CRYPTIC CROSSWORD
Across
1. Former European state put pressure on much larger one (7) 5. What’s put on to stop bad smell in Sikh complex (6) 9. Offensive outside broadcast location (7) 10. Swingers bar, where some retirewith ease, I hear (7) 11. Trouble first rate lecturer (3) 12. Cornishman furious about article that’s outdated (11) 13. Plants start to clash with first part of play (5) 14. Rare issue covering new performance (9) 16. Woman, radical, carries little weight as presenter (9) 17. Dark man on board heading off (5) 19. Judges interrupt sponsor and MP (11) 22. Silver ring in the past (3) 23. Finish remedy to inspire the Spanish (7) 24. Russian imperialist starts getting angry with one (7) 26. I go through the roof about black line on map (6) 27. H ot spicy dish (not starter) costlier and faster! (5,2)
Down
1. Bland spin-doctor is a trained Conservative (7) 2. Uncles of cousins confused but not embarrassed (15) 3. Notice to appear shortly (3) 4. Region includes northern stadium (5) 5. General percussion section followed by monarch (9) 6. Party started without good disc (5) 7. Relative density of particular sauce covering it (8,7) 8. Son taken in by Arab country’s sycophants (3,3) 12. No-frills ladies uniform is so long (5) 14. Eurocrat ordered to bring in Norway yarn-spinner (9) 15. Private Victor ignores wife (5) 16. A taxi reverses in by leading monk’s office (6) 18. Stewpot broadcast dance (3-4) 20. Obscure book’s description on jacket (5) 21. Devise way of entering spacecraft (5) 25. Blonde female’s lost voice (3)