Observer Everyman

Across

1. Ineffectual type, king going into decline (4)

3. Mixed tapes, lucid copies (10)

9. Observed number bound to catch cold (7)

11. Time, attached to rope, to make descent (7)

12. Distinct cost about pretence and chicanery (5,8)

14. Major airline? So essential (5)

15. Model car involved with publicity surrounding Spielberg film (9)

17. Lack of interest in vase around northern clubs formerly (9)

19. Son in trouble with English passage (5)

21. Items broadcast after hesitation in time before Christmas commercial (13)

24. Witticism in record, one with good force (7)

25. Call film about tango mystifying (7)

26. Terrible tedium is broken by one with line creating likeness (10)

27. Not working on the house (4)

Down

1. Cheese and bun deli has prepared (6,4)

2. One approaches overwhelming defeat, finally weeping (2,5)

4. Less than regular parts of track we tackle (9)

5. Shrub that’s shown up in botanical illustration (5)

6. Kindly captain initially just accepting team on merit (13)

7. Judge occupied by competition to make ornamental stonework (7)

8. Democrat supporting witness in beginning (4)

10. Vehicle expert upset during escapade on a large rocket launch site (4,9)

13. Referring to church with quiet story about candle’s first holder (10)

16. Certain deception very popular with December coming up (9)

18. Skull in opening of chiller set on an island possessed by spirit (7)

20. Woman before reform not having a refuge (7)

22. Brief dispatch (5)

23. Street speaker’s source of inspiration (4)