One for the double definition fans. This was very gentle except for a couple of clues that took a bit more thought. I was expecting a fast time but I seem to have stretched it out to an exactly par 6:00.
| Across | |
|---|---|
| 1 | Pigment more likely to ooze, as reported (5) |
| SEPIA – Sounds like ‘Seepier’, i.e more oozy | |
| 7 | Emperor, black one, keeps away (9) |
| BONAPARTE – B + ONE surrounding APART | |
| 9 | Finally, short book (5) |
| ATLAS – Short for AT LAST | |
| 10 | School’s good stuff repeated back (7) |
| GRAMMAR – G + RAM (stuff) + MAR (RAM backwards) | |
| 11 | Stop flow from firm (7) |
| STAUNCH – double definition | |
| 12 | A number competent and believable (7) |
| TENABLE – TEN + ABLE | |
| 15 | I won’t bore you with the rest too quickly (3,2,2) |
| AND SO ON – AND (too) + SOON | |
| 18 | Actress’s floral wreath (7) |
| GARLAND – double definition | |
| 20 | God! Fantastic answer that will fix everything (7) |
| PANACEA – PAN (god) + ACE + A | |
| 22 | I study small pictures (5) |
| ICONS – I + CON + S | |
| 23 | This designer could move to the Arctic (9) |
| ARCHITECT – anagram (‘could move to’) of THE ARCTIC | |
| 24 | Badger and pair of rooks in grass (5) |
| HARRY – RR (two rooks) inside HAY | |
| Down | |
|---|---|
| 1 | Photographs of biscuits (5) |
| SNAPS – double definition | |
| 2 | Robbed tablet, not new (8) |
| PILLAGED – PILL (tablet) + AGED (not new) | |
| 3 | First two letters posted elsewhere (6) |
| ABSENT – A+B (first two letters) + SENT | |
| 4 | Injury from run in the country (6) |
| SPRAIN – R in SPAIN | |
| 5 | A weird lily (4) |
| ARUM – A + RUM | |
| 6 | Apprentice left good source of income (7) |
| LEARNER – L + EARNER | |
| 8 | Singer’s dark time at home with grand beer (11) |
| NIGHTINGALE – NIGHT + IN + G + ALE | |
| 13 | Thrash, live party (8) |
| BELABOUR – BE (live) + LABOUR | |
| 14 | Panic, as floundering in sea (7) |
| CASPIAN – anagram (‘floundering’) of PANIC AS | |
| 16 | Evil goblin concealed beautiful flower (6) |
| ORCHID – ORC + HID. Chestnut | |
| 17 | Violent indignation, transfixed by one apparition (6) |
| WRAITH – WRATH with I inserted | |
| 19 | Regularly dour where clouds are somewhat dark (5) |
| DUSKY – Alternate letters of DOUR + SKY | |
| 21 | Quite pleasant city? (4) |
| NICE – Double definition. Double chestnut. | |
How does LABOUR = ‘party’?
EDIT: I’m very dumb. I can’t even use my standard excuse, as I’ve read many pieces lately about the things Labour is doing to crater their popularity and public trust over there.