CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS 1. Pretty piccalilli, maybe – and a fine mess you’ve got into! (6) 4. Principal champions of a situation taken by Les (8) 9. Nominating gamin from the North perhaps (6)

10. Was left by me returning when it was pouring around (8) 12. Gain time for the playing speed to get up (9)

13. The pick of the type (5)

14. Abuse is endlessly vile if one gets cat: no one returns! (12) 18. Travelling about speaking brings tram on somehow (12) 21. Cross one and tear about (5)

22. Mountain description by Parry? Oh, go round it! (9) 24. Of motherly and fatherly status, rent-a-pal? (8) 25. Interment? Yes – but trial, dropping the race (6)

26. Sent down and driven out (8)

27. Sayings of the District Attorney in sage version (6) DOWN 1. Punishing, I’ve concluded, having got it after play on words (8) 2. Stuff for tea arrived, holding the limo up (8)

3. The language demonstrated by the Tamil in Goa (6) 5. Theatrical performance when donation gets it on a variation (12) 6. Access for cast re-entering as Godot is being played (5-4) 7. A pulse observable in otherwise silent illness (6)

8. Abrupt end of girlhood unsettling nudes (6)

11. In despair at having the record on, so departed (12)

15. Like a brother rat in infernal surroundings, not at home (9) 16. Showing a hollow laugh? (8)

17. Yellows go: sky leg-break (3-5)

19. An easy medicinal herb to recognise (6)

20. Provincial governor was in the chair, taking a knock (6)

23. If it’s mine, I’m treating (5)