Test your mental acuity with our latest cryptic crossword, offering a mix of riddles and clever wordplay that will entertain puzzle enthusiasts.
Across Clues
1 Across – Insert a silly person into sparkling wine to find this starch (7 letters)
5 Across – Discover this millenarian sect known for mixing cocktails (7 letters)
9 Across – Mr Big finds himself in complicated relationships, leading to difficulties (9 letters)
10 Across – An ‘Academy’ starter characterised by brevity and beginning with a vowel (5 letters)
11 Across – Hold onto a note and place this bet (4 letters)
12 Across – An exclamation of joy; born amidst long stretches in bed but refusing to engage (7, 3 letters)
14 Across – Presenting ‘The End of History’ implies retracting an opinion (6 letters)
15 Across – This person exploits employees while producing a garment (7 letters)
16 Across – A small train changes course towards Nancy (7 letters)
18 Across – Face a continual cost here (6 letters)
20 Across – A cereal known for cleaning teeth could cause this gloomy feeling (10 letters)
21 Across – A change in mindset might lead to this terrible fate (4 letters)
24 Across – A broadcaster casually includes this jazz piece in the theatre (5 letters)
25 Across – Changing attire while stark naked leaves someone silent (9 letters)
26 Across – Arriving home, but the absence of a river suggests a channel shift (7 letters)
27 Across – Law enforcement takes time to swap cold for this headgear (7 letters)
Down Clues
1 Down – Workers enter this place for a tea break and a slice (3, 2 letters)
2 Down – Seeing no issues with being meticulously groomed (7 letters)
3 Down – Regular theft from balconies surfaces as a problem one must face (4 letters)
4 Down – Dickens’ work involved an otherworldly ordeal that needed reorganisation (3, 3, 4, 5 letters)
5 Down – Temporarily set aside funds for this suspenseful novel? (8, 7 letters)
6 Down – Forego alcohol to bring about savings (10 letters)
7 Down – Exhibit this ancient equine with a singular piece of tack (7 letters)
8 Down – A bridge duo starts with spades, hiding their queen effectively (7 letters)
13 Down – An author pens a new title while adding a few pages amidst the peat (4-3, 3 letters)
16 Down – Set to remove a particular browser element (7 letters)
17 Down – A minute piece of technology struggles to encircle a prominent head (7 letters)
19 Down – Hold firm amidst illness, though experiencing an upward surge (7 letters)
22 Down – Initially, a masseur claims possession of this magical touch (5 letters)
23 Down – Abandon something with condescension, provided it’s not ancient (4 letters)
Reporting based on coverage first published by theguardian.com.