Monday 24 August

Across

1 Plain starter of meal daddy’s eating (6) 5 At court, a new sovereign (8) 9 Having cooked bean soup, one requires attendance (8) 10 Take another attitude to rest (6) 11 Once Standard English no longer heard at opening of Parliament (6,6) 13 Slippery equine? (4) 14 18 on a course that is dry (8) 17 Typically male slob struggling with hike (8) 18 Drop tools here (4) 20 Tense morning working for Europeans (12) 23 Try to stop celebrity endlessly showing sexual urge (6) 24 Old records from accomplished country singer (8) 25 Raise the hinge that’s wonky (8) 26 Make a mess of motorway gradient (6)

Down

2 No place for pandemic, just fever (4) 3 Whippersnapper very quietly suppressing single sound from mouse (9) 4 Appeared to do this from Nice beach? (6) 5 Contrary to inclination, objecting to Scotch? (7,3,5) 6 Birds in most of the riverside plants (8) 7 Manage to get round small group of trees (5) 8 Move cat aside, keeping very connected (10) 12 Killer’s destiny in being caught by subterfuge (10) 15 Alumni’s pub evening is a thing! (9) 16 Initial contribution to thread that gives clear directions (8) 19 Relax on firm topper on mattress for programme (6) 21 Securing hearing without resistance (5) 22 Enthusiasm in the heart of Commonwealth country (4)