CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

No 17,305

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1 Willingly accept English doctor before competition (7)

5 Top celebrity initially

discounted writer Truman (6) 9 Henry is given weight in a

wealthy Essex town (7)

10 Those who could replace tiles

out of order for Rose (7)

11 Some busk, adopting a

forerunner of reggae (3)

12 Duo online excited about new chapter in an elated state? (2,5,4)

13 Outsiders from Surrey getting approval in church council (5)

14 Cadet rode off like a

good soldier? (9)

16 Husband in samba, say, skirting back of another obstruction (9)

17 South American following popular tennis player Marat (5)

19 Country made to look awkward in TV programme (11)

22 Friend avoiding cold

gets to be active (3)

23 Ordinary company pursuing gold in South American river (7)

24 Figure in Germany’s capital entertained by eccentric deacon (7)

26 Look from a tightly-knit

group admitting pressure (6) 27 Famous feature of a

popular restaurant? (7)

DOWN

1 See push to mill around

in ancient city (7)

2 Potential concessions from British ship racing at sea having pocketed profit (10,5)

3 Rugby player Bundee

has a short sleep (3)

4 Moral code in case of establishment here in Rome (5)

5 Concern about suggestion for Egyptian tablet (9)

6 Dignified priest with

pair from the south (5) 7 Skill evident in a lot emerging from trap? (3,4,2,3,3)

8 Varied notes on Dutch

and Belgian port (6)

12 Customers make this

arrangement (5)

14 Fun for gourmets revealed after noise in entrance to grill (6,3)

15 Reliable after time gone — or hampered by lack of practice? (5)

16 Hounds running wild

in U.S. river (6)

18 Candidate with French name among electorate’s fringes (7) 20 Large deer in foam-like

mixture, reportedly (5) 21 A professor behind department requires accessory (3-2)

25 Divided economy (3)