CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Big news story — sad end of space flight (10)

6 Get rid of outbuilding (4) 10 Snake with space on tree (5) 11 Bits of squid etc the French caught in net cast indiscriminately (9)

12 May see fool seek support (7) 13 Consult expert about name in quizzical way (7) 14 Shopkeepers’ basic cost not recovered (12)

18 Dance from the 1960s made a hotspot delirious (6,6) 21 Colonist taking dog round lake (7)

23 Slippery type rejected protection, not being exposed (7)

24 Threatened one legislator with abolition (9)

25 Bird of prey heading off hunting dog (5)

26 Cut fuel for heating hospital (4) 27 Maybe shares how cleric is dressed for service (10) DOWN

1 Rare blemish on church (6) 2 Like a wild animal at university, interrupting row (6)

3 Learning gossip when drunk — with this? (9,5)

4 Go out with actor Terence — one might make an impression (4-5)

5 Stick a fish in film? (5) 7 Pope’s quality of verse read in High School initially (8)

8 Is penny invested in stupid deal (8) 9 PC operating system rarely seen nowadays (7,3,4)

15 List unusual clue to Aga (9) 16 Wonderful son flirting once (8)

17 I call for help carrying most important electronic and nuclear materials (8)

19 Use craft to obtain foremost of white fish (6)

20 Notice archdeacon on time for run-up to Christmas (6)

22 What may stop cricket broadcast as a rule (5)