CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

AGONISING OVER ANSWERS?

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ACROSS

1 Secret programme had an ulterior motive (6,6) 8 Classifies positions in strong society (5) 9 Pin mentor down to become recognisable (9) 11 Intervene in promotion to start in agreement (2,4) 12 Girls live there, but may force them out (8) 14 At one’s core, rest after period of grief (10) 15 Pen some nasty essays (4) 18 Organised spruce up. I was pretty good (4) 19 Check the field for a film script (10) 21 Is Fiat ripe for takeover? It whets the appetite (8) 23 About to abandon lab work to look for something else (6) 25 Social activities in being, at the end of the day (9) 26 Projection of a number working with a joint (5) 27 Is threatening to be hostile when showing animosity (12)

DOWN

1 A worker has to get up to complete his balancing act (9) 2 Abandons son included in the final course (8) 3 Catch sight of the last Private Eye (4) 4 Declines to get round a short time. In fact, hates it (10) 5 Lie in bed concocting something fit to eat (6) 6 Was an old man taking Bible class full of fear? (5) 7 Did it carry goods to Nancy in the Fifties? (7,5) 10 A light object is on the money (3,4,5) 13 Prince performing with one son, in rehearsal (10) 16 Show forbearance with the permissible range of variance (9) 17 Still triumphant in a long winning run (8) 20 Just the weapon for a cowardly character (6) 22 A bird of prey might be under par, of course (5) 24 Dramatic character left hearing behind (4)