Guardian Cryptic #28023

2020-01-07

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Across

7a

Member of the force working on a lead? (6,3)

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8a

Writer finds way into literary festival (5)

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9a

Briefest break since son climbs into bed (9)

10a

Cooker at home once more (5)

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12a

Newspaper feature generates support (6)

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13a

In revolutionary China, run by Mao, mostly as leader (8)

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14a

Little Boy Blue's triumph (7)

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17a

Most elevated dizzy heights (7)

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20a

Helmsman to steer south-west, carried by third person (8)

22a

Small and large specimen (6)

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24a

Judge an American god (5)

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25a
21d

Battle 4, perhaps, to stop in London (9,6)

26a

The Guardian and Independent read inside out? Strange (5)

27a

Warship's funny story, invading two rivers (9)

Down

1d

Main chant as cyclist retireshard to puncture two tyres (2-2-2)

2d

Noble is 1, 2, 3, 4, say, after 5? (8)

3d

Finally, when telephone call is on hold (6)

4d

Fabulous bird raised, literally, on an island (7)

5d

Pester animal (6)

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6d

Mixed salad around space station leads to butterflies (8)

11d

Duty on first vehicle (4)

15d

Setter eats old stew alone (8)

16d

Collect new paper, missing one page (4)

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18d

Poet finishes regularly ahead of racing driver (8)

19d

Defenceless woman's right by the sea (7)

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21d

See 25

22d

Protection, for example, hiding iron shirt (6)

23d

One idly passing time arranging flora around the end of June (6)