Telegraph Cryptic Answers - Friday, 3rd January 2025 There are 16 across clues and 16 down clues for the Telegraph Cryptic crossword on Friday, 3rd January 2025. View the answers below.. Also try..All Telegraph Cryptic AnswersAll PublicationsThe AnswersNumber# Clue Answer AAcross 1: Skill playing Queen hit Mercury essentially admittedTECHNIQUEAAcross 6: Bridge partners to gather each yearSPANAAcross 10: Tees perhaps and golf clubs unwrappedRIVERAAcross 11: Further mark seen briefly on gold is genuineAUTHENTICAAcross 12: Receivers of American television dramas first off?AERIALSAAcross 13: Stamp with different crown for Queen Victoria?EMPRESSAAcross 14: Italian region very drab, Moldovan claims on reflectionLOMBARDYAAcross 16: Swindle fools having succeeded coming fourthTWISTAAcross 19: Remove article that's upsetting, reaching all-time lowNADIRAAcross 21: SNP's leader to block another new source of oilNORTH SEAAAcross 24: Model soldier missing from toybox reportedly?PARAGONAAcross 25: Worst possible situation in which F1 driver's seenTHE PITSAAcross 27: Having no purpose, like a broken weather vane?POINTLESSAAcross 28: Second collaborator of A Lloyd Webber?TRICEAAcross 29: Olive oil producer possibly targeted at intervalsTREEAAcross 30: Tired working behind counter? ShameDISCREDITDDown 1: Waterproof paint Laura endlessly stirsTARPAULINDDown 2: Write about cricket fielderCOVERDDown 3: Perfect happiness oddly I crave visiting grandparentNIRVANADDown 4: Where vessels unload island's fish, we hearQUAYSIDEDDown 5: One of two emerging from number touring IndiaEITHERDDown 7: Young magician with finesse, regularly in Staffordshire areaPOTTERIESDDown 8: Cuts jail terms finallyNICKSDDown 9: Autocrat seized by renegades potentiallyDESPOTDDown 15: Way Navy is beginning to effect upgradeMODERNISEDDown 17: Passing shot at tennis Sinner ultimately interceptsTRANSIENTDDown 18: Opposes games being playedCONTESTSDDown 20: Seaside resort extremely deficient? It's okayRIGHTODDown 22: Times former monarch would hold small loudspeakerTWEETERDDown 23: Amazing to dismiss student daughter as not educatedUNREADDDown 24: Seed, nutritious in the middle, for songbirdPIPITDDown 26: Series of woes current Irish parliament raisedILIAD