Independent Cryptic #12267

2026-01-31

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Across

8a

Range Rover’s number one - for radio operators this car will be next (6)

Generating...

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

Rover’s number one [R = Romeo]. Next letter in phonetic alphabet = Sierra. The Ford Sierra was a popular family car

9a

Head of entertainment, facing a charge, moves forward without fear (8)

Generating...

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

Head of entertainment [F in FUN] facing a charge [A RAID] moves forward [move F forwards]

10a

Quiet male worker is overwhelming when game (8)

Generating...

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

Quiet [P] male worker [ANT] is overwhelming [around] when [AS]

11a

A sweet thing to find precious metal on doorway (6)

Generating...

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

Precious metal [AU = gold] on doorway [GATE]

12a

Damage for adult in gay magazine (6)

Generating...

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

Damage [LOSS] for [replace] adult [A] in GAY

13a

Picnic's dessert has meat in it (8)

Generating...

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

Dessert [CAKE] has meat [LAMB] in it

15a

Second-hand clothes that woman showed (7)

Generating...

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

Second hand [USED] clothes [around] that woman [HER]

17a

See 5 Down

20a

Animal moving abroad in both directions (8)

Generating...

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

Anag (“moving”) ABROAD in both directions [L & R]

22a

What's left on a cemetery's borders (6)

Generating...

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

On [cricket direction = LEG] on a [A] cemetery’s borders [CY]

23a

Noted German charioteer losing wheel (6)

Generating...

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

Charioteer [WAGONER] losing wheel [O]

25a

Giant insects, one of them biting Henry (8)

Generating...

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

Insects [BEE and MOTH] one of them biting [around] Henry [H]

26a

God may be seen as model, I assume (8)

Generating...

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

Model [POSE] I assume [DON]

27a

Busy road blocked by enormous delivery (6)

Generating...

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

Anag (“busy”) ROAD blocked by [around] enormous [OS = oversize] A Doosra is a type of cricket bowling action

Down

1d
2d

(and 2 Down) Old Pope, born in Britain, not in Germany, rejecting tea we hear, also fresh fruit after short holidays (8,10)

Generating...
2d

See 1 Down

3d

Singer may not always be the same when losing voice at the start (6)

Generating...

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

May not always be the same [CAN VARY] losing voice at the start [- V]

4d

Union Jack raised by Reform MP after last of migrants will get what is fair (7)

Generating...

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

Union Jack [U J] raised [upside down] by Reform MP [TICE] after last of migrants [S]

5d
17a

(and 17 Across) For example Dutch PM, after consuming light meal, dismisses that person in education (8,7)

Generating...
6d

Dry, only letting in a minimum of rain (4)

Generating...

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

Only [BUT] letting in [around] a minimum of rain [R]

7d

Appropriate greeting to sailor (6)

flowerflowerflower
14d

Explosive stuff stored in Goodison, evacuated after second game (10)

Generating...

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

Explosive stuff [AMMO] stored [inside] Goodison evacuated [G N] after second [BACK]

16d

Animated explorer and daughter impressed by band from Birmingham, a place of fabulous wealth (8)

Generating...

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

Animated explorer [DORA] and daughter [D] impressed by [inside] band from Birmingham [ELO]

18d

Essential part of sweetcorn, and there's a lot more (2,6)

Generating...

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

Essential (middle) part of SWEETCORN = ETC

19d

Expert pop star not being paid (3,4)

Generating...

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

Expert [PRO] pop star [BONO]

21d

A place where you may get lost endlessly on a river. (6)

Generating...

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

A place where you may get lost [A MAZE] endlessly [= A MAZ] on [ON]

22d

It's spoken in Pakistan, half of Laos and oddly Hungary on top of that (6)

Generating...

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

Half of Laos [LA] oddly Hungary [HNA] on top of that [D]

24d

Initially not sure they're collections of 10s (4)

Generating...

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

Initially not {N] sure [YES]