Independent Cryptic #1653

2021-10-31

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Across

1a
2d

(and 2 Down) Vocalist to improvise around unusual chord - it's a must-see (12,3)

10a

Methuselah had to complete a course his boss thought up (7)

11a

Naked man possibly relieves 28 older women (7)

12a

With lead characters lost, hob must cast spells (5)

14a
4d

(and 4 Down) Stirring cauldron, cut a sinister figure (5,7)

17a

One sent down for good over unsuccessful coup, originally (7)

18a

Endangered bat's taken to have wings clipped (2,5)

20a

A-list brought on board to create comedies (7)

22a

Old devil's got a couple of old stars forgetting their lines (2-3-2)

23a

Tolkien has him following a ring of gold around (5)

24a

Part of a Halloween tradition where a sucker is made to welcome a little rascal (5)

27a

Fancy gadget shown in Bond film's teaser? (3,4)

28a

Troublemaker finally blowing entrance off Vlad's castle (7)

30a

Pole gives attack dog the slip and joins two Italians who escaped long ago (5,7)

Down

2d

See 1 Across

3d

Slasher presumably showing vamp with a different origin (7)

4d

See 14 Across

5d

Downing Street figure working to upset some players (5)

6d

Wickedness to be sent from below (4)

7d

Part of window showing star now and then - shut it! (4)

8d

Dom's alibi when travelling is fiendish practice (9)

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9d

Priest cracking hints about contents of early cardinal's tomb (9)

13d

Letters regularly dispatched from US to African capital (5)

15d

Little attention seekers in hotel with things available at reception (9)

16d

Initiating another session about action on pitch (9)

19d

Sharp, stinging pain (5)

21d

Sign of cross almost knocked European character over (7)

22d

A portion of scrambled egg on salmon's picked up and necked (7)

23d

Gothic building in which there's a lack of reflection (5)

25d

Sorceress wants women to tickle (4)

26d

Dress like a folk-tale wolf we've heard about (4)

29d

Ultimately obsolete little contraction which we still use occasionally today (3)