CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 ‘RIP’ mistakenly put by female icon or diva (5,5) 6 Vegetarian dish sees boy back

outside hospital (4) 10 Come clean, either way (5) 11 Keep quiet about new plot before king gets access to ship (9) 12 Two vehicles sandwiching

a third? (7) 13 Work is scheduled across Germany for the poorest city area (4,3) 14 Go over set of drawers for

pantomime dame, perhaps (5-7) 18 How a free port must work to provide elementary protection? (12) 21 Trouble returns in so

stormy a relationship (7) 23 Well-bred chap confronting

devious character (7) 24 Shy type may be home and

dry when dog’s collared (9) 25 Such language skill must

incorporate work (5) 26 Ropes in blokes (4) 27 A decent red fermenting, bang

on target (4,6)

DOWN

1 Agents of the law quietly love bugs (6) 2 Reverse order, still

welcoming victory (6) 3 In a chaotic state, crazily has to help welcoming mistress? (3,4,3,4) 4 Manager of revolutionary region as source of rumours (9) 5 Numbers thrown out

of station in Essex (5) 7 Support Reds, playing

in high temperature (8) 8 Cool book on fighting

millions (8) 9 Sweet cupid needs a wok for cooking (6-4,4) 15 Detracted from French staff outside entrance (9) 16 House flooding after start of deluge (8) 17 Holiday worker left before end of day, without paying attention (8) 19 Importance of women on crew (6) 20 Bishop settled on that man being unconcerned (6) 22 French resort accommodating English relative (5)