CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

Across

1. Short lad with French artist in Spanish taverns (7)

5. Get a quick divorce here with northern celebrity (6) 9. Enlisted sculptor to inspire exercises (5,2)

10. Aim of tennis player leaving out old matching woollies (7)

11. Self-esteem foregone after stripping (3)

12. Hug nice old nun dancing in raptures (2,5,4)

13. Strong material used in Gurkha kitbags (5)

14. What malingerer claims in speech to be wine? (9) 16. Pilot arguing about a European meteorologist’s device (4,5)

17. It’s more expensive for each piece of footwear (5) 19. Get better goods transporter (4-2,5)

22. Spleen repaired to some extent (3)

23. Rent-a-party twister (7) 24. Aroma or its source (7) 26. Society woman brought up her attractive features (6)

27. Pay deal ruined exceptional 24 hours (4,3)

Down

1. Drink at King’s Head, eating primarily rather small nuts (7)

2. Discreet officers collar radical consular staff (10,5)

3. Shadow cast over idol (3) 4. Child in charge of sound (5)

5. Grounds limit provision of beer (9)

6. Father and Scotsman hauled up young dragonfly (5)

7. Wife dishing up quail, bat - tered? It’ll be used later (7-2,6)

8. The area around Durham, say, supports a goddess (6)

12. Seal’s not interesting without its leader (1,4) 14. Civil decorum regularly seen in parts of Wimbledon (9)

15. Pull feathers out of bottle (5)

16. 19 carrying salesman’s name (6)

18. Return of missile concerning contestants (2-5) 20. States, say, raised employment (5)

21. Head of plant’s minute, with sort of blue lips (5) 25. Girl’s somewhat fortunate (3)