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Thanks to Boatman.
Seems to feature a topical theme, or else I'm obsessed by gloomy headlines.
On the gentle side, with several "low-hanging fruit" clues to provide starting points.
Sufficient witty clues to provide good entertainment, though.

FOI 9, LOI 17.
No blockbuster COD, but 5 and 26d my co-winners. Long list included 6, (7,23) , 2, 11 and 13a.

Revision: 19d COD by a nose due to topicality (in US, at least).

Pleasant enough, but over too quickly, which makes me think that, once again, there must be a non-prize bank holiday special in the print edition today.

Follows the trend of easier crosswords this week.

There is a Maskarade jumbo online!
https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/2026/apr/04/guardian-cryptic-crossword-easter-special-2026

30a: that's not how we spell it.

Thanks Boatman.
Enjoyed it.
COD 24d - runner-up 21d.
Other likes:13a, 15a, 5/23 and 6d.

That is 7/23

First time posting, but I’ve been doing the Prize and using this forum every week for over 5 years.
Normally I don’t get to the crossword until Sunday afternoon, so am too late to post, but a bout of jetlag has meant that I’ve enjoyed doing this as it came out.
Definitely a gentle Prize this week, but I’m mainly posting to say thank you to all the regulars here - you’ve helped me many, many times and I feel like I know you all, even if this is the first time you’ve heard from me!

Well I've spotted a theme, and it's in very poor taste. I don't think I'll bother finishing.