Daily hard — 2026-10-09

Across

1. 2. Popular dish made from a purple vegetable (11)
2. 4. US regions where neither major party has a majority (12)
3. 7. Found myself fortunate in a tricky situation. (10)
4. 9. Antigen that can cause complications in pregnancy. (8)
5. 13. These crispy morsels originated in the 1950s in Idaho. (9)
6. 16. Creator of the magic potion in a Belgian comic series (9)
7. 18. 2015 documentary about drone warfare and surveillance (12)
8. 19. What a band does when concluding a performance. (8)
9. 20. Begin to exert oneself physically (11)

Down

1. 1. A phrase often used to emphasise sincerity in conversation. (12)
2. 3. Archbishop known for his work in South Africa (11)
3. 5. Star NFL wide receiver known for his agility and speed. (11)
4. 6. Encouraging phrase often said to boost confidence (10)
5. 8. This term defines the speed of electromagnetic waves in vacuum (10)
6. 10. Frustrating game of hitting popping targets. (10)
7. 11. Commonly travelled route, often known for its predictability. (10)
8. 12. Phrase used in British English for providing care. (9)
9. 14. Successor to Pope Leo XIII, he oversaw a time of reform. (10)
10. 15. Current Prime Minister of the Netherlands, from the VVD party (9)
11. 17. Comic book character often paired with a caped crusader (6)