This crossword No. 1296 clues and answers were published on Sun 02 Aug 2020 and the puzzle can be visited by following The Guardian Speedy Crossword No. 1296 link.
All Across Clues and Answers:
1-across – Place of wickedness: gambling joint : DENOFINIQUITY
8-across – Æthelred the ——-, king of England 978-1016 : UNREADY
9-across – —– Murphy, WWII hero and movie star : AUDIE
10-across – Greek Muse of love poetry : ERATO
11-across – Firmly attached : AFFIXED
12-across – Cuban rum cocktail : MOJITO
14-across – Char, singe : SCORCH
17-across – US Congress building : CAPITOL
19-across – Recurring theme : MOTIF
21-across – Lay to rest : INTER
22-across – Covered walkway; porch : PORTICO
23-across – Amicably close a discussion without accord : AGREETODIFFER
All Down Clues and Answers:
1-down – Contrived plot device in a play or novel : DEUSEXMACHINA
2-down – Bellini opera : NORMA
3-down – At full stretch or top speed : FLATOUT
4-down – Deny; speak of something in a negative manner : NAYSAY
5-down – Drink deeply and thirstily : QUAFF
6-down – Researcher; collator and sorter of documents : INDEXER
7-down – Give way in a forum to another speaker : YIELDTHEFLOOR
13-down – Largest planet in our Solar System : JUPITER
15-down – First WWI battle : CAMBRAI
16-down – Second city of Syria : ALEPPO
18-down – Rich cake and cream dessert from Austria : TORTE
20-down – Pilferer or pickpocket, for instance : THIEF
This crossword has in total 24 where 12 are across and 12 are down.