Double Crossword

Across

1. Unite to produce a coherent play? (3,8)

9. Some real excitement from drink (3)

10. Non-conductor ruins a lot (9)

11. Disgrace results from spurious letter (5)

13. Thrill in the eleventh rally (7)

14. Rest record in flower (6)

16. Sobriquet, so-called (6)

18. Intention of putting nothing extra into supper concoction (7)

19. Sticks from two directions (5)

20. Any driver following it is bound to see red! (4,5)

21. Everybody in normal life (3)

22. Concisely state position of the kernel (2,1,8)

Down

2. Hint learner found out stimulus to action (3)

3. Get string from one of a pair of identical eggheads (5)

4. Request to obtain round seal for metal junction (6)

5. Writer lost out on plaything (7)

6. Come in with article in container to amuse (9)

7. Rumour of a shot that wasn’t a shot (5,6)

8. Closely questioned only it’s cooked and fishy (7,4)

12. Be proper to ape in trap (9)

15. Len’s low, yet inflated (7)

17. Heaviness caused by delay, say? (6)

19. It indicates it’s time to be on the alert (5)

21. Trouble with 21 across almost getting old greeting (3)

Quick puzzle

Across

1. Enclose (11)

9. Employ (3)

10. Preview (9)

11. Rubbish (5)

13. Sheriff’s officer (7)

14. Degrade (6)

16. Fame (6)

18. Disgusting (7)

19. Vault (5)

20. Turn out (9)

21. Title (3)

22. Harmful (11)

Down

2. Born (3)

3. Dreadful (5)

4. Writer (6)

5. Network (7)

6. Evidence (9)

7. Subservient (11)

8. Superficial (11)

12. Make up (9)

15. Godparent (7)

17. Average (6)

19. Wash (5)

21. Spring (3)

Wednesday’s solutions

CRYPTIC - Across: 1 Pole; 3 Business; 9 Go about; 10 Sabre; 11 Beat a retreat; 13 Yeoman; 15 Accent; 17 Left out in the; 20 Opals; 21 Finance; 22 Dressing; 23 One’s.

Down: 1 Page-boys; 2 Liana; 4 Unties; 5 Instructions; 6 Embrace; 7 Sees; 8 Bonapartists; 12 Steepens; 14 Operate; 16 Puffin; 18 Tenon; 19 Cold.

QUICK - Across: 1 Sewn; 3 Pathetic; 9 Refresh; 10 Prong; 11 Perpetration; 13 Infect; 15 Deadly; 17 Presentiment; 20 Dhoti; 21 Meander; 22 Nosiness; 23 Area.

Down: 1 Seraphic; 2 Wafer; 4 Ashore; 5 Hypothetical; 6 Twofold; 7 Cagy; 8 Repercussion; 12 Hysteria; 14 Furious; 16 Animus; 18 Elder; 19 Eden.