5-across – 8th century illuminated manuscript of the Gospels : BOOKOFKELLS

7-across – Double-reed instrument : OBOE

8-across – Well-endowed with gifts : TALENTED

9-across – Unmistakable : OBVIOUS

11-across – A plant’s natural cover : CALYX

13-across – Piece of absorbent cloth or paper for drying : TOWEL

14-across – Laboratory apparatus : PIPETTE

16-across – Period of unusually hot weather : HEATWAVE

17-across – Abandon : SHED

18-across – Fully protected : SAFEANDSURE

1-down – Central part of the Earth : CORE

2-down – Rum rots : ROSTRUM

3-down – Ability that has been acquired by training : SKILL

4-down – Stretch out : ELONGATE

5-down – Post WW2 generation : BABYBOOMERS

6-down – Agree with someone : SEEEYETOEYE

10-down – Recognise : IDENTIFY

12-down – Fizzy drink : LIMEADE

15-down – Nymph of lakes, springs and rivers : NAIAD

17-down – Anaesthetise : STUN

1-across – Proficient : ABLE

4-across – Time when things aren’t going too well : OFFDAY

8-across – Cork-screw, for instance : BOTTLEOPENER

10-across – Status of one in a lowly rural class : PEASANTHOOD

11-across – Very interested to get involved : KEENASMUSTARD

14-across – Provoke an action by bringing up something sensitive : TOUCHANERVE

17-across – Ready, in anger, to put right a perceived wrong : ONTHEWARPATH

18-across – Dresses in rich attire : ARRAYS

19-across – Move gently or carefully : EASE

2-down – Jazz-style dance music of the 1940s : BEBOP

3-down – Put on board : ENTRAIN

5-down – Pace-maker : FRONTRUNNER

6-down – Because of : DUETO

7-down – One who gives up : YIELDER

9-down – What 5 does : LEADSTHEWAY

12-down – European country, capital Tallinn : ESTONIA

13-down – Hillside level : TERRACE

15-down – ‘The Fall of the House of —–‘, Edgar Allan Poe : USHER

16-down – Distinctive principles of an era, group, etc : ETHOS

1-across – Obliging : EAGERTOPLEASE

8-across – One-horse carriage : GIG

9-across – Head of faculty, department : PROFESSOR

10-across – It’s Ellis : SILLIEST

11-across – Hinge between the thigh and the shin : KNEE

13-across – Displayed : SHOWED

14-across – Cohesive unit, eg a military company : OUTFIT

16-across – Craving : URGE

17-across – Nutrition supplements : VITAMINS

20-across – Building up of sound : CRESCENDO

21-across – Affirmative action? : NOD

22-across – Cavers or potholers : SPELEOLOGISTS

1-down – Borders : EDGES

2-down – Flock of a particular type of bird : GAGGLEOFGEESE

3-down – Cold-blooded vertebrates : REPTILES

4-down – Woodwind player : OBOIST

5-down – Security for a debt : LIEN

6-down – Those honoured in a toast : ABSENTFRIENDS

7-down – Something of value to bind a contract : EARNEST

12-down – Hurry off : CUTALONG

13-down – Informants : SOURCES

15-down – Nonverbal action or gesture that encodes a message : SIGNAL

18-down – Aspects : SIDES

19-down – Square measure : ACRE

5-across – Flamboyance, skilful display : SHOWMANSHIP

7-across – State of constant change : FLUX

8-across – Cricket delivery turning in to the right-hander : OFFBREAK

9-across – Bauble : TRINKET

11-across – Strong point : FORTE

13-across – Choose : ELECT

14-across – Miner : COLLIER

16-across – Festival : CARNIVAL

17-across – Landing stage, wharf : QUAY

18-across – … wait for no man : TIMEANDTIDE

1-down – Practical joke : HOAX

2-down – Enable, authorise : EMPOWER

3-down – Extinguish : SNUFF

4-down – Black residue of burnt wood : CHARCOAL

5-down – Independent : SELFRELIANT

6-down – Abide by the rules : PLAYTHEGAME

10-down – Soubriquet : NICKNAME

12-down – Conspire : COLLUDE

15-down – Pertaining to birds : AVIAN

17-down – Leave : QUIT

1-across – Pitiless, unyielding : IMPLACABLE

7-across – Boon : BLESSING

8-across – Dumb, silent : MUTE

9-across – Gardening basket : TRUG

10-across – Recreation, hobby : PASTIME

12-across – Unauthorised absence : FRENCHLEAVE

14-across – Bitter, sour : ACERBIC

16-across – Optimum : BEST

19-across – Eastern European : SLAV

20-across – Baby’s cradle or pram : BASSINET

21-across – Nothing daunted : UNDETERRED

1-down – Bay, cove : INLET

2-down – Carriage, attitude : POSTURE

3-down – Keen : AVID

4-down – Moot : ARGUABLE

5-down – Extent : LIMIT

6-down – Thwart, foil : STYMIE

11-down – Write illegibly : SCRIBBLE

12-down – Effortless, easy : FACILE

13-down – Workshop, studio : ATELIER

15-down – Crow-like bird : RAVEN

17-down – Tendency : TREND

18-down – Small island : ISLE