CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Jot things down to recruit writer for Fleet Street (3,3,2,5)

10 Old charters had to be deciphered for some players (9)

11 Did cast jettison short article on line? (5) 12 Be taken with One Direction, going round in this way (7)

13 With respect, may get one’s dander up (7) 14 Story, at the end, about native, in the main (6)

16 Understands how one gets along somehow (5,3)

18 Was infuriated by out-of-date fashion with one suit, in short (8) 20 Small rodent scoffed second dessert item (6)

23 Has included right one with South African aromatic paste (7)

24 Have to go on, with one cooking up a herb (7)

26 Failed to catch the bus. I’ts unacceptable (3,2)

27 Might one take advantage of a coup, with little hesitation (9)

28 In the end, had no choice about holiday destination (2,1,4,6)

DOWN

2 Have some fun, cutting out the whole book, for instance (5)

3 Back a Regius Professor to avoid the first performance (7)

4 Talk about a toad when Jack had skedaddled (6)

5 Run into a casino, playing with some musical toys (8)

6 Feature a large truck manoeuvred by the French (7)

7 Counterfeit might be flawed. In fact, it’s all wrong (9)

8 Narrow things right down, until it’s all gone (4,2,7)

9 Have to tidy up the table to win all the cards (5,3,5)

15 Charges steep slope, initially, and gets soaked through (9)

17 Would they dress one down? Yes, if rare bets are torn up (8)

19 Gets back up narrow passages to run across Premier club (7)

21 Trying to take part in one run round America (7)

22 Henry could handle himself round a ring (6) 25 Following a footman, at first, in front of the Queen (5)