CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

17 280

Across

1. Spell to include mean or lavish meal (7)

5. Acts as cover, perhaps, in agricultural areas (6)

9. Artist with a Fiat chomped almond flavoured biscuit (7)

10. Woman surprisingly has a tan (7)

11. Drink slipped (not half) (3)

12. Thing might emerge from this travel in the small hours? (5,6)

13. Put off backing for official journalist (5)

14. Chalet Don designed for a varied athletics event (9)

16. Tries to enter genuine practice session (9)

17. Martial arts expert clipped figure, yes, in Germany (5)

19. One watched nervously around entrance to big Scottish town (11)

22. Floor covering for ugly houses (3)

23. Construct in cold atmosphere initially a hard surface (7)

24. Late spring gala in affluent part of London (7)

26. Current Dutch ace, say, has thing to carry personal details (2,4)

27. Trustee accustomed to entertain society is tied up? (7)

Down

1. Food turning up was first taken from a residence? (7)

2. Holder of pot now dancing around front of trophy in an elated state (2,3,2,3,5)

3. Ordinary fellow entertaining a fool (3)

4. Form of pronunciation in Asian island without fine government (5)

5. Zealous supporter at international still not finished (9)

6. Highly praise former group from the south (5)

7. A plan in crisis I’d suspect requires types to enforce rules? (15)

8. Degree of difference in border (6)

12. Some finer values in Roman emperor (5)

14. Director remains to get on part of a vehicle (9)

15. Freshwater fish has smell after head is removed (5)

16. Fierce storms in Brazilian city (6)

18. Dean and Reg stirred up in a fury? (7)

20. Heather in charge amid long period (5)

21. Take in commercial money-making place, not new (5)

25. Second person cited tree (3)