1-across – Ship’s complement : CREW

3-across – Disadvantage : HANDICAP

8-across – Unoccupied : IDLE

9-across – Mediaeval entertainer : MINSTREL

11-across – Avoid : FIGHTSHYOF

14-across – Reply : ANSWER

15-across – Vocation : CAREER

17-across – Draw, allure : ATTRACTION

20-across – Persuade, satisfy : CONVINCE

21-across – Arrange, model : POSE

22-across – Wrist, arm adornment : BRACELET

23-across – Employer : USER

1-down – Clan leader : CHIEFTAN

2-down – Praise : EULOGISE

4-down – Disembark, land : ALIGHT

5-down – Discordance : DISSONANCE

6-down – Brief, dismissive : CURT

7-down – Skin, hide : PELT

10-down – Experienced in urban life : STREETWISE

12-down – Fraught with danger : PERILOUS

13-down – Nobility, dignity : GRANDEUR

16-down – Day nursery : CRECHE

18-down – Strike-breaker, blackleg : SCAB

19-down – Peruvian Indian : INCA

5-across – Disastrous : CATACLYSMIC

7-across – Member : LIMB

8-across – Sheltered accommodation? : CAREHOME

9-across – Amiable : AFFABLE

11-across – Lean down : STOOP

13-across – Verse : CANTO

14-across – Debate : DISCUSS

16-across – Injure, distress : AGGRIEVE

17-across – Prong of a fork : TINE

18-across – Answerable, dependable : RESPONSIBLE

1-down – Attempt : STAB

2-down – Freezing : ICECOLD

3-down – Gift of the Magi : MYRRH

4-down – In no uncertain terms : EMPHATIC

5-down – Tense, suspenseful situation : CLIFFHANGER

6-down – Nous : COMMONSENSE

10-down – Textual reference symbol : ASTERISK

12-down – Many and varied : DIVERSE

15-down – Poison : VENOM

17-down – Brass wind instrument : TUBA

1-across – Effective going right back to the start : FROMTHEOUTSET

8-across – Exchange text or voice messages through a computer : CHAT

9-across – Not used up : LEFTOVER

10-across – Agitation or excitement : HULLABALOO

12-across – Red wine grape variety : MERLOT

14-across – Median : MIDDLE

15-across – A damp delta : MALADAPTED

19-across – Second Japanese city to be hit by an atomic bomb : NAGASAKI

20-across – Boor : LOUT

21-across – Lose impetus : RUNOUTOFSTEAM

2-down – Puts up in a new or different abode : REHOUSES

3-down – Hotel designed for the motorist : MOTEL

4-down – Large flatfish : HALIBUT

5-down – Liver, kidneys, etc : OFFAL

6-down – Twice as much : TWOFOLD

7-down – Open vessel with handle and spout : EWER

11-down – Biblical exhortation of praise to the Lord : ALLELUIA

13-down – Backache : LUMBAGO

14-down – Part of the human body : MIDRIFF

16-down – Superlative form of ‘little’ : LEAST

17-down – Test or trial : PILOT

18-down – Forbidden : TABU

1-across – Having an evil influence : MALEFIC

8-across – On a normal basis : USUALLY

9-across – More sensitive : GENTLER

10-across – Feeling of intense indignation : DUDGEON

11-across – Recording of acoustic signals : AUDIO

13-across – Flee where? : FREEWHEEL

15-across – Surplus to requirements : REDUNDANT

18-across – Speak pompously : ORATE

21-across – Small refracting telescopes : GLASSES

22-across – Aperture : ORIFICE

23-across – Shaped like a ring : ANNULAR

24-across – Succinctness : BREVITY

1-down – Glassy volcanic rock : MAGMA

2-down – Inlaid : LINED

3-down – Egotistic : FULLOFONESELF

4-down – Go bad or sour : CURDLE

5-down – Decrease : CUTDOWNTOSIZE

6-down – Accuse without proof : ALLEGE

7-down – Religious songbook : HYMNAL

12-down – Advocate : URGE

14-down – Islet found in a river : EYOT

15-down – Motley assortment of things : RAGBAG

16-down – Runs out : DRAINS

17-down – Soak up : ABSORB

19-down – Defence used by an accused person : ALIBI

20-down – Mournful verse : ELEGY

1-across – Insane or very stupid : ROUNDTHEBEND

9-across – Admit to wrongdoing : OWNUP

10-across – Extra, ancillary benefit : SPINOFF

11-across – Niche : NOOK

12-across – Medicinal plant : ALOEVERA

14-across – Natural ability or quality : TALENT

15-across – Skin disorder : ECZEMA

18-across – First public performance of a : PREMIERE

20-across – Cowboy boot attachment : SPUR

22-across – Aristocratic domain above a viscountcy : EARLDOM

23-across – Barns for cows : BYRES

24-across – Try to attract a suitor : SETONESCAPAT

2-down – Action which backfires : OWNGOAL

3-down – California wine valley : NAPA

4-down – Rough-and-tumble : TUSSLE

5-down – Esteem : EMINENCE

6-down – Become ground down or deteriorate : ERODE

7-down – Insane or very stupid : DAFTASABRUSH

8-down – Being about to publish : GOINGTOPRESS

13-down – Not commanded : UNBIDDEN

16-down – I’m a rope : EMPORIA

17-down – Outdoes : TRUMPS

19-down – White heron : EGRET

21-down – Palindromic 70s pop group : ABBA