
Cryptic puzzle
Across
1. Those put on it may expect firm offers in writing (7,4)
9. Sun-shade (3)
10. Turned up in France (9)
11. Approaches northern listeners (5)
13. Nearest point in a cupboard (7)
14. Operator of a printing machine (6)
16. Good grounds for holding sports (6)
18. They're not often miscast in Westerns (7)
19. There's a scrap when a communist is told to be quiet (5)
20. Pantry is apparently not yet full (5-4)
21. Stray from the proper route (3)
22. A world opens out for this creature of Central Asia (4,7)
Down
2. She's not allowed in bed! (3)
3. Decoys, breaking the rules (5)
4. Don't miss a review (6)
5. Warning for a sentinel (4,3)
6. It keeps stocking up (9)
7. What the unpopular candidate will do? (5,2,4)
8. There skills are sinister (4-7)
12. Allocate a piece, we hear (9)
15. Everybody in the show is superficial (7)
17. A wild horse on land (6)
19. Total way to review the evidence (3,2)
21. Are made a feature of (3)
Quick puzzle
Across
1. Agreement (11)
9. Devour (3)
10. Liveliness (9)
11. Vacant (5)
13. Building (7)
14. Maintain (6)
16. Portray (6)
18. 13 to 19 (7)
19. Pilfer (5)
20. Stubborn (9)
21. Snare (3)
22. Insobriety (11)
Down
2. Extinguished (3)
3. Cautious (5)
4. Elevated (6)
5. Inspect (7)
6. Judge (9)
7. Blessing (11)
8. Enterprise (11)
12. Owner (9)
15. Post (7)
17. Tell (6)
19. Forbidding (5)
21. Vapour (3)
Wednesday's solutions
CRYPTIC
Across: 1 Bear; 3 Passable; 9 Rollers; 10 Nooks; 11 Newfoundland; 13 Sparse; 15 Thieve; 17 Heart-rending; 20 About; 21 Sweeper; 22 Speeding; 23 Play. Down: 1 Bareness; 2 Allow; 4 Absent; 5 Single-handed; 6 Brownie; 7 Ease; 8 Remonstrated; 12 Beggarly; 14 Anemone; 16 Prison; 18 Impel; 19 Bass.
QUICK
Across: 1 Edam; 3 Malinger; 9 Come out; 10 Deign; 11 Authenticate; 13 Greece; 15 Prance; 17 Disorganised; 20 Steep; 21 Outlive; 22 Returned; 23 Meet. Down: 1 Exchange; 2 Admit; 4 Astute; 5 Indoctrinate; 6 Glisten; 7 Ring; 8 Come a cropper; 12 Dead-beat; 14 Eminent; 16 Ignore; 18 Shine; 19 Tsar.
The full article contains 397 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.