Coffee Break Cryptic

10 August

Across

1 Useless ornament to hang on ventilator (9)
8 American female — one employed as director? (5)
9 Boat almost left with awkward load (7)
10 Crooked — right in an odd way (4)
11 Puddings brought back under pressure (8)
13 Instrument for tinker (6)
14 Ribs to order in a restaurant (6)
17 Ships used for a short cut? (8)
19 Take the plunge in a disreputable place (4)
21 Say why former partner's not attractive (7)
22 A few historians taking part in a game (5)
23 Neat story confused lawyers (9)

Down

2 Stuck with tot holding present (7)
3 Admiral's second vessel is obscure (4)
4 Dark times — but things have altered (6)
5 Heather goes on lake in intimate garb (8)
6 Wood mostly for police (4)
7 Buried oil started flowing (4,2,4)
8 Modest just the same (10)
12 Jumbo — the plane that's seen all over (8)
15 Wakefield players in college (7)
16 Girl taking care of Spanish leader (6)
18 Children's game is extremely pretty (1-3)
20 Bird that is small and pale (4)