Puzzles and Solutions - February 2023

Across

• 1 Uncomfortable king spent the night under canvas outside (7)
• 5 A means of measuring who's in charge? (5)
• 8 Cavity is extraordinarily not so rare (9)
• 9 Hold back tot (3)
• 10 Freeze National Insurance for old Britons! (5)
• 12 Secluded spot at the Italian bay (6)
• 14 Card maniac danced around with odd foes, perhaps (3,2,8)
• 16 Force most of the decay (6)
• 18 Girl's average at first (5)
• 21 Something from a chicken or some disgusting pig feet? (3)
• 22 Got rid of entangled fluid line (9)
• 24 Work on spasm of the eye (5)
• 25 The doctor tore to that place (7)

Down

• 1 Wow! Soldier is man's best friend? (5)
• 2 A ship's fool (3)
• 3 French link if France gives us Pope Francis (7)
• 4 Dinosaurs originally consumed fruit (4)
• 5 Country's river and mountain range (5)
• 6 Laird perhaps left a new disappointment (9)
• 7 Hold back about journalists (7)
• 11 Examine colourful plant (9)
• 13 Jockey hid bet insiders following victory (3)
• 14 Doctorate not to supply style (3,4)
• 15 Admire guy’s previous macho qualities (7)
• 17 Noisy boy in charge (5)
• 19 Heard within Lindau diocese? (5)
• 20 Smear black mass (4)
• 23 Characters in choir expressed anger (3)