The I-do-it Box

Social message this Diwali – Do not endorse products exploiting child labour.  To show our support to this cause, Cryptonyte – who is still very much a child in terms of clueing experience, has not contributed anything to this puzzle.

Happy Diwali to all you crackers

Interactive version available here

ACROSS – Diogenes

1) Difficult to imitate a printer’s handiwork? (4,4)
5) Score falling short by eight dozen (6)
10) One used to give a sound hiding? (7)
11) Reporter coming in or going out of crack house (7)
12) Bill Clinton nearly turned in an improvised performance (2,3)
13) What a singer might be at the end of a performance? Discordant (3,2,4)
14) Tenable cash spelt out around the end of tenure? (7,5)
18) What’s applicable to all colleges admitting a student (12)
21) Slippery one pocketing 90, loaned capital (9)
23) Lincoln had nothing against Democrat in house (5)
24) Published material not beginning to appear in general examination (4-3)
25) View round the wing of a bird (7)
26) Screw up, lacking confidence to go outside for a drink(6)
27)They may ruin masts at sea right away (8)

DOWN – Diogenes

1) Henry’s manly rendering of an anthem (6)
2) Trouble-maker not close to upending a lottery (6)
3) Party bachelorette lacking hot moves (9)
4) Play tapes or reels on this (8,6)
6) Husband hugged by spouse mostly has female smell (5)
7) Enticed to consume drug, one’s out of action (8)
8 ) They possibly go around part of a golf course chasing Asian canines (3-5)
9) Jerky leg actions suit animated hand movements (14)
15) Employment status (9)
16) Broad-spectrum drugs? (4-4)
17) Daughter is about to miss show (8)
19) On which a speaker may be starting to preach hatred (6)
20) A game played in nets (6)
22) Dare soldiers to hold up failure (5)