Double Crossword

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

Cryptic puzzle

Across

7. Initial communication delivered to a London address? (7,6)

8. Beat an exhortation to join the Socialist Party (8)

9. Assists one in short commercials (4)

10. There may be a hitch in their progress (6)

12. Take no notice of devastated region (6)

14. Broadcaster about 50 is more deliberate (6)

16. Country property giving the first of the gardeners scope (6)

18. Nearly all the vessels escape (4)

20. See 5 Down.

22. They get paid for sitting around the studio (7,6)

Down

1. Mother and I getting nearly everything required for a dress (8)

2. The French turned up in splendid conclusion (6)

3. A month and nothing more in Irish county (4)

4. When a limb is held by a fish, it’s frightful (8)

5. And 20 Across. Put pupils under stress (6,4,4)

6. A favoured tennis-player gets set (4)

11. They sound like garments fit for knights (8)

13. How the tatterdemalion is turned out (8)

15. You and I will get baleful farm pest (6)

17. A list of meeting-points (6)

19. The pantry has no end of fat (4)

21. Miss Woodhouse take me back to mother (4)

Quick puzzle

Across

7. Reflection (13)

8. Entrap (8)

9. Island (4)

10. Supported (6)

12. Whole (6)

14. Ask (6)

16. Harvester (6)

18. Cease (4)

20. Solitary (8)

22. Patient (4-9)

Down

1. Spring (8)

2. Assault (6)

3. Self-satisfied (4)

4. Beyond (8)

5. Severe (6)

6. Make dirty (4)

11. Horrible (8)

13. Making (8)

15. Assail by words (6)

17. Tempt (6)

19. Implement (4)

21. Secure (4)

Thursday’s solutions

CRYPTIC

Across: 1 Port; 8 Sweetheart; 9 Boarding; 10 Racy; 12 Screen; 14 Divine; 15 Jumper; 17 Pastry; 18 Stir; 19 Currency; 21 Free-for-all; 22 Sire.

Down: 2 Out of court; 3 Tsar; 4 Design; 5 Staged; 6 Reproves; 7 Stay; 11 Contractor; 13 Exporter; 16 Rector; 17 Portal; 18 Soft; 20 Eels.

QUICK

Across: 1 Idol; 8 Acceptance; 9 Cashmere; 10 Item; 12 Stable; 14 Denote; 15 Penned; 17 Seeing; 18 Star; 19 Boastful; 21 Competitor; 22 Echo.

Down: 2 Department; 3 Lash; 4 Accede; 5 Spread; 6 Sapience; 7 Seem; 11 Extinguish; 13 Bankrupt; 16 Debate; 17 Scanty; 18 Sick; 20 Tore.