crossword

A prize of £15 in book tokens will be awarded for the first correct solution opened. Solutions must reach Crossword No 4467, Country Life, Pinehurst II, Pinehurst Road, Farnborough Business Park, Farnborough, Hampshire GU14 7BF, by Tuesday, February 21. UK entrants only.

ACROSS 1. Adult males agree intellectually (8) 5. Large toupée for a VIP? (6) 9. Delivering poetry, and quoting again (8) 10. Italian painter—one protected by giant (6) 12. Girls attending grand spectacles (7) 13. A more satisfactory partner in crime (7) 14. Varying in substance, little sibling admitted (12) 17. At beach, we get involved with big butterfly (7, 5) 22. Some November mud affecting West Indian islands (7) 23. Libertine leaving to get dubious profit? (4-3) 24. Vinegary champion with nervous twitch (6) 25. Austrians compete with Pole seen around (8) 26. European king entertaining key ballerina, say? (6) 27. Thrive endlessly at Court? That’s the expectation (8)

DOWN 1. Aggression on motorway? An illusory thing (6) 2. Sugary fluid producing trance, perhaps? (6) 3. Skilled worker taking sides? Not at first (7) 4. Tall equestrian raising son to be docker (12) 6. Frigidity of old chemical-company head (7) 7. American painter showing happiness at work? (8) 8. Produce information with energy and speed (8) 11. Bird in Planet Earth at last— one causing hassle? (5, 7) 15. Set up dull method of payment for sheath (8) 16. Working near Bede’s place in Scotland (8) 18. Insulting sailor, this compiler’s taken round America (7) 19. Thanks Cambridge college for income (7) 20. Woman’s in business, initially eager to stick together (6) 21. Impression produced by most of one’s belongings? (6)