Guardian 26,477 / Paul

A satisfying prize crossword from Paul; not too difficult but lots to enjoy.

There was a nice mini-theme relating to the placement of the letter M, both in 1a,9 and 14a (which had “M?” referring to the
placement of M in a month name) and in 27d (which refers to four
other clues (1d, 4, 16 and 23) that end in M).

My favourite clue was probbly 25a, which is very nice.

Across

1,9. Guy’s M? (7,5)
BONFIRE NIGHT
The “Guy” is Guy Fawkes – “M?” is “the 5th of November” (i.e. the fifth letter of “November”)

10. Nudist finally put on clothes to arouse (9)
STIMULATE
T = “Nudist finally” in SIMULATE = “put on” (“clothes” indicates inclusion)
Definition: “to arouse”

11. Picture that remains in Margate, if designed by Emin, originally (10)
AFTERIMAGE
(MARGATE IF)* followed by E[min] = “Emin, originally”
Definition: “Picture that remains”

12. Piece of papyrus, edges worn (4)
USED
Hidden in “[papyr]US, ED[ges]”
Definition: “worn”

14. Welsh M? (2,6,3)
ST DAVID’S DAY
“M?” is the first of March (i.e. the first letter of “March”)

18. Thinner bit, stripe I gathered (5,6)
WHITE SPIRIT
WHIT = “bit” followed by (STRIPE I)*
Definition: “Thinner” (as in “paint thinner”)

21. Ultimately quaint, small and cute? (4)
TWEE
“[quain]T” = “Ultimately quaint” + WEE = “small”
Definition: “cute?”

22. Groom admits the issue then starts to cause angst — no getting out of it? (6,4)
PRISON CAMP
PRIMP = “Groom” around SON = “issue” + C[ause] A[ngst] = “starts to cause angst”
Definition: “no getting out of it?”

25. Return of musical chap bringing back memories (9)
EVOCATIVE
A beautifully simple, elegant clue, I think: EVITA = “musical” + COVE = “chap” all reversed
Definition: “bringing back memories”

26. A number stuck on it, nothing like porridge! (5)
OATEN
A TEN = “A number” after O = “nothing”, although I’m not sure that “stuck on it” to indicate the placement quite works for me
Definition: “like porridge!”

27. Reparation for each of 1 down, 4, 16 and 23? (7)
MENDING
All of BANTAM, EPSOM, SWAT TEAM and STEAM end in M, or have an M-ENDING

28. Artist is heading for Shanghai in China (7)
MATISSE
IS + S[hanghai] = “is heading for Shanghai” in MATE = “China”
Definition: “Artist”

Down

1. Very little covering cop up (6)
BANTAM
MAT = “covering” + NAB = “cop” all reversed
Definition: “Very little”

2. Deny the SW entrance opposite to this? (6)
NEGATE
The NE (North East) GATE might be opposite the “SW [South West] entrance”
Definition: “Deny”

3. Curious setter in Shed, perhaps (though keep mum out of it) (10)
INTERESTED
(SETTER IN SHED)* but without SH = “keep mum”
Definition: “Curious”

4. Brood raised around southern English town (5)
EPSOM
MOPE = “Brood” reversed around S = “southern”
Definition: “English town”

5. One Conservative in political control, not half becoming slippery (5,4)
ICING OVER
I = “One” + C = “Conservative” + IN + GOVER[nment] = “political control, not half”
Definition: “becoming slippery”

6. Tube was quick, they say? (4)
FLUE
FLUE sounds like “flew” (“was quick”)
Definition: “Tube”

7. Creative piece knocks outstanding hospital, oddly oddly? (8)
RHAPSODY
RAPS = “knocks” around H = “hospital” followed by O[d]D[l]Y = “oddly oddly”
Definition: “Creative piece”

8. Public visiting times when work stops, always welcomed (4,4)
OPEN DAYS
AY = “always” in OP = “work” + ENDS = “stops”
Definition: “Public visiting times”

13. Go nude with it, doubly unlikely to get censorship (7,3)
EDITING OUT
(GO NUDE IT IT)*
Definition: “censorship”

15. Record in running final (9)
DEPARTING
EP = “Record” in DARTING = “running”
Definition: “final” (as in a “final word”, “departing word”, I guess?)

16. Squad requiring a measure of power to break through thin line (4,4)
SWAT TEAM
WATT = “a measure of power” in SEAM = “thin line”
Definition: “Squad”

17. Clean window pane at the edges when cracked (4,4)
WIPE DOWN
(WINDOW PE)* – the PE in the anagram fodder is P[an]E = “pane at the edges”
Definition: “Clean”

19,5across. Poetry mixing fire and sonnet? (6,7)
DANTE’S INFERNO
(FIRE AND SONNET)*
Definition: “Poetry”

20. Bum safe when evacuated, stink contained (6)
SPONGE
S[af]E = “safe when evacuated” around PONG = “stink”
Definition: “Bum”

23. Stop inhaling a vapour (5)
STEAM
STEM = “Stop” around A
Definition: “vapour”

24. C Clay country? (4)
MALI
C Clay is Cassius Clay, or Muhammad Ali, or: M ALI
Definition: “country”