ACROSS
- 1 Proposal of iron king (5)
- 4 Needed by smoker more inclined to float (7)
- 8 The first drink needed to caress an instrument (7)
- 9 Horrify a gentle friend (5)
- 10 Send away for closes (4)
- 11 Lead 3, perhaps, across top of paper (8)
- 13 "Shave," a couple said (4)
- 14 Part of plunger forming breathing apparatus (4)
- 16 Left post with Sid Green, as arranged (8)
- 17 Like taking first-class return to continent? (4)
- 20 A piece placed separately (5)
- 21 Happy with what's inside (7)
- 22 Are lent to travel forever (7)
- 23 Queen's head first for a drinker (5)
DOWN
- 1 Cats in here; one could be going up (2,3,8)
- 2 Discovered nothing in the kitty (5)
- 3 Work out about a line (4)
- 4 The French have the right foam (6)
- 5 Eminence of elderly relative, awfully rude (8)
- 6 Marvellous finish to a cake (7)
- 7 Curler put on table mat causing white knuckles (6-7)
- 12 Happy working by the seaside (8)
- 13 Father's herb taking a journey (7)
- 15 Lead found inside the drawer (6)
- 18 The woman has a record of the animals (5)
- 19 Weave new gear about (4)