The Times Cryptic - Crossword Answers | 2023 10 19

crossword answers
Clue Answer
Blemish on paper — it is dark against bright background SUNSPOT
Head of sales in store is horribly powerful type DESPOT
I attempt to catch a Shakespearean villain IAGO
Len set us up? That’s unpleasant to hear! TUNELESS
Nasty prancer resolved to slide maybe TRANSPARENCY
Quiet river free from pollution PURE
Snide comment of American soldier beginning to blame English GIBE
Superior Navy vessel URN
Teacher (100!) to talk incessantly RABBIT ON
You heard sheep EWE
Artist is beginning to smile when hugged by chum MATISSE
Artist and academic gas RADON
Yearn to have case dismissed as judge listened EARWIGGED
Too anxious at first when meeting players from capital ALSO
Tips for say stopping dad’s insidious tactics PSYOPS
Spike necessarily after a time replacing Charlie PERFORATE
Objects to alien attitudes MINDSET
Moving from high category jail ASTIR
Mix of oddly cold, gooey green matter? ECOLOGY
Half measure upset director de mille
Hack cried out for somewhere to sit DECK CHAIR
Golf shot you’re aiming to complete GRID
Do for admiral’s first five years in RN? ANNIVERSARY
Care homes indeed small — simple one in country HAYSEED
Ban lifted having retired meeting resistance DEBAR
Accepting promotion, good for you to display swagger BRAVADO
Band had sacked skilful worker DAB HAND
Awfully inhumane pop’s gaining advantage unfairly? one-upmanship
Brief couple of points you had welcomed as a female CURTSEYED
Criminal in car, from memory having run over charity worker? ram-raider
French city from 50s featured in story LILLE
Prime ministers as skilled craftspeople? cabinet-makers