DAILY MAIL CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Screws priest put back in pots (7) 5 Book exaggerated the French courage (6) 9 Abandoned actors not working (4,3) 10 Agree to a very quiet ramble (7) 11 Medic starts to dress old codger (3) 12 Excellent joke about retired sailor (11) 13 Promise to orbit large planet (5) 14 Nasty smell over there overwhelms Welsh prodigy (3,6) 16 Overbearing monarch visits heathen (9) 17 Cool American crosses Dutch river (5) 19 Statesman, about 51, supporting northern Scotsman (11) 22 Wagon, mostly dark blue, overturned (3) 23 Notice party securing power put foot down (5,2) 24 Organise Scottish island, say, after recession (7) 26 Place for driving into crafty firm (6) 27 Old boy likes funny column (7)

DOWN

1 Lift short French bird (7) 2 Crush pellets in centre? It should deter bugs (6,9) 3 Self-esteem among moviegoers (3) 4 Capital seat housing institute (5) 5 Servant (European) in Bahamas shows facial bruises (5,4) 6 Get thinner candle (5) 7 Advanced in oil or ridiculously expert in it (8,2,5) 8 Lab container would be colder with litre in it (6) 12 Drink some predicted must go up (5) 14 A life’s work (9) 15 Legs straddling one? It brings tears to the eyes (5) 16 Smart suit allowing for any eventuality? (2,4) 18 Star playing cards, basking on cruise here? (3,4) 20 Sweet doctor (5) 21 Winged insect pops up in origami, not rare one (5) 25 Fish products appearing regularly in Rhone (3)

No 15,604 PRIZES of £20 will be awarded to the senders of the first three correct solutions checked. Solutions to: Daily Mail Prize Crossword No. 15,604, PO BOX 3451, Norwich, NR7 7NR. Entries may be submitted by second-class post. Envelopes must be postmarked...