Independent Cryptic #12313

2026-03-26

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Across

9a

Shrubs from Avon's source spreading over banks (9)

Generating...

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

First letter (source) of A [von], inserted into (spreading = separating) O (abbreviation for over, in cricket scoring) + LENDERS (banks = money-lenders).

10a

Sheepish climber gets oxygen first (5)

Generating...

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

VINE (climbing plant), with O (chemical symbol for oxygen) first. Ovine = concerned with or resembling sheep.

11a

One fleeced by second person over the phone (3)

Generating...

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

Sound-alike (over the phone) of YOU (the second person, grammatically). An animal with a fleece.

12a

Unicode sure to break eventually (11)

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13a

The Scarlet Letter, with long introduction from Hawthorne (5)

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14a

To sum up most of epic is boring to me (9)

Generating...

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

EPI [c] without the last letter (most of . . .), then IS inserted into (boring) TO ME . Epitomise = to be a classic example of something = to sum it up.

17a

Trouper playing loud man at National Theatre leads in Zenda as unconquered villain (15)

Generating...
20a

Week wrestling with short set of exercises (9)

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22a

Asteroid captured by space researchers (5)

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24a

Quick transport announcement about shortened tram (11)

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26a

Pitch of backing singer (3)

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27a

Header omitted from paper edition (5)

Generating...

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

[t] ISSUE (a type of thin paper) without the first letter (header).

28a

Drink loads in closing bars (9)

Generating...

Down

1d

Blood cells' origin is one male interred in burial mound (10)

Generating...

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

ONE + M (abbreviation for male) inserted into BARROW (an ancient burial mound).

2d

Feel bitter about pressure to avoid attending (6)

Generating...

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

[p] RESENT (attending = at an event) without P (abbreviation for pressure).

3d

His Excellency probes Byzantine prince in disguise (8)

Generating...
4d

Interfering sod led mobile to block online content (10)

Generating...
5d

Told I'm going to offshore location (4)

Generating...

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

Sound-alike (told) of I’LL (I will = I’m going to). Island = offshore location.

6d

Directed Up or another Pixar movie in elaborate style (6)

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7d

French resort business to stock bara brith without crusts (8)

Generating...
8d

Reported grain yield (4)

Generating...
15d

Facing repercussions won't air the broadcast (10)

Generating...

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

Anagram (broadcast = scattered) of WON’T AIR THE . In hot water = slang for in trouble, expecting criticism or punishment.

16d

Rider's request to cycle in surrounding area (10)

Generating...

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

REQUEST with the letters “cycling” so tht the R goes to the end, followed by IN surrounding A (abbreviation for area). A horse-rider, especially one competing in riding events. Or the definition could be “rider’s” = relating to horse-riding = equestrian as an adjective.

18d

Soldier at base tackling onset of shellshock gets to demobilise? (8)

Generating...

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

PARA (short for paratrooper = a soldier trained in parachuting) + LYE (a strongly alkaline substance = base, in chemical terminology), containing (tackling) the first letter (onset) of S [hellshock]. A question-mark for a loose definition: paralyse = stop someone or something from moving = the opposite of mobilise.

19d

Arrest man reflecting on drug's designation (8)

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21d

Poured out barrel containing whiskey (6)

Generating...
23d

Replace gear thief lifted (6)

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24d

What tempts bishop with boundless faith? (4)

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25d

I appreciate that company's Mexican food (4)

Generating...