The Cryptic:

Solution next week

ACROSS

1. Considering pool with electric phone ( 9 )

6. Avoid bird ( 4 )

8. Am I repulsed by extreme Google search result? ( 5 )

9. Heard any limb is open slather for close shave (4,4)

11. Acts by a sole performer? (3,6)

13. Cat’s mother ate a kilo of dairy treat ( 5 )

14. Ridiculing parole centre and a member of The Police ( 8 )

15. A-league deceived United ( 6 )

18. Saturdays: take-away centre gets Malaysian meals ( 6 )

19. Fire any pilot with this hairstyle! ( 8 )

20. More leaders exhibiting xenophobia, trashing reputation abroad ( 5 )

22. Liqueur hallucination: flew without wings a short while (6,3)

23. Pleasurable chemical from party with dad (not yours) ( 8 )

24. Petrol station proves tricky without parking ( 5 )

26. Even nuns need to be employed ( 4 )

27. Acts of God make sister sad, perhaps ( 9 )

DOWN

1. They apply colourant when agony from tuberculosis surges (12)

2. Gun nuts are oddly normal (1,1,1)

3. Brewing ale gently and tastefully ( 9 )

4. Naive pub with zero money ( 8 )

5. Donkey follows gardener outside for its food! ( 5 )

6. Lift sludge from primary school ditches ( 5 )

7. Tobacco’s tar I can see engulfing people from San José (5,6)

10. Variety of apple cider used oil mixture (3,9)

12. Design body art with lions left out in the orchards (11)

16. Privately employ A-list stars as followers ( 9 )

17. Democrat gives views on Southern stupidity ( 8 )

21. Prize for commercial about bloodshed ( 5 )

22. Attempted to turn up dirt about Elizabeth ( 5 )

25. Feel sorry for boomer, say ( 3 )