This crossword No. 26998 clues and answers were published on Sat 24 Sep 2016 and the puzzle can be visited by following The Guardian Prize Crossword No. 26998 link.
All Across Clues and Answers:
1-across – Party leader in country going to the end, expecting agony? : LABOURPAINS
9-across – Quails caught, hoops snaring tail of one : CRINGES
10-across – Secret John introduced to Lily : ARCANUM
11-across – Taking seconds, shun bad sex exciting partner no longer : EXHUSBAND
12-across – Somewhat evil I accept — hippy, might you say? : ILIAC
13-across – By all conclusions, subject far too challenging for Neanderthal : TROG
14-across – Keen observer, each present in river : WEATHEREYE
16-across – Rice, perhaps, in party, model passed round with starter of tempura : LIBRETTIST
19-across – Don’t start to provide money for nothing — it’s free : UNDO
20-across – Where the Sphinx is lacking a flash device : GIZMO
21-across – One of five children behind friend with an old people carrier : PALANQUIN
23-across – Lover of playwright shut up like a canary? : SHAVIAN
24-across – Surgical instrument, short knife that’s carried about : CURETTE
25-across – Plaid Cymru atoned for supposedly truthful programme : DOCUMENTARY
All Down Clues and Answers:
1-down – English town flier supporting spy novelist, end ripped out : LEIGHTONBUZZARD
2-down – Giving ground, America it’s assumed : BOGUS
3-down – Trump, rampant rutter, close to irresistible : UPSTAGE
4-down – Weave binding unknotted fringes getting praise : PLAUDIT
5-down – Popular head of community ruled, as willing : INCLINED
6-down – It runs and runs? Yes, I’d developed a high-tech business : SUNRISEINDUSTRY
7-down – Cruise, say, where colonists get transported around island : SCIENTOLOGIST
8-down – Requiring a slap, Archer keeps working, that is, for money : SMACKEROONIES
15-down – Wicked trial for murderer in lift : DEMONIAC
17-down – Name of a place where cat keeps horse : TOPONYM
18-down – Ground starved of oxygen, picture another element? : SILICON
22-down – Not entirely conventional opera : NORMA
This crossword has in total 26 where 14 are across and 12 are down.