Crossword Help Forum
Forum Rules

A short puzzle for a quiet Tuesday morning …

Clues are normal. Asterisks represent the last words of someone linked thematically to each solution.

1. * * top brass in Moscow in grip of dissident outsiders, one of a pair (7)
2. One shelled * abandoning horse to quash organised riot (8)
3. Search * essentially errant king (7)
4. Casually * * consumed by pains of Greek hero (8)
5. Sharing central character fighter to kill eponymous heroine (5)
6. Fish to join one who may * a mitre (9)
7. Sensen might so describe his recurring *e! (8)
8. Associate of 6 returning * end to certain rule (6)
9. Day cut short as Surrey bowled out by Cheshire village (9)
10. Aunt Pat * befuddled by Brexit? (11)

Excellent, Jono. A few thematic connections I was unaware of

Thanks, Quisling. Always a relief to know someone has solved it. Some of the connections I only discovered on researching the theme.

Sorry Jono
As the dragons often say "Im out" 🐉

Nice. I have them all but #7; I have an answer that fits thematically but I can't quite make it fit the wordplay, so I will continue to ponder.

and of course post-enlightenment strikes.

3 and 10 only 😔

Just had a look jono. I wouldn't say I had no idea - I had 3 or 4 ideas, but none of them came to anything!

Could you clarify: are the asterisked missing words involved in the wordplay for the solutions?

Chrise
I used the asterixed words in the wordplay for 3 and 10

excuse typo