CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Meant to get lower classes free (10)

6 Cooker right to make jelly (4) 9 Prospect of time filling in travel document (5)

10 Rails bearing one by top of stairs? (9) 12 Garden role not adapted by urban area (7,6) 14 Pointless friend losing head and gathering speed for Armstrong, perhaps? (8) 15 Remained sober as reported (6) 17 Residential area as far as the outskirts of Wigan (6) 19 Mother crossing on old airline gets night light (8) 21 Avant-garde recordings could be so … um … eccentric (8,5) 24 Old fusspot forgetting answer — that is coming in handy (9) 25 In agreement to make amends (5)

26 Number regularly found in Indian tea (4)

27 Throws away meal given king — not the finest cut of meat (5,5)

Friday’s Puzzle Solved

DOWN

1 Female captivates very peaceful type (4)

2 Rang a salad bar up reserving pasta dish (7)

3 British hail American dystopian novel (5,3,5)

4 Subject of jokes in actual denial (8)

5 Singer from English National Opera visiting Turkey (5) 7 When weather is miserable it sounds first-class (4,3) 8 Rebellion lacking enthusiasm for old comedy programme (6,4) 11 Filming top actors — they have meteoric careers (8,5) 13 Shield wounded guerrilla imprisoned by flipping beak (10)

16 Company brought up articles about improving superficial appearance (8) 18 Camping equipment — something to bowl at, taking wicket ultimately (4,3) 20 Surround space nearby (7) 22 Support article that’s reduced effective powers (5) 23 Stupid person preserved beef (4)