SOLUTION TO PRIZE CROSSWORD No 15,728:

ACROSS: 1 Taffeta. 5 Stymie. 9 Useless. 10 Macaque. 11 Doc. 12 Dry-cleaning. 13 Empty. 14 Fungicide. 16 Celandine. 17 Drink. 19 Penalty area. 22 Err. 23 Lasagna. 24 Placebo. 26 Cattle. 27 Demesne. DOWN: 1 Trundle. 2 French Polynesia. 3 Eve. 4 Assay. 5 Semblance. 6 Yucca. 7 Inquisitiveness. 8 Beagle. 12 Doyen. 14 Fairy tale. 15 India. 16 Cupola. 18 Karaoke. 20 Light. 21 Rapid. 25 Arm.