Double crossword

Today’s grid...
By The Newsroom
Published 5th Oct 2012, 15:39 BST

Cryptic puzzle

Across

3. Head-hunt Raquel, possibly, in being a clown (9)

8. Tie up on return to dwelling (4)

9. I’d check a possible eastern singer (9)

10. Bird in red, confused and coy (6)

11. Record backing out of order on this planet (5)

14. She’s from South America, where the sun comes out (5)

15. African toilet for animals, by the sound of it (4)

16. Second person no good for baby (5)

18. Don’t allow a come-back for a horse (4)

20. Send off without a meal (5)

21. Wake up to an alcoholic drink (5)

24. Have the edge in each base (6)

25. Being first to blame zoo characters and cheat (9)

26. Pickle found in officers’ quarters (4)

27. Salesman taking in for a second time? (9)

Down

1. Smart Den, a properly organised business person (9)

2. Commas, sir, are official in Russia (9)

4. Long one outside the hotel (4)

5. Handy place to get a drink? (5)

6. Liquid measurements, we hear, used to make mineral (6)

7. Teams losing direction in the middle of the month (4)

9. On entering, weep for a friend (5)

11. Make cuts where fruit is concerned (5)

12. But our men appear to exceed quantity (9)

13. House Rita built with permit (9)

17. Look angry when lager is spilt (5)

19. Robert, head bandsman at the French ball (6)

22. Cry when it’s one’s turn to buy a drink? (5)

23. Force me to embrace a royal (4)

24. Not difficult for one to leave scheme (4)

Quick puzzle

Across

3. Infancy (9)

8. Similar (4)

9. Bewilder (9)

10. Tacked (6)

11. Tag (5)

14. Proportion (5)

15. Frost (4)

16. Less (5)

18. Foam (4)

20. Lax (5)

21. Eat away (5)

24. Entertained (6)

25. Ridiculous (9)

26. Soon (4)

27. Sea creature (9)

Down

1. Quirk (9)

2. Tiny (9)

4. Principal (4)

5. The Scales (5)

6. Horn (6)

7. Leer (4)

9. Broom (5)

11. Spear (5)

12. Large car (9)

13. Accused (9)

17. Mire (5)

19. Economic (6)

22. Midget (5)

23. Diminish (4)

24. Charity (4)

Thursday’s solutions

CRYPTIC - Across: 1 Word; 3 Stranger; 8 Toga; 9 Merchant; 11 Humanitarian; 13 Lentil; 14 Stupor; 17 Smallholding; 20 Retrieve; 21 Gaga; 22 Struggle; 23 Kent. Down: 1 Withhold; 2 Regimen; 4 Treaty; 5 Accurately; 6 Ghana; 7 Rota; 10 Unyielding; 12 Braggart; 15 Private; 16 Shovel; 18 Motor; 19 Urns.QUICK - Across: 1 Soft; 3 Academic; 8 Awry; 9 Surmount; 11 Bloodthirsty; 13 Rescue; 14 Elapse; 17 Brainwashing; 20 Massacre; 21 Lair; 22 Wanderer; 23 Levy. Down: 1 Scabbard; 2 Furious; 4 Caught; 5 Demoralise; 6 Mount; 7 Cute; 10 Adjudicate; 12 Beggarly; 15 Private; 16 Swerve; 18 Risen; 19 Smew.