| Clues across |
| 9 | Essential to put excess (with something unknown missing) in tangled yarn (9) |
| 10 | I care about heather (5) |
| 11 | Bind badly around oar within ship’s hull (7) |
| 12 | Doctor hummed – not hard! – and banged away (7) |
| 13 | Innocent, I’m in part of church (5) |
| 15 | Cheek that is about politician with deranged dunce (9) |
| 17 | He shares your compartment and your political beliefs (6,9) |
| 19 | Colonel, we’re told, has money we sent back with idiot (6,3) |
| 20 | Twisted girder with end missing seen in earth thrown up by plough (5) |
| 21 | Tell of net thrown loosely round motorist’s emergency service holding Rolls-Royce (7) |
| 23 | American battleship caught in rain storm? No, it’s from the USSR (7) |
| 25 | Turning machine made from two European articles (5) |
| 26 | “Wed top sports medallists!” we’re told, and get a bouquet of these? (9) |
|
| Clues down |
| 1 | Write your name if I am unable to do so, surrounded by leaders of Irish National Liberal Youth, ineffectually (15) |
| 2 | Laundress who ironed while the strike was hot? (4) |
| 3 | Paces awkwardly towards the east to get away (6) |
| 4 | Ruthless bird, tail over head, caught in hat with inverted net (4-6) |
| 5 | Deceased, we’re told, changed colour (4) |
| 6 | Confuse feeble dud lacking energy – confuse with strong drink (8) |
| 7 | Took to pieces – or took off cloak? (10) |
| 8 | A cruel streak could be shared, shared with hospital department (4-11) |
| 14 | Provide picture, adding lustre to tail, perhaps (10) |
| 16 | Are they driven up the wall? Or employed in the fracture clinic? (10) |
| 18 | Edward, overcome by musical drama, made things work (8) |
| 20 | Show acceptance again, and give up (6) |
| 22 | Space mother? That’s novel! (4) |
| 24 | Appearing unemployed, beginner gets in a muddle with DIY (4) |
|
