CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ROS SHERARD

ACROSS 1 Lay up when I’m included in message that’s passed on (7) 5 Sudden urge to identify himself suffered by Mr Bean? (7) 9 Calm current in charger (7) 10 US politician present at inauguration of Spanish gentleman (7) 11 Showing uncontrolled behaviour in performance during painful affliction (6,3) 12 Woman getting married to live round top of Ross-shire (5) 13 Predicament dog might be left in without hesitation (5) 15 Submission of means test to be arranged (9) 16 Break up and bring down infiltration of communist (9) 18 Furious to see note brought in when paired up (5) 21 Accountant to get shot of something bitter (5) 22 Happily permit to remain uncultivated (3,6) 24 Beverage taken by original chick to her instructor (7) 26 Fiddle almost taken on by artist for food (7) 27 Shun cue to stir up harem attendants (7) 28 Told special operations executive about cache of Spanish swords (7) DOWN 1 Hear pal abuse Renaissance painter (7) 2 Scheme to go over pitch with feet on the ground (7) 3 Killed when extreme temperature did not end in good health (5) 4 Not the Oval Office but the Upper Chamber (3,5,2,5) 5 Are tests traced? I order that information not to be divulged (3,1,5,6) 6 Created web without starting wordplay (3) 7 Inconvenience of being erratically reliant? Not at all (7) 8 Studiously serious, putting listening equipment next to bird’s haunt (7) 12 Mr Stoker used energy to fish (5)

14 Sultry, unpleasant sort of smell covers identity (5) 16 and 17 Sketch at the end of the show to exclude the outside world (4,3,7) 19 Said to inform car-maker about bridgebuilder (7) 20 Atheist writer was kind, if obstreperous (7) 23 Forger’s equipment found in agrarian village (5) 25 Ad that’s this is improvised for a one-off purpose (3)