CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS 6 Authorisation for investigation coming from chaser around with battle cry? (6,7) 8 Form of cruelty — unhappy maiden is being imprisoned (6) 9 Reasonable declaration looks phony with December passing (8) 10 Male or female head, not English (3) 11 Fellow looking forward to the match (6) 12 Severity of mess around road — I start to protest (8) 14 Like something a poet’s written or the opposite (7) 16 Advertise concert with note that has name missing (7) 20 Provincial giant has one belief to fight for — against wife always! (8) 23 A source of inspiration, daughter venturing a smile? (6) 24 Theologian embracing a member of the family (3) 25 Flag of monarch placed by watercourse (8) 26 It includes humour? Some miss it completely (6) 27 I love routines, indisposed to change completely (13) DOWN 1 Report of people in A&E? What they’ll need, waiting! (8) 2 Agent set up to probe mean tricks moves quickly (8) 3 Why rats could be dark-looking (7) 4 Lecturer maybe in laboratory (6) 5 Ministers soon restricted by Civil Service (6) 6 Railway official resorting to steam trains (13) 7 I ate hot old hen, nasty dish (4-2-3-4) 13 Party in which to see upper-class couple (3) 15 Regret Aussie beast being heard (3) 17 A moving sort of entertainment? (8) 18 Horse at home eating a huge quantity (8) 19 Slow up, being restricted by explosive chemical (7) 21 The female wanting love but denied love is put off (6) 22 Tennis tournament Don avoids — it can be boring (6)