April 2025 Puzzle Solution

Across:
1 Remain silent (as imperative, SH) inserted (during) anagram (explosive) of INTRO = IN SHORT (briefly), 5 DD of WESTERN, 9 1st letters (tops to) of words 4-7 = TWIN (double), 10 Provided (SO) + 1st letter (capital for) of (F)inancial + times (TT) + subject (ISSUE) = SOFT TISSUE (matter that is flexible), 12 As imperative, go comparatively crazy (BE WILDER) = BEWILDER (puzzle), 13 Alternate letters (occasionally) of uNhApPy + KIN (family) = NAPKIN (protection when dining out), 14 Sensitivity (EAR) in the outer letters (skin of) H(aemorrhoi)D = HEARD (detected), 16 Spoonerised version of FUN (play) + AILING (sickening) = UNFAILING (true), 18 APPRECIATe minus last letter (largely) anagrammed (modifications must be made) = PER CAPITA (for each person), 20 Club (pUTTER) minus 1st letter (leader thrown out) = UTTER (articulate), 23 R (end of yeaR) + TRADE anagrammed (could be) = RETARD (slow), 24 Projections (NOSES) containing (taking on board) currency (EURo) minus last letter (a lot of) = NEUROSES (anxieties), 26 OXBRIDGE + ResidenceS (minus inner letters (being vacated) anagrammed (for refurbishment) = BOX GIRDERS (they support), 27 Hidden answer using a third of leathERGOods = ERGO (for this reason), 28 Homophone (by the sound of things) of Insta videos (reels) following (on) brand (sear) = CEREALS (they’re very grainy), 29 CD of SHIATSU (with the literal Japanese meaning being ‘finger pressure’). 

Down: 

2 NOWHERE (near the bottom of field, as in a racer saying “I came nowhere”) consists of (can be found) NOW (present) and HERE (present, when answering a register), 3 1st letter (principally) of His + homophone (broadcast) of small TV company (indi/INDIE) = HINDI  (Asian language), 4 Anagram (extraordinary) of DESIRE = RESIDE (to live), 6 Schoolboy (ETONIAN) contains (tours) last letter (Southern tip) of cypruS = ESTONIAN (Northern European), 7 Try (TEST) + storyline (PLOT) containing (involving) I (Baldur) = TEST PILOT (first-time flyer – QM for stretchy def!), 8 Middle letters (out of bounds) of aREa + wedding (UNION) = REUNION (meeting), 11 Alternate letters (regularly) of pReFeCtS + ETONIAN anagrammed (gets smashed) = FOR INSTANCE (like), 15 Alternate letters (from time to time) of uRgEnCy precedes (heralds) confusion (TANGLE) = RECTANGLE (figure), 17 Anagram (possibly) of DUE + (by) APRIL = EPIDURAL (a lower number) , 19 Homophone (on the radio) of i (EYE) + learned (saw/SORE) = EYESORE (something offensive), 21 Initial letters (at first) of Even Millionaire + homophone (vociferously) of begs (urges/ERGES) = EMERGES (proceeds), 22 Place (PUT) + SCH(ool) = PUTSCH (takeover), 25 The Koh-i-Noor perhaps (dbe for GEM) inserted into (wrapped in) large piece of paper (AO) all reversed (written about) = OMEGA (letter from Athens).