CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1. Let sound as if it’s spoken (7) 5. Took weight off when Mussolini was in the red? (7) 9. What produces power might turn out a green rot (9) 10. Nearer the centre one’s main meal has no starter (5) II. ‘Spread’ and raced to church (5) 12. Very pleased indeed not to weigh much (9) 13. What’s wanted is thus to see a bird with fifty (9) 16. Was told, and tried? (5) 17. Started playing snooker without any money (5) 18. Sets of apartments for ten men around the East on a backstreet (9) 20. Surreptitiously it’s where polite yawner hides his mouth (9) 23. Take some chow in Centre and start back (5) 25. Timothy led: I had to follow, not being brave (5) 26. Say what it means to bury privet when four are left (9) 27. Dilapidated summary? (3-4) 28. Falsely understand what it’s said harem is? (7)

DOWN

1. Eg, re-arranged and surrounded, made one cross (7) 2. Table, bed or personal material? (5) 3. He’s used to toil, so the task is given to Dobbin (9) 4. Old-fashioned Doctor of Divinity dined in (5) 5. Man of the church, of the country, and the East perhaps (5,4) 6. Cheating the party with gin mixture (5) 7. Compel one to sin, contra to arrangement (9) 8. Mocked and got shot of? Indeed (7) 14. Skilled at cut and thrust, he changes man’s words around (9) 15. A lot of soldiers are at the wicket, thanks to Leo (9) 16. In the direction where one lives, draw up among the houses (9) 17. Swagger and bully let’s rub the wrong way (7) 19. Lets her out to take refuge (7) 21. Wireless could help in giving gold up (5) 22. Singular bit of data with line on a ship (5) 24. Never-changing? Cheek! (5)