dt 25,454 6/11

[barbrajay]

18a London station has choice fruit (8,4)
O???O?I? PLUM

2d extremely nervous about stake in French FC (6)
N?N?E? nonces?

15d Rug is shock work of art (9) Hairpiece?

22a baby's left a wet blanket (10) Spoilsport? but how?

[johnalex]

18a Victoria Plum

[johnalex]

2d Nantes . . . . extremely N ervou S =NS, stake=ANTE

[genius1933]

looks like victoria plum

[barbrajay]

Thanks johnalex and genius1933! Looks like I got 16d wrong then.

16d surplus actors, gloomy (8)

I've got "downcast" any other ideas please?

[jno]

overcast

[johnalex]

15d Agree Hairpiece . . . . Hair(shock), piece(work of art)
. . . . Rug = slang for Wig

[sarumite]

Hi barbrajay

22a baby's can mean spoils, + left (port), and a wet blanket is also a spoilsport.

[johnalex]

22a Agree Spoilsport . . . . Baby's = Spoil's + Port (left)
. . . . Spoil = Wife/Girlfriend/'Babe' (urban slang)

[johnalex]

Howdy S - OK you win! ja

[sarumite]

Hi ja ... must have almost lapped you that time :O) .. (S)

[barbrajay]

Hi Johnalex and Sarumite!

You two are amazing!

Thanks again.

[johnalex]

aka 'The Gruesome Twosome' . . . .

[barbrajay]

OK you two: who can be first to tell me please

27a Thump counter agittedly (7)

I think it's "trouble".

But if so, what is 24d What king must do, reportedly, in check? Obviously a chess move, but I can't think of one that ends in "b".

These are my last two and I've finished! So help and I'll maybe get an early night! Ja

[sarumite]

Trounce ! anag counter

[barbrajay]

Thanks Sarumite - you won!

I've been "trounced" tonight - I should have got that one.
Night. Talk tomorrow.

[sarumite]

I think 24d must be Rein (Reign)

So off to bed for the early night maybe? (S)