CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

Across

1. Comedian interrupts performer, widowed lady (7) 5. Fool goes back to grab a second spicy snack (6) 9. Raise pitch in instrument former nurse sent round (7) 10. Cook’s exhausted, turning over wings of grouse (7) 11. Primarily a regular curve (3) 12. Depressed county tried drinking tea nonstop (11) 13. Outline Dutch makeshift boat (5) 14. A lot can go wrong with quite a few sides (9) 16. A priest, fit but not large, showing no interest (9) 17. Getting on, managing without staff (5) 19. Resourceful writer’s a soldier, residing locally (11) 22. Annoy leaderless church in Edinburgh (3) 23. Sailor’s rope, not quite 18 inches (7) 24. He sleeps rough, clutching one file (7) 26. Sturdy pighouse obtains approval to hold 100 (6) 27. Old journalists fast (7)

Down

1. Frightened birds run off and scatter (7) 2. Catch llama with a bent – – – ? Its name escapes me (15) 3. Like a year travelling in space (3) 4. Begin again with Frenchman in the lead (5) 5. Big town’s upset about new article that’s man-made (9) 6. Hot rock groupie initially punched arts masters (5) 7. To boldly go, say, to divide home with fractious five in it (5,10) 8. Conservative in such footwear creates malicious gossip (6) 12. A bandon Democrat before long (5) 14. On the face of it, law or duty should be changed (9) 15. Mark’s beginning to gripe about housing promotion (5) 16. What smoker may ask for land? (6) 18. Approved a run in fast cars, these small ones? (2-5) 20. Sarah’s son is caught holding aces (5) 21. Protein diet is too much for small film company (5) 25. Step over idiot (3)