18 QUICKIE
Across
1 Variety of plum (9) 8 Renown (4) 9 Talkative (9) 10 Taunt (4) 13 Container for condiments (5) 15 Popular music of Jamaican origin (6) 16 Fall asleep (3,3) 17 Thelma (anag) — play (6) 19 Without delay (2,4) 20 Indian monetary unit (5) 21 Japanese wrestling (4) 24 Skilfully contrived (9) 25 Crucifix — quarter of an acre (4) 26 Narrow escape (5,4)
Down
2 Genuine (4) 3 Jimmy Carter’s middle name (4) 4 Aplenty (6) 5 Protein present in wheat (6) 6 Supreme — Hollywood studio (9) 7 Put right (9) 11 LSO, for example (9) 12 Greek leader in the Trojan War (9) 13 High-spirited escapade (5) 14 Rich sweet cake (5) 18 Underground passage (6) 19 Virgil hero (6) 22 Flat circular plate (4) 23 Replete (4)
Across
CryptIC
1 Forecast a blue shiver that’s indicative of wind (8,5) 10 Angle round wing (7) 11 Spear animal almost repeatedly (7) 12 Quantity of drink fired soldier (5) 13 Part of sentence to come before about ’99 (9) 14 Like ancient characters, old police cover Ulster? (5) 16 Cheese cooked, then swallowed, by girl student (9) 18 Choice about time for work (9) 19 Point taken by doctor, in a manner of speaking (5) 20 Quality of steps seen to develop (9) 23 Parent with fruit (5) 24 Eastern riot could be serious (7) 25 Gold coin tossed to duck in river (7) 26 Bike shop or rogue banker? (7-6)
Down
2 Exit scene transforming life (9) 3 It’s frequently passed in an old city in Spain (5) 4 Admit to cry of pain rebuffing witticism? (3,2) 5 Drama sent off to one in business (9) 6 Ring in copper polished and protected (9) 7 Sayings of one involved in gaolbreak (5) 8 Fair adventure with posh car and dirty British ship? (6-7) 9 Kitchen expert allows leaning mixer (7,6) 15 Enamel work almost on a par with title holder (9) 16 Piece rent asunder where there was disturbance below (9) 17 Onion ring helps hearing (9) 21 It’s in the garden, near the house (5) 22 Find fault, namely, with the elderly (5) 23 Leading performer — Louis on the trumpet (5)