Clues
Across
- 1, 1D Laureate orchestrated War Of The Worlds, rejecting Flea’s contribution (10)
- 6 Landing place for group of Norwegians following second retreat (5)
- 7 ‘Moderate’ King taking in Hollywood location (5)
- 8 Dried cut grass with dandelion borders, he noted (5)
Down
- 1 See 1A.
- 2 Conclusion held by troublesome gamekeeper (5)
- 3 Prolonged exchange at Wimbledon, we gather? (5)
- 4 Pulse found in dead computer system (4)
- 5 British invader from Greek island, having swapped hemispheres (5)
Setter’s notes
Welcome back to what may well be the internet’s most sporadically intermittent puzzle series.
Across
- 1 & 1 Down An anagram (“orchestrated”) of WAR OF THE WORLDS, minus FLEA — WORDSWORTH, the poet laureate.
- 6 “Group of Norwegians” = A-HA, after “second” = MO reversed (“retreat”) — OMAHA, the D-Day landing beach.
- 7 “Hollywood location” = LA, inside “King” = REX — RELAX.
- 8 “Dried cut grass” = HAY + the borders of “D(andelio)N” — HAYDN, the composer.
Down
- 2 Hidden word: “troublesOME GAmekeeper” — OMEGA.
- 3 Double definition: a prolonged exchange of shots at tennis, and “we gather” — RALLY.
- 4 “Dead” = D + “computer system” = HAL — DHAL.
- 5 The Greek island NAXOS, with N and S (the hemispheres) swapped — SAXON.