No 2771, Sunday 29 Dec 2013

This Crossword was numbered 3500 when it appeared as an Everyman crossword at The Guardian site.

ACROSS

5   Twitter comment, short and excessively sentimental (4) TWEE TWEEt

7   Heath Robinson, say, showing duck in box - it’s Daffy? (10) CARTOONIST {CART{O}ON}{ITS*}

10 Rectangular harpsichord, spotless (8) VIRGINAL [DD]

11 Exhausted, American editor on horseback (4-2) USED-UP {US}{ED}-{UP}

12 Envisage article making one fume (6) SEETHE {SEE}{THE}

14 Transport access (8) ENTRANCE [DD]

15 Headcase with broken finger, leaves group of extremists (7,6) LUNATIC FRINGE {LUNATIC} {FINGER}*

17 Ordered to repeat a G&S work, perhaps (8) OPERETTA*

19 Utter part of lament I recalled (6) ENTIRE [T]

20 Song, a diva’s first after formal dance (6) BALLAD {BALL}{A}{D}

21 Affluent four on right included in article (8) THRIVING {TH{R}{IV}ING}

23 Neglected child runs through Battersea, distressed (6,4) STREET ARAB {STREET A{R}AB}*

24 Drawn on match day (4) TIED {TIE}{D}

DOWN

1   Female trapping number in lift (8) HEIGHTEN {H{EIGHT}EN}

2   Image I study (4) ICON {I}{CON}

3   Valuable wood from this place? Better off spending capital (6,4) LOCUST TREE {LOCUS}{T TREEb}*

4   E.g. Lana, unusual girl’s name (6) ANGELA*

6   He, with wit, edited jumbo, a conspicuous failure (5,8) WHITE ELEPHANT {WHITE}* {ELEPHANT}

8   Ups and downs on this vessel covered by heavy wave (6,7) ROLLER COASTER {ROLLER} {COASTER}

9   New layout of mall can secure the demolition of squalid houses (4,9) SLUM CLEARANCE*

13 Dues payable upon a death, say, in eastern part (6,4) ESTATE DUTY {E}{STATE} {DUTY}

16 Representation of Christ’s birth - service handling it in two ways (8) NATIVITY {NA{TI<=}V{IT}Y}

18 Easing out of harbour, Eli, effortlessly (6) RELIEF [T]

22 Dressing-gown in rear portion of closet (4) ROBE wardROBE