Guardian Cryptic #28984

2023-02-03

Solve on Guardian →

Across

1a

Ungentlemanly type, even worse with a different leader (7)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

Changing the “leader” (first letter) would give BASTARD, a worse description than dastard

5a

Stopped working as a model, you could say, getting thrown out (7)

flowerflowerflower
9a

Very little time to look (5)

flowerflowerflower
10a

Clear Number 10 not against being offensive (9)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

OBVIOUS (clear) with V (against) replaced by NO X

11a

I want a head sacked! Preposterous (4,2,4)

flowerflowerflower
12a

Grand piano, one in church, returned (4)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

P[iano] I in reverse of CE

14a

Supporter of ex-PM (English not American), one who was recently deported (5,6)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

BORIS [Johnson] BACKER with the A changed to E. Becker was recently deported from the UK after serving eight months of a 2½-year sentence for tax evasion

18a

Strong drink: another litre abused (8,3)

flowerflowerflower
21a

Means for controlling weather, say? (4)

Generating...
22a

Dogmatic believers do eulogise insanely (10)

flowerflowerflower
25a

Criminal crossit's nicer outside (9)

flowerflowerflower
26a

Man recalled daughter featuring in Vogue (5)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

Reverse of D in RAGE (fashion, vogue)

27a

People divided opinion at the endare maybe right about society (7)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

Reverse of OK (right) + ARE* + [opinio]N + S[ociety] – rather a fiddly construction, but I think the order of the elements is indicated correctly if you read the clue carefully

28a

Forest keepers who play in Scotland (7)

flowerflowerflower

Down

1d

Renounce, as police personnel have (6)

flowerflowerflower
2d

Spiritual healer's not a proper one (6)

flowerflowerflower
3d

Philosophical concept analysed as rot, badly (6,4)

flowerflowerflower
4d

Sad it's gone? Not cool, Vlad's loincloth (5)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

SAD less SA (sex appeal. “it”) + HOT (not cool) + I (Vlad)

5d

Germany's elitist group in China? (6,3)

flowerflowerflower
6d

Producer of Bond cutting introduction: it's rotten (4)

flowerflowerflower
7d

Talked about cheap American trailer (8)

flowerflowerflower
8d

Collectors' vehicle (8)

flowerflowerflower
13d

Tory minister working over rising colleague in hurry (3,1,4,2)

Generating...
15d

See orders for repairing screens (9)

flowerflowerflower
16d

Extreme nerdone might pick you up on grammar at first, I'm afraid! (8)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

UBER (a hired vehicle that might pick you up) + G[rammar] + EEK (I’m afraid!)

17d

Previously left at home in care of nurse (8)

flowerflowerflower
19d

Rob Lowe gutted after fare goes up (6)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

Reverse of GRUB (food, fare) + L[ow]E

20d

Teacher is followingO God! (6)

flowerflowerflower
23d

Big around end of November and what follows it (5)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

OS (outsize) + CA (circa, around) + [novembe]R – Oscar follows November in the NATO phonetic alphabet

24d

Mounted enthusiastic female singer (4)

flowerflowerflower