Cryptic Crosswords Cracked

From YearOfTheTeledu

This is a Scheduled Programme Item

Day: Saturday

Time: 3pm-4pm

Duration: 1 hour

Location: Leicester

Named Organiser: Ian Taylor

Have you ever wondered WTF a cryptic crossword is, why they fascinate and, most importantly, how to do them? Wonder no longer!

I shall introduce the concept, the various types of crossword clue and then people can have a go at a specially-written slightly-themed crossword putting their newly-learned skills into action.

Everyone is welcome. No prior knowledge is assumed, other than how to spell (and even that's not an essential - come along to find out why).

Teledu Crossword by Deviant

1	2		3		4	.	5		6		7		8
.		.		.		.		.		.		.		.
9								.	10
.		.		.		.		.		.		.		.
.	.	.	11
.	12	.		.		.		.		.	.	.		.
13				.	.	.	14				15
.		.		.	16	.		.		.		.		.
17								.	.	.	18
.		.	.	.		.		.	19	.		.		.
20			21									.	.	.
.		.		.		.		.		.		.	22	.
23						.	24
.		.		.		.		.		.		.		.
25								.	26

ACROSS
1 Decapitate bird and get lost in self-pity. (6)
5 Lost local key used for this? (4,4)
9 Eye problem caused by sparkler on gentleman’s head with poor aim? (8)
10 Hornet buzzing at king’s seat. (6)
11 Muse and saint, he has three points and measured the circumference of the earth. (12)
13 Dirty material turns stomachs. (4)
14 Salver carrying undergarment becomes a parody. (8)
17 Gather wool to look at the sky. (4-4)
18 Cry about beginner becoming a messy person. (4)
20 Suddenly go into the red? Far from it! (3,2,3,4)
23 Confused friend is one who is a keeper? (6)
24 A set of problems said to get rid of demons? (8)
25 Tissue lies amidst broken-out gift. (5-3)
26 One who makes mistakes fixing stag’s head to target. (6)

DOWN
2 Further alternating allusion. (4)
3 City sounds minor territory. (9)
4 Fight to replace Chris’ head by white marsupial. (6)
5 Confused death fleet, you’re giving a wiki’d event. (4,2,3,6)
6 Ancient period of toilet artist, we hear. (8)
7 Extensive in cellar geometry. (5)
8 Established usage of 5 or 15. (10)
12 The samurai is shaken and unprofessional. (10)
15 Contemplation, for example, does point to Catholic occupying a long time. (9)
16 Long pole the queen has left over year skilfully. (8)
19 An 22 is broken by handbag stealers at 8? (6)
21 Go back to lair to get humorous poet’s first name. (5)
22 Small patch of land covered up by eel siestas. (4)