CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

FOR your chance to win, solve the crossword to reveal the word reading down the shaded boxes. HOW TO ENTER: Call 0901 293 6233 and leave today’s answer and your details, or TEXT 65700 with the word CRYPTIC, your answer and your name. Texts and calls cost £1 plus standard network charges. Or enter by post by sending the completed crossword to Daily Mail Prize Crossword 17,109, PO Box 28, Colchester, Essex CO2 8GF. Please include your name and address. One weekly winner chosen from all correct daily entries received between 00.01 Monday and 23.59 Friday. Postal entries must be date-stamped no later than the following day to qualify. Calls/texts must be received by 23.59; answers change at 00.01. UK residents aged 18+, excl NI. Terms apply, see Page 50.

ACROSS

1 Obscure book mostly fronted by TV broadcaster (8)

5 Eastern Europeans reported for examinations (6)

9 Ordinary boxing match enthralling a type averse to work (8)

10 Marine mammal was biting both hands for all to see (6)

12 Place for driving by small river (4)

13 Cashier not deployed in retail outlet of huge company? (5,5)

15 Informer about glib Labour politician has to try to find a reason for hope? (5,2,6)

19 Place to leave quickly? (9,4)

23 Cut finger carelessly in front of electronic spinning device (10)

25 Southern course shows influence (4)

28 A figure on return pocketing old money for self-evidently true statements (6)

29 Resourcefulness shown by one with seat in unusual outing (8)

30 A song that’s successful in odd parts of this Pacific island (6)

31 Marine creature staying to roam around river (8)

DOWN

1 Weaken top put up on pick-up truck (6)

2 Award covering a year, perhaps (5)

3 Round shape not good for part of the brain? (4)

4 Clean and tidy sort of shrub on the rise (5,2)

6 Phase for moving mounds (5)

7 Large diving bird from cold, wild moor and tarn (9)

8 Reason to include American power in state of uncertainty? (8)

11 Substance of thing in meeting is transmitted (4)

14 Strong flavour in light brown gin not favoured (4)

15 Environmentalist with first person from Berlin in London borough (9)

16 Curve at race regularly observed (3)

17 Send a message encapsulated by short extract (4)

18 Habitual liking shown by writer on religious song (8)

20 Unpleasant smell if in Norway and France (4)

21 Other guy here initially entering round tent for dairy food (7)

22 Snooty don easily discontented in Australian city (6)

24 Set aside U.S. magazine with Republican from the South (5)

26 Low, continuous sound from Western hotel on Irish river (5)

27 Second piece of wordplay is given a favourable slant (4)