CRYPTIC CROSSWORD
ACROSS
1 Stop possible introduction of active figure around island (10) 6 Some fantastic accompaniment to pasta? (4) 9 A mint spent in a covered place for acquisition (10) 10 Mistake, dropping pound somewhere in church (4) 12 A Greek accompanying this writer concerned with the arts of the land (12) 15 Common soldiers, for example, operating in state (6) 16 Mideast area fliers returning circling north, way off (3-5) 18 Before long, nameless item is seen as restful (8) 19 Pickle skin (6) 21 English clubs still followed by supporter very happily (12) 24 Semi-domesticated fish found in poor fettle (4) 25 TV genre popular among gloomy types (4-6) 26 Brood left in southern country (4) 27 French article went out with holding fee adjusted without any losses (10)
DOWN
1 Short distance to take in a prayer leader (4) 2 Silence as change? No thanks! (4) 3 Consult authority in school and provoke a crisis? (5,2,1,4) 4 Clear troublemaker is wearing cap (6) 5 Remarkable way one may be characterised? (8) 7 Very strong criminal pusher on upper-class British Isle (10) 8 Belief systems in which goodies lie misguidedly? (10) 11 Man given old lines say in church or military establishment (5,7) 13 South African grabs first over American, getting rowdy (10) 14 Female breaking rules Rome formulated is contrite (10) 17 Contemplate victor in Northern Ireland amid rising din (8) 20 Ill-will in African country over college attended by European (6) 22 Secure time for beer? (4) 23 Unoriginal description of senior NY Times staffer? (4)