Crossword - Scotland on Sunday 17/03/13

ACROSS

3 Get a role as somebody’s double (5,3)

8 & 2 Down Are Tory schemes endlessly unravelled by politician? (4,9)

9 A very quiet journalist with external influence is no longer up to the job (7,3)

10 Old designer gets some radio reception (4)

11 Always removing a heavyweight from club (4)

13 Girl is retreating with a riddle (5)

17 Old civilised types constructed manors (6)

18 Park worker connected to 25 (6)

19 Bailey, pointlessly, goes mad in the country (5)

22 The mirage does conceal a foreign ruler (4)

24 A girl doesn’t get finished, more’s the pity (4)

25 I’m led forth into ruin – they’re now in different leagues (3,3,4)

26 Employs trucks right away (4)

27 Keeps America covered in black marks (8)

DOWN

1 & 23 Down Notice wart developing through drink (5,5)

2 See 8 Across

4 Drive back somebody who is shunned in society (5)

5 But they could be odds! (5)

6 Run off to the match (5)

7 Lasts longer than university waster, possibly (8)

12 Direction taken by England and Scotland’s tourist leaders (4)

14 Someone who is foolish or amusing? (9)

15 Quietly tells the churchy people (8)

16 Athlete’s gorge (4)

20 They can be drunk by buzzers around the end of December (5)

21 Everything and nothing’s on a Scottish community (5)

22 The Spanish conclusion – in Paris – is small and sprightly (5)

23 See 1 Down

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION

Across 1, Las Palmas. 8, Optic. 9, Comedic. 11, Urgent. 12, Terence. 13, Knot. 14, Eta. 17, Sue. 18, View. 21, Ironing. 23, Harold. 24, Patriot. 25, Rogue. 25, Duchesses.

Down 2, Alone. 3, Prefer. 4, Mac. 5, Soprano. 6, Streets. 7, Scotch Egg. 10, Inch. 12, Treachery. 15, Average. 16, Replied. 19, Irma. 20, Snares. 22, Noose. 24, Pic.