Double Crossword

Choice of cryptic or quick puzzle, and (just in case you’ve been wracking your brains) yesterday’s solutions.

Cryptic puzzle

Across

4. A realist has become cross (7)

8. Horn owl (6)

9. Just the types to disturb a class after reading starts (7)

10. South African gin for the eastern potentate (6)

11. Circles overhead (6)

12. What talkative people do or just the opposite (8)

18. Combined stock movement impressed the first of the entrepreneurs (8)

20. Very old boat unearthed (6)

21. A place for the game open to view by the start of the contest (6)

22. The result of literally mixing up the characters (7)

23. Tribes disguised by this pigment (6)

24. People press on out of place (7)

Down

1. They are often spoon-fed in this school subject (7)

2. Luck produces considerable wealth (7)

3. It implies danger that puts fellows on the spot (6)

5. For the man involved in Alcoholics Anonymous, it’s abhorrent (8)

6. Get to grips with the rigging (6)

7. What the Changing of the Guard provides (6)

13. Check the others with precipitation (8)

14. Leaves the sweets, we hear (7)

15. Spread all over the place (Webster gives a different version) (7)

16. Fruit for the Shakespearean carpenter (6)

17. Avoids slick ruses (6)

19. I pay M.O. to adjust sight defect (6)

Quick puzzle

Across

4. Wed (7)

8. Logic (6)

9. Skipper (7)

10. Rotten (6)

11. Three-legged stand (6)

12. Harem (8)

18. Truthfulness (8)

20. Amend (6)

21. Group of six musicians (6)

22. Arrest (7)

23. Street entertainer (6)

24. Underground rooms (7)

Down

1. Put forward (7)

2. Restaurant employees (7)

3. Fighting (6)

5. Slaughterhouse (8)

6. Keep (6)

7. Senior journalist (6)

13. Fragrant shrub (8)

14. Error (7)

15. Enigma (7)

16. Rubbish (6)

17. Gun (6)

19. Street (6)

Thursday’s solutions

CRYPTIC

Across: 1 Fleet Street; 9 Ago; 10 Organised; 11 Elegy; 13 Athlete; 14 Trevor; 16 Arrest; 18 Service; 19 Lager; 20 Unguarded; 21 Gnu; 22 String beans.

Down: 2 Loo; 3 Ebony; 4 Signal; 5 Rancher; 6 Easter egg; 7 Latest issue; 8 Adventurous; 12 Eyes right; 15 Origami; 17 Sea dog; 19 Lodge; 21 Gin.

QUICK

Across: 1 Controversy; 9 Old; 10 Situation; 11 Ditty; 13 Sponsor; 14 Snappy; 16 Breast; 18 Reserve; 19 Chest; 20 Proximity; 21 God; 22 Mellifluous.

Down: 2 Odd; 3 Testy; 4 Obtuse; 5 Enamour; 6 Shipshape; 7 Nondescript; 8 Ingratitude; 12 Transpose; 15 Partial; 17 Relief; 19 Coypu; 21 Gnu.