Straightforward
Nothing much to add really.The puzzle was straightforward with nothing standing out as particularly clever or controversial. If pushed, I’d say the puzzle felt a bit dated and used old “crosswordese” such as US for useless.
| Across | ||
| 1 | FOURTH ESTATE | Press forward acquiring high- class property (6,6) |
| FO(U)RTH + ESTATE | ||
| 8 | AEROSOL | Area resentful over deficient old spray (7) |
| A + <=SORE + OL(d) | ||
| 9 | RUSSIAN | Language game initially surprises Welsh girl (7) |
| R.U. + S(ursprises) + SIAN | ||
| 11 | LEADING | Ahead, making case – not quietly at first (7) |
| (p)LEADING | ||
| 12 | THICKEN | Countryman in trap returning to become more involved (7) |
| HICK in <=NET | ||
| 13 | YIELD | Profit from factory in end that is extremely limited (5) |
| (factor)Y + I.E. +L(imite)D | ||
| 14 | ATTORNEYS | Legal people’s unusual stationery I avoided (9) |
| *(statonery) (stationery – I) | ||
| 16 | REHEARSER | One practising in section of Army listens to Queen (9) |
| R.E. + HEARS + E.R. | ||
| 19 | SCORE | Son with heart making mark (5) |
| S + CORE | ||
| 21 | DERIDED | Was contemptuous about routine in drag first of all included in act (7) |
| R(outine) I(n) D(rag) in DEED | ||
| 23 | CONCEPT | Against Church training idea (7) |
| CON + C.E. + P.T. | ||
| 24 | EPISODE | Incident leads to errant pupil in school getting lines (7) |
| E(rrant) P(upil) I(n) S(chool) + ODE | ||
| 25 | ALI BABA | Liberal seaman in group tackling addiction showing character of Arabs? (3,4) |
| LIB A.B. in A.A. | ||
| 26 | SENSE OF SMELL | Love to be entertained by selfless men working in this faculty? (5,2,5) |
| *(selfless men + O) | ||
| Down | ||
| 1 | FORSAKE | Abandon alcoholic drink after warning, brief (7) |
| SAKE after FOR(e) | ||
| 2 | UNSPIED | Doctor used PIN without being noticed (7) |
| *(used pin) | ||
| 3 | TELEGRAMS | Clever to turn up circulating European member’s communications (9) |
| E LEG in <=SMART | ||
| 4 | EGRET | Flier feels upset – without going to extremes (5) |
| (r)EGRET(s) | ||
| 5 | TASTIER | New artiste – more appealing (7) |
| *(tastier) | ||
| 6 | TWINKLE | The instant wife puts ring on (7) |
| W in TINKLE (“ring” as in “give me a twinkle”) | ||
| 7 | BAILEY BRIDGE | Order big beer daily – it helps to get to the other side! (6,6) |
| *(big beer daily) | ||
| 10 | NON-ESSENTIAL | When wrestling, neat nelson is required? No (3-9) |
| *(neat nelson is) | ||
| 15 | TURNCOATS | These change position and stun actor in play (9) |
| *(stun actor) | ||
| 17 | HEROINE | Female’s written about French king meeting English – admirable lady (7) |
| ROI in HER + E | ||
| 18 | ARDUOUS | A right pair, useless, difficult (7) |
| A + R + DUO + US (“useless”) | ||
| 19 | SUNRISE | Light moment? (7) |
| Cryptic definition? | ||
| 20 | OVERALL | Garment finished – Sally’s content (7) |
| OVER + (s)ALL(y) | ||
| 22 | DIEGO | Finish work for Spanish guy (5) |
| DIE + GO | ||
*anagram
Thanks Gurney and loonapick
Did this in two sessions on an unseasonably hot 40 degree day down here – with an evening at the beach between them.
Also found it pretty straightforward finishing in the NE corner with RUSSIAN and TWINKLE the last couple in.
Thanks loonapick and Gurney.
Did this over a quick sandwich.
Pretty unremarkable really. SUNRISE went in with an unconvinced “I suppose so”.
SENSE OF SMELL was ruined by a drop of mustard Mayo!