CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

Across

1. Single-minded U.S. agent recruits old coppers (7) 5. Gradually change volume consumed by first lady (6) 9. A bolish university lecturers provided in city (7) 10. Officer almost captures German in his city (7) 11. Time to haggle, forgetting odd features (3) 12. Moving to middle, intercept bad ball, ignoring wings (11) 13. Additional text rather gripping (5) 14. Spar alone had brought in broadcast TV (6-3) 16. Stop Tracey reserving right in gallery (9) 17. Some loveless lines make sense (5) 19. Main agents quietly insert note among flowers (5,6) 22. A British bird (3) 23. French crew supplying cargo (7) 24. Mother buys new Lidl water controller (7) 26. A guy admits river’s off course (6) 27. What king did, left without son (7)

Down

1. Welcoming blast to cool food (7) 2. 100 relics Tom stole - various pieces of value (10,5) 3. Runner chews kipper, rejecting most of it (3) 4. Mafia kingpin seizes the once respected member (5) 5. Harshly censure former firm, one saved by judge (9) 6. Dreadfully poor student installed bottom deck (5) 7. Cultivate large vegan beet daughter planted here (9,6) 8. Instinctive whistleblower pursued by the law (6) 12. Pelt one animal found in the Americas (5) 14. Fit to sail but timid circling duck in choppy water (9) 15. Now and then woman snips flowers in this (5) 16. Lead row across river (3-3) 18. Lame kid swam furiously (4,3) 20. Keen to move a geranium indoors (5) 21. Soldiers go up carrying mountain wheat (5) 25. Currency in Leipzig? Yes and no (3)