CRYPTIC CROSSWORD: NO. 28,694

Across

1 Character in front of the bars at the Albert Hall in summer? (6,4)

9 Component of alphabet (Hebrew) (4)

10 Novel final item of furniture that can be blown up (10)

11 Winter sports feature has a Parisian faced with terrible risk (3,3)

12 Swimmer making money one paper’s written about inside (7)

15 Top man, I will be standing by mother (7)

16 Stories lacking freshness, start to finish (5)

17 Rex inclined to be ecstatic (4) 18 Firm favoured making bit of money (4)

19 Thrive, making pounds in time of prosperity (5)

21 Peculiar scoundrel with admissions of debt (7)

22 Where to eat from tin with adolescent (7)

24 Green I spotted between river and lake – spring back (6)

27 Upset male model after party (10)

28 Bird’s bit of fun (4)

29 Hugo Allen is such a footballer! (10)

Down

2 Candid female blasting off in row (4)

3 Grumble about Left taking independent standpoint (6)

4 Charge hospital department with evidence of neglect? (7)

5 Fifty absent (half missing) in places of work (4)

6 Opportunities for celebration if seats can be arranged (7)

7 Sculptor, merry one? Oh, that’s unusual! (5,5)

8 Quiet female leading old chaps on – remarkable thing (10)

12 County with no barrier round – no real sign of alien invasion! (4,6)

13 Capture sound of excited actor and daughter hugging French relation (4-6)

14 Everyone to be housed in empty homes or rooms (5)

15 Wine and fish Eastern maiden served up (5)

19 Oxford college attendant gives edict: Do good (7)

20 Something on the floor, security device in town (7)

23 Stand-in worker joins the French place of worship (6)

25 Excellent group of caring Christians set up in lots of countries (4)

26 Tennis player of yesteryear in a work of fiction (4)