Crossword Grid from VERBATIM Vol. 24/1

Clues

Across

1. What the Governor of Messina's answer was, according to Benedick (11)

8. They won't abuse you if you're late (9)

10. Upright type managed to acquire a British decoration (5)

11. Spell leading to Greek conflict - there are more than two sides involved (7)

12. Tobacco pipe makes friend sick at heart (7)

13. Meetings that always end with signs of agreement? (6)

14. Prodigal son happy with his omniscience (8)

16. Excessive effort in making some cricket function (8)

18. Brief outline‹one for each copper (6)

21. Concealed gaol-break by a noble Spaniard (7)

22. Around noon witches, after early start, assemble (7)

23. Nocturnal creature with a bird in each hand (5)

24. Cause of current build-up if one is put in wide river (9)

25. Arabian Nights entrance court players in the kitchen cupboard (6,5)

Down

1. Aim to include fruit, as promised (7)

2. Even when he's leading there are scores in front of him (8)

3. 10 Across probably, he had two brothers older than himself (7)

4. Giraffe's not far from Ursa Minor (14)

5. Shakespearean's appeal for moray eels, under-cooked (4,2,4,4)

6. A wicked fellow might give them his people's trouble (14)

7. Student in a nude sex drama masquerading as a novelist (9,5)

9. Writer moved by Desert Storm (4)

15. Buntings, the whole amount put up in an Algerian port, safety first (8)

17. Metal for a pack-animal to run into (7)

19. Experts ascribe it's following a currency's zero loss (7)

20. A degree of gluttonous cupboard love for the porgy (4)