UNCOOL

21-down – Producing a pleasant sensation, half disgustingly : TINGLY

23-down – Lust after firm check : COVET

8-across – Girl I see in place of a couple of gentlemen : VERONICA

9-across – A capital in Africa, to the west? : ABUJA

10-across – Reportedly contemptible look : MIEN

11-across – Make a move for that lady, fit : GOTOGETHER

12-across – See 24 : SURFER

14-across – Those are for runners with good reasons to fail : NOSERAGS

15-across – Country in muddle, so thought-provoking : LESOTHO

17-across – Tramp banking on sovereign : MONARCH

20-across – Go down, not up initially — climb with difficulty : SCRAMBLE

22-across – Free seat, I say, for adults? : STEAMY

23-across – Depreciating profits evident originally, steps quickly taken to catch old scoundrel : PEJORATIVE

24-across – Snake more certain to bite head of firm is one on the board? : WIND

25-across – Workers feeling miserable easily : HANDS

26-across – Party intellect, predatory : RAVENOUS

1-down – Setter standing in undies, unfortunately — and not much else! : SEMINUDE

2-down – See 25 : DOWN

3-down – Quick footballer, swift perhaps? : WINGER

4-down – See 24 : TASTING

5-down – Halfwit carried by mythical ship beneath southern sea : SARGASSO

6-down – Baked item sounding a pain in the backside? : BUTTERCAKE

7-down – Villain demanded to ride horse : BADEGG

13-down – Trifle, dessert with a roly-poly : FOOLAROUND

16-down – Tribe has translated for scholar of ancient language : HEBRAIST

18-down – Imminent revolt constraining dynasty : COMINGUP

19-down – Reckless behaviour wrong in prohibitionist : DEVILRY

21-down – Shortage of staff with cook finally leaving nursery : CRECHE

22-down – Not given ring, female sweetheart put off : SHELVE

24-down – Arm grabbing clear, sparkling tipple — sampling it? : WINE

9-across – Refuse to fight for little cash, losing face : SCRAPHEAP

10-across – Firm support for bust group dealing with crisis : COBRA

11-across – Only half reviving what royals do : REIGN

12-across – Move into computing is trouble for corporation : ENTERITIS

13-across – Encourages bloggers initially getting louder? : FOSTERS

14-across – Standard price? No go for person lacking appreciation : INGRATE

17-across – £1,000 put in bank is a good economy : TIGER

19-across – Signal in letter read out : CUE

20-across – What cockney uses to warm up diner : EATER

21-across – Goddess put off embracing this person : DEMETER

22-across – Discount left in reserve for digital component : CUTICLE

24-across – Mostly limping, ingesting energy in sprite : HOBGOBLIN

26-across – French bread then, with herb twists : EUROS

28-across – Two rivers in the country : RURAL

29-across – Spelling near to awful following European language : ESPERANTO

1-down – Spots architect clutching ruler : TSAR

2-down – Intellect of bishop comes down : BRAINS

3-down – It’s paradoxically known, so pretence is wasted : OPENSECRET

4-down – I don’t know about tax in depressed area : RECESS

5-down – Fighter inclines to lift sack : SPITFIRE

6-down – One providing good service for colourful shrub? : ACER

7-down – Summary of ratings on essay : ABSTRACT

8-down – Part of orchestra lacking right instrument : BASS

13-down – Doomed journalist needing to diet? : FATED

15-down – Suppose clothing involved beret, bar extras : GUESTBEERS

16-down – Governess defends current place for laying eggs : EYRIE

18-down – Issue raised by new bride makes you quail, say : GAMEBIRD

19-down – Singer’s around, plus car : CAROLLER

22-down – One seen at parties has talent for impersonation : CANAPE

23-down – I’m amazed about a halo of light : CORONA

24-down – It’s plucked from abridged version of Marx : HARP

25-down – Members of parliament slow to reform : OWLS

27-down – Your health seems to lack nothing, on the rise : SKOL

8-across – If apron loose, tie at the back — that’s it! : PINAFORE

9-across – Adult thing Spike Milligan might have said, on leaving? : IMAGO

10-across – See 24 down : TOSS

11-across – Opt for little dip : PICKPOCKET

12-across – A thing out of order, for heaven’s sake : HANGIT

14-across – Some meat including joints, where fish served : CHIPSHOP

15-across – From which 6 3 might be served for engagement? : PRESTON

17-across – Fencing off evergreens, spruce trimmed to begin with : ATFIRST

20-across – Swimmer beginning to tire in theatrical performer? : STURGEON

22-across – Cook up banger stuffed with last of mince : CREATE

23-across – See 25 : CANNONBALL

24-across – Pro-Democrat president : FORD

25-across – Awful stink: party going after an ecclesiastic having pinched intern’s behind — he’s fired : HUMAN

26-across – Grab ungulate initially behind hump : COPULATE

1-down – Conservative racket: Guardian’s nailing it : DINOSAUR

2-down – See 15 : PANS

3-down – See 6 : HOTPOT

4-down – Fashion icon briefly hugged by top fop : PEACOCK

5-down – Quick drive from London to Leeds on paper, an error : MISPRINT

6-down – Bread covered by another lid, not quite screwed onto hash dish : LANCASHIRE

7-down – Setter inspired by game that’s fruity : POMELO

13-down – Director finally welcomed by Frenchman with love, gracious in appreciation of board? : GASTRONOMY

16-down – Intimate element going in earlier — case dismissed : ONEONONE

18-down – Steep cost at weekends, perhaps, restricts you : SATURATE

19-down – I think about name for youth : INFANCY

21-down – Inferior technique coming up short : TRASHY

22-down – Muslim leader has an edge in church : CALIPH

24-down – Complain about ludicrous toll for delivery : FULL