Solving time: 8:30
Straightforward until the end, where I was unsure of 4dn and 13ac, but as it turned out my guesses were correct. On another day I’d probably have spent a good few more minutes looking for something better.
* = anagram, “X” = sounds like ‘X’.
| Across |
| 1 |
BU[s]TS |
| 13 |
KNOT + TIER |
| 15 |
C(HERO)OT |
| 17 |
DOSS (= ‘kip for tramp’) + I.E. + R |
| 21 |
SCOURGE; (G[ood] SOURCE) |
| 22 |
SEAT + ROUT[e] |
| 24 |
PRO + MO[gs] |
| 28 |
SHANGRI-LA – probably about the seventh time I’ve seen this in a crossword, and probably the first where I’ve been able to write it in correctly first time. |
| 30 |
(F for W)ELL |
| Down |
| 1 |
BA(SKETC[h] + A)SE – didn’t know this phrase and had to get it from the wordplay. |
| 2 |
THONG; “SONG” with a lisp |
| 4 |
P(RICK)ET – a 2-year-old male deer, according to Chambers. |
| 5 |
STEROID; (EDITOR’S) |
| 8 |
[z]ERO’S – didn’t get this until after solving. |
| 9 |
SWAN + SONG |
| 23 |
TRAMS; rev. of SMART |
| 25 |
OLIVE[r] |
| 26 |
S + LAP – ‘leg’ = LAP? |
Neil
3a Lord’s must have one and won’t (10)
APOSTROPHE. Made up for by the Grocers’ Potato’s that shouldn’t have any but do.
10a Animated miners’ leader not colourful (4-5)
SNOW WHITE. Not Arthur Scargill after all.
11a Sauce is nuisance on ring (5)
PEST O. Basilllll ….. shouts Mrs Fawlty.
12a Urge one gets before toast (3,2)
EGG ON. Assuming it takes longer to boil an egg than toast a slice or two of bread?
19a Soprano recorded hit (7)
S LOGGED. Sung during Twenty-20 cricket matches.
27a Animal turned back in a famous London thoroughfare (5)
LLAM A. That is A MALL backwards. I have searched the A-Z thoroughly for NEYH. Not there.
29a Rustic class holding line with agreeable remark (10)
P L EASANTRY. Surprised that they could afford a phone with a serf’s wages.
6d Move plant in boozer upwards (5)
REPOT. Toper bacwards.
7d Stern ad starts to impact on roads (9)
POSTER I.O.R.
14d Scrap that’s universally welcome? (4-3-3)
FREE-FOR-ALL
16d Former partner, one on speed let off (9)
EX ONE RATE
18d What printing strikers do in break (8)
STOP PAGE
20d Forget serious offence in visits (5,2)
DROP SIN
21d Such is a good weather forecast just after a few games (3,4)
SET FAIR. Anyone for tennis?