The Sunday Crossword No 3350, Sunday 23 Mar 2025

ACROSS

1   The Fairy King in Borneo resort (6) OBERON*

5   Craving for drink, son moves eastward in short-sleeved top (6) THIRST T(-s)HIR(+s)ST

8   Advice regarding no-fly zone? Let’s change subject (4,2,5) DONT GO THERE [DD]

11 Not hip, not fancy – and balding (4,2,3) THIN ON TOP*

12 Peacekeepers write: ‘Release from enclosure!’ (5) UNPEN {UN}{PEN}

13 Favourite – Oxford, perhaps – with a flower (7) PETUNIA {PET}{UNI}{A}

14 How Spooner introduces Hancock to Starmer: a little furry creature (7) MEERKAT (~keir matt to meerkat)

15 Guilty! Eve naughtily eats, satisfying insidious serpent – in the beginning? (7) GENESIS Acrostic &lit

17 Word for word? (7) SYNONYM [CD]

20 Step one – to be embraced by celebrity (5) STAIR {STA{1}R}

21 Hubby explaining what happens after teams change ends? (5,4) OTHER HALF [DD]

22 Ink in sketch representing where to find washers (7,4) KITCHEN SINK*

23 Cuts some sweet chestnuts (6) ETCHES [T]

24 According to Cockney, Caribbean country’s having decentish innings? (6) EIGHTY (~ haiti)

DOWN

2   Dirty money’s source, concerning fraud in sports equipment (9,6) BADMINTON RACKET {BAD}{MINT}{ON}{RACKET}

3   Burmese city developed ladders? Tell me more (7) RANGOON {RAN}{GO ON}

4   Bedtime booze coming – drop of tequila – tops! (9) NIGHTCAPS {NIGH}{Te...a}{CAPS}

5   Infant happy to count (3,2) TOT UP {TOT}{UP}

6   Decorate cake – younger Scout getting lemonade finally – what keeps it cool? (3,4) ICE CUBE {ICE}{CUB}{l...dE}

7   Keeps thick jeans out for cold-weather clothing (9,6) SHEEPSKIN JACKET*

9   Desist from throwing up cooking vessels (4) STOP<=

10 Bean containers rejected in a mood (4) SNIT<=

14 Mechanic’s nasty accident (9) MISCHANCE*

15 Shocked exclamation: Gee! Venomous reptile! (4) GASP {G}{ASP}

16 What the competent come up to score (7) SCRATCH [DD]

18 What a patient needs is occasional sipping (7) NURSING [DD]

19 Everyman’s standing up with very loud resentment (4) MIFF {I'M<=}{FF}

21 Darts players’ limits discovered in Rochester (5) OCHES [T]

Reference List

Son = S, Oxford perhaps = UNI(versity), Gee = G, Very loud = FF