Double Crossword

ACROSS

1. A soap heroine will usually -------- (surmount) all her manifold problems (8)

5. The Aardvark - a kids’ favourite (4)

9. When an engineer ------- a new TV - he should give basic use instructions (7)

10. Ms La Plante, author of Widows and many other shows (5)

11. Michele Chiappa teaches us how to make pasta (and much more) on Channel 4 (6,7)

13. Some channels never ----- (stop) broadcasting - keep going 24/7 (5)

15. To err is -----, as Wogan’s out-takes demonstrated (5)

17. This Is Your Life might offer its subject material to write their own ------------- (13)

21. (see 3D)

22. The comic is usually ------- (cleverer) than his straight man. Or thinks he is (7)

23. What performers in variety programmes present (4)

24. Solo skaters’ art on TV amazes and -------- (8)

DOWN

1. A soap rarely ----- (leaves out) the ‘cliffhanger’ ending (5)

2. The Derby is televised from these Downs (5)

3. &21Ac. The ‘Hallo my darlings’ comedian (7,5)

4. BBC2 Horizon Special about the search for life on another planet (7,2,4)

6. Alan Whicker was renowned for his ------- (travelling around the world) (7)

7. Michael J. - played Jack Daniels in A Very Peculiar Practice (7)

8. Perry Mason was well accustomed to entering a ---- of not guilty for his clients (4)

12. Anger always lying just below the surface with Victor Meldrew (3)

13. Ms Winkleman, who took over BBC’s Film review for a while (7)

14. A new show may ------- (appeal to) a completely new viewership (7)

15. ------- Hornblower, hero of ITV’s naval wars series (7)

16. Group which suggests we don’t smoke when watching TV (3)

18. Favourite tipple of sitcom males (4)

19. An established TV star may sometimes --- -- a good word for a promising newcomer (5)

20. Michael Palin co-wrote and starred in Ripping ----- (5)

Last week’s solutions

Across: 7 Bill; 8 Location; 9 Entrance; 10 Tank; 11 Asleep; 13 Ursula; 15 Asthma; 17 Embeds; 19 Saga; 21 Business; 23 Critical; 24 Omit.

Down: 1 Pianists; 2 Clarke; 3 Alan; 4 Schedule; 5 Status; 6 Moon; 12 Playback; 14 Ladyship; 16 Health; 18 Benson; 20 Airs; 22 Solo.