Solving time: 10:50, with a fair chunk of that on my last two. Although this is a little faster than my average time, the usual early quick solvers have taken a bit longer than usual. There’s some nice wordplay here, and a few tricky definitions, so overall a fine puzzle.
I think I have everything sorted out, but if you find a mistake or have a question, check the comments, since I will not be able to modify this until the early afternoon UK time.
Away we go…
| Across |
| 1 |
Unrested, somehow, set to come out at night (8) |
|
DENTURES – anagram of UNRESTED, set of teeth you might take out at night |
| 6 |
One managing to contain phosphorus in large vessel (6) |
|
COPPER – COPER(one managing) containing P(phosphorus) |
| 9 |
Search on northern river keeps one in form (13) |
|
QUESTIONNAIRE – QUEST(search) ON, N(northern), AIRE(river) containing I(one) |
| 10 |
Fish food with crust son Charlie tucks into (6) |
|
PISCES – PIES(food with crust) containing S(son), C(Charlie, NATO alpahabet) |
| 11 |
Traveller cutting steak produces an instrument (8) |
|
TROMBONE – ROM(gypsy, traveller) inside a T-BONE steak |
| 13 |
African seen buffeted by winds close to village (10) |
|
SENEGALESE – anagram of SEEN then GALES(winds) and the last letter of villagE |
| 15 |
Smaller runner runs poorly (4) |
|
RILL – R(runs), ILL(poorly) |
| 16 |
Grain used in pudding: try it first (4) |
|
SAGO – GO(try) with SA(it) first |
| 18 |
Dictatorial nurses see proof (10) |
|
IMPERVIOUS – IMPERIOUS(dictatorial) containing V(see) |
| 21 |
Remains here when rogue returns, having caught on (4,4) |
|
GODS ACRE – AS DOG(rogue) reversed, then C(caught), RE(on) |
| 22 |
Sandy, also going to hold back in quarrel (6) |
|
SHINDY – remove AND(also) fron SANDY, then insert HIND(back) |
| 23 |
Stuttering woe corrected in diction exercise (6-7) |
|
TONGUE-TWISTER – anagram of STUTTERING,WOE |
| 25 |
Get morsel to chew as filling (4,2) |
|
BEAT IT – BIT(morsel) containing EAT(to chew) |
| 26 |
Night fell over development area (8) |
|
DARKROOM – DARK(night) then MOOR(fell) reversed. An area for developing photographs |
| Down |
| 2 |
Title state expunged from essay and paper (7) |
|
ESQUIRE – remove SAY(state) from ESSAY, then QUIRE(paper) |
| 3 |
Dangerous influence monarch introduced to all French (11) |
|
TREACHEROUS – REACH(influence), ER(monarch) inside TOUS(all, in French) |
| 4 |
Considers vermin circling base of tree (5) |
|
RATES – RATS(vermin) containing the last letter of treE |
| 5 |
Small bed and leash for dog (7) |
|
SCOTTIE – S(small), COT(bed) and TIE(leash) |
| 6 |
Old soldier, one with punishing schedule, maybe, nobody welcomed (9) |
|
CANNONEER – CANER(one whose schedule involves giving out punishment), containing NONE(nobody) |
| 7 |
Postie occasionally delivers foreign letter (3) |
|
PSI – alternating letters in PoStIe |
| 8 |
Endless ale drunk before and after reported act (7) |
|
ETERNAL – anagram of ALE containing what sounds like TURN(act) |
| 12 |
Sign of illegitimacy as wickedness is evident in deal (3,8) |
|
BAR SINISTER – SIN(wickedness), IS inside BARTER(deal) |
| 14 |
Anti-Royalist battle? (9) |
|
AGINCOURT – if you are anti-Royalist then you are AGIN COURT |
| 17 |
Christian missionary throwing stone into a bar (7) |
|
APOSTLE – ST(stone) inside A, POLE(bar) |
| 19 |
Organic fuel around lake man gathered (7) |
|
PLEATED – PEAT(organic fuel) containing L(ake) all reversed then ED(man) |
| 20 |
Open about amount of work experience (7) |
|
UNDERGO – UNDO(open) surrounding ERG(amount of work) |
| 22 |
Sporty sort to steal tuppence from captain? (5) |
|
SKIER – remove P,P(tuppence) from SKIPPER(captain) |
| 24 |
Fortune trader keeps after taxes (3) |
|
NET – hidden inside fortuNE Trader |
No probs with GET – my Mum said this often….
COD TONGUE TWISTER