CRYPTIC CROSSWORD: NO. 28,446

Across

1 Colour of biscuit about to be left out (6) 5 The capacity to move in high society? Problem, ultimately, for knight (8) 9 Tremendously fast percussion playing (10) 10 Fish pasty filled with tail of haddock (4) 11 Annual sporting event in English city, always after first of December (5,3) 12 Woollen coat to take to the cleaners (6) 13 A great deal of land in Kansas I auctioned (4) 15 Is about during a bachelor party, being coarse (8) 18 Bureaucrat challenging short chap at the front (8) 19 Master the choice between pounds and pence once (4) 21 Mother accepting employment in V&A? (6) 23 Agent, young woman, employed during difficult year (8) 25 What seaquake projects, at heart? (4) 26 Bush region portrayed differently in soap (10) 27 March from base, mostly slow going at first (8) 28 Shake toy (6)

Down

2 A clipped English accent (5) 3 Like company chairman in need of a lifeline? (9) 4 End of game inventor set up (2-4) 5 Crime in Ireland – young men involved (5,10) 6 Shoot after defender’s rebound (8) 7 Decline drinks, say (5) 8 Hide in Cuba’s capital during coup (4,5) 14 Existing situation in America? Question coming in to us at broadcast (6,3) 16 Underestimate singular redesign of the Rolls (4,5) 17 Offender in crashed minicar, learner driver (8) 20 Spot leading player dropping old instrument? (6) 22 Court under fire over being correct (5) 24 In the countryside, artist breaking law no end (5)