Independent Cryptic #11608

2023-12-25

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Across

1a

Histrionic tot an hour after midnight how Christmas starts (8)

Generating...

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

DRAM – a tot of drink & AT 1 – an hour after midnight & start of C(hristmas). I’m not utterly convinced how I’ve parsed this one

6a

Devil similar to horned creature (6)

Generating...

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

IMP – devil & A-LA – like, similar to

9a

Cheeky Girls number in medleys (6)

flowerflowerflower
10a

Another business function fed by sandwich shop (8)

flowerflowerflower
11a

Fail seeing Santa's reindeer? Hang out nuts (12)

flowerflowerflower
13a

Nice to hear incantation revived by Spooner (10)

Generating...

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

Spoonerism of SPELL – incantation WOKEN – revived

15a

Children get penny that's in the middle of pudding (4)

Generating...

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

SEE – get, understand & D – old penny, that is, the middle of (pud) D (ing)

16a

Extra food called for to be made fast (4)

flowerflowerflower
18a

Store has brown jumper in large and medium (10)

Generating...

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

UMBER – shade of brown & ROO – Aussie jumper – all in L(arge) & M(edium)

21a

Might one be upset in red with Villa up? (12)

flowerflowerflower
24a

Before present given test about shepherds (8)

flowerflowerflower
25a

Reflecting Hamlet perhaps term for that? (6)

Generating...

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

Hamlet is a brand of CIGAR & end of tha T all reversed, reflected and another all in one referring to the play

26a

Rich do deal that's dodgy (6)

flowerflowerflower
27a

Women in pews perhaps trying to maintain body temperature (8)

flowerflowerflower

Down

2d

Animal Dürer imagined might make you richer soon (10)

flowerflowerflower
3d

Magnetic fellow giving maiden a kiss skilfully (7)

Generating...

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

James Clerk MAXWELL did magnetic work in the 1860s. M(aiden) & A & X – kiss & WELL – skillfully

4d

Key to clothes shop (5)

flowerflowerflower
5d

Russian leaves something for Santa to fill (7)

flowerflowerflower
6d

Popular gambling game keeps general in poverty (9)

Generating...

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

IN – popular & GEN(eral) in DICE

7d

Gentle exercise starts to add tone stretching a lot (7)

Generating...

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

Starts of A dd T one inside PILES – loads

8d

Pine trunk that's been felled cut by Norway (4)

flowerflowerflower
12d

Gong showing time for Christmas speech (10)

flowerflowerflower
14d

Friend greeting friends regularly had a natter (9)

Generating...

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

PAL – friend & AVE – greeting & alternate letters of f R i E n D s

17d

King at head of very happy family (7)

flowerflowerflower
19d

Rolling Stones blare out in M&S (7)

Generating...

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

BLARE* out in M&S

20d

Robin perhaps alert in shot (7)

flowerflowerflower
22d

Loose woman in the family taking top off (5)

Generating...

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

A topless (a)UNTIE

23d

Hitch a loop to secure light at the top of the Christmas tree (4)

flowerflowerflower