What exactly is a setter’s responsibility when it comes to what definitions, words, terms and meanings they use in cryptic clues? Should a setter pay any attention to how difficult a clue and ultimately a crossword is made by using Google-only, regional, overseas, obscure and archaic words? The answer, of course, is “yes”, because a setter should be aware of the impact of everything they use in a crossword from the grid right through to the abbreviations used in wordplays. You could argue, I suppose, that a setter has the right to do whatever they want and the solvers ultimately will judge. Kinda true for weekly crosswords, or specially-labelled extra crosswords, but daily setters must fit with the pattern of other setters so that there’s at least consistency for the solving public. A crossword editor is vital to control the difficulty of the puzzles in a daily publication, making sure there’s not a huge difference between the easiest and hardest ones through the week, after all, solvers are entitled to be able to solve all puzzles in their newspaper of choice.
| Across | Answers and Clues | Explanations |
| 1 | BRIEFEST | |
| Event that focuses on cheese, perhaps, is most revealing? (8) | BRIE-FEST | |
| 5 | CHESTS | |
| Heavyweight, finally involved in head-to-head battle, boxes (6) | HEAVYWEIGH(T) inside CHESS | |
| 10 | WHEELBARROW RACE | |
| He moved bar lower, breaking world record set by champion in fair event (11,4) | [(HE + anagram of BAR LOWER) inside WR] + ACE | |
| 11 | EXTRACTING | |
| Part-time actor, briefly on stage, could be pulling out (10) | (EXTR)A + ACTING | |
| 12 | WITH | |
| Possessing joker and hearts (4) | WIT + H | |
| 14 | BESTIR | |
| First one, right, to arouse into activity? (6) | BEST + I + R | |
| 15 | HYDROGEN | |
| Light gas in layer containing dry mixture, and go in the opposite direction (8) | HEN outside (anagram of DRY + GO reversed) | |
| 16 | LINGUIST | |
| Language expert confused “guilt” with “sin” (8) | Anagram of GUILT + SIN | |
| 19 | POSSES | |
| Western groups have finished early (6) | (POSSES)S | |
| 22 | EXIT | |
| Leave be, ignoring conclusion of doctors (4) | EXIST minus DOCTOR(S) | |
| 23 | UNTIDINESS | |
| Redeployed unit eats close to soldiers mess (10) | Anagram of UNIT + DINES + SOLDIER(S) | |
| 26 | MISAPPROPRIATED | |
| Stolen software, integrated into radio, permits broadcast (15) | APP inside anagram of RADIO PERMITS | |
| 27 | ENTICE | |
| Lead on silver not used by agent with diamonds (6) | AGENT minus AG + ICE | |
| 28 | PROSPERS | |
| Person, giving up on following experts, makes it (8) | PERSON minus ON after PROS | |
| Down | Answers and Clues | Explanations |
| 1 | BOWSE | |
| Secure petrol pump before closing (5) | (BOWSE)R | |
| 2 | ILEITIS | |
| Accumulation of bile – it isn’t an intestinal problem (7) | bILE IT ISnt | |
| 3 | FALLACIOUS | |
| Fellow, a rising name, promises to pay without foundation (10) | F + A + (CALL reversed) + IOUS | |
| 4 | SCANTY | |
| Tin lining interior of animal enclosure is thin (6) | CAN inside STY | |
| 6 | HOWL | |
| Wail from match’s final hooter (4) | MATC(H) + OWL | |
| 7 | STAGING | |
| Single man primed with alcohol is presenting (7) | STAG outside GIN | |
| 8 | SEE THINGS | |
| Very angry patients ultimately have hallucinations (3,6) | SEETHING + PATIENT(S) | |
| 9 | CRANKY | |
| It’s replaced by a number of taxis in city full of bends and turns (6) | CITY (minus IT replaced by RANK) | |
| 13 | PRIORITIES | |
| Religious leader is retaining equal preferences (10) | (PRIOR + IS) outside TIE | |
| 14 | BELLE AMIE | |
| Drunken male moved in to contradict female friend (5,4) | Anagram of MALE inside BELIE | |
| 17 | NAIL SET | |
| Ale isn’t ordered with punch (4,3) | Anagram of ALE ISNT | |
| 18 | SUNDRY | |
| Several lose moisture sitting under powerful heater (6) | DRY after SUN | |
| 20 | SPECTRE | |
| A secret spy organisation lacking, say? (7) | Anagram of A SECRET SPY minus SAY | |
| 21 | TIPPER | |
| One who thankfully pays extra for truck (6) | Double Definition | |
| 24 | SIDES | |
| Factions aren’t given up by a dissenter undergoing torture (5) | Anagram of A DISSENTER minus ARENT | |
| 25 | EPIC | |
| Mounting collection of recipes is impressive (4) | reCIPEs reversed |
I loved 20dn. Honourable mentions to 1ac, 10ac & 22ac.