Puzzles September 2023

Across

• 1 Wail and twitch about party leader being ambiguous (7)
• 5 Almost arrive at the first answer (5)
• 8 It's blown an IRA plot following company knock-back (7)
• 9 Bury - Milan? (5)
• 10 Percentage drawn from remuneration (5)
• 11 Starters of glass noodles or chicken with half a helping of chilli dumplings (7)
• 12 Unfettered rage about organised ladies finding creepy-crawly (6)
• 14 Come across an equal in audition (6)
• 17 Graduates initially must slave away, touching the heart of Tim Rice (7)
• 19 One joist is positioned at right angles (5)
• 22 A thousand of us making love (5)
• 23 Six balls bound to go too far (7)
• 24 Change the last repair (5)
• 25 Nothing in schedule for farmyard caller (7)

Down

• 1 To some extent, echo Irish voices (5)
• 2 It helps to raise my final point (5)
• 3 Expedition attracts dodgy oil capital in Africa (7)
• 4 Minor expense (6)
• 5 Beast starts to rub himself in natural oils (5)
• 6 A disastrous recital (7)
• 7 Row about stray dog (7)
• 12 Hug me back for support (7)
• 13 School master goes head over heels for fish dish (7)
• 15 Spot body odour, but it has an effect on the mind, not the body (7)
• 16 Fix yours and my hardship (6)
• 18 I read erratically on the radio (5)
• 20 Mourn decapitated heron (5)
• 21 Little talking bird is picked up in conversation (5)