Double Crossword

Choice of cryptic or quick puzzle, and (just in case you’ve been wracking your brains) yesterday’s solutions.
By The Newsroom
Published 5th Mar 2012, 12:06 BST

Cryptic puzzle

Across

1. What soldiers, clerics and company representatives do (4,6)

7. Where you’ll find political correspondents seek to pressurise (5)

8. Representative from the clay-pit (7)

10. Rent once squandered on curtain material (8)

11. This will blow up a room at the spa (4)

13. If care is used, this could provide transport (6)

15. An old light cloak (6)

17. Almost reluctant to do the cleaning (4)

18. Stumbled along, prepared to make a deal (8)

21. They secure an assortment of pastels (7)

22. Debauchee near northern French town (5)

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23. Experienced one providing care when Nat suffers horribly (5,5)

Down

1. A schedule for the board (5)

2. At which the player does manual work? (8)

3. Trip abroad in the capital of Greece (6)

4. Drug used in protracted operation (4)

5. Figure out again what narrators do (7)

6. They are divided into minute sections (5,5)

9. Interpreting what’s said from the mouth-piece (3-7)

12. Traveller unusually wary about food (8)

14. The first male colonist refusing to yield (7)

16. Picked ones by the church, maybe (6)

19. Seoul damaged by unpleasant parasite (5)

20. Cycle frame equipped with key inside (4)

Quick puzzle

Across

1. Pleasing (10)

7. Way (5)

8. Gave out (7)

10. Credulous (8)

11. Damage (4)

13. Stay (6)

15. Request (6)17. Just (4)

18. Infirm (8)21. Scrap (7)

22.Excel (5)

23. Compost (10)

Down

1. Thin soup (5)

2. Pre-meal drink (8)

3. Transfix (6)

4. Abominable snowman (4)

5. Tell (7)

6. Sociable (10)

9. Destruction (10)

12. Fake (8)

14. Restlessness (7)

16. Of teeth (6)

19. Father (5)

20. Espy (4)

Friday’s solutions

CRYPTIC

Across: 7 Telephone bill; 8 Waterski; 9 Cant; 10 Mildew; 12 Oyster; 14 Anoint; 16 Submit; 18 Chic; 20 Departed; 22 Postman’s knock.

Down: 1 Relation; 2 Legend; 3 Thus; 4 Environs; 5 Abacus; 6 Alan; 11 Withdraw; 13 Evidence; 15 Incite; 17 Boring; 19 Hood; 21 Posh.

QUICK

Across: 7 Inexperienced; 8 Streamer; 9 Rind; 10 Rudder; 12 Icebox; 14 Stroll; 16 Gasped; 18 Chef; 20 Verbatim; 22 Disconcerting.

Down: 1 Instruct; 2 Exceed; 3 Beam; 4 Piercing; 5 Untrue; 6 Keen; 11 Relevant; 13 Obedient; 15 Office; 17 Scanty; 19 Hail; 21 Reel.