The Cryptic

ACROSS

1. Empty container containing container ( 6 )

5. Lunatic interrupted autopsy, chortling ( 6 )

10. I raise to 50, bluffing, in card game ( 9 )

11. Buzzer with quiet electronic noise ( 4 )

12. Shopkeeper’s more disgusting sounds ( 6 )

13. Evil actor Johnny endlessly ranted ( 8 )

14. Meticulous speeding gets driver licence debts (10)

15. Scotch tape held back walkway ( 4 )

16. Idiot kept opening purse for vipers ( 4 )

18. Protecting eggs by stuffing tunic in bag (10)

21. Young lady holds kind of keys incorrectly ( 8 )

23. Former PM was terse and popular ( 6 )

24. Regularly reimburse Aussies missing flight? ( 4 )

25. Small elderly Irishwoman good at fusing metals ( 9 )

26. Crazy desire to live ( 6 )

27. Snooping by opening spouse’s phone, you investigated new girlfriend ( 6 )

DOWN

2. Another country banned aluminium from our country ( 7 )

3. Budgets for least coal burning ( 9 )

4. Taught young pharaoh – bored, lacking leadership ( 7 )

6. Secretly fulfils her passion for mountain climbers ( 7 )

7. Snake collectors often bitten repeatedly around faces ( 5 )

8. Was awarded fragrance, say, for $0.01 (3,4)

9. I’d steal crowns, perhaps in Queen’s house (7,6)

15. Fatherhood’s in a pretty bad way ( 9 )

17. Seethe about Western athlete ( 7 )

18. One headmaster said cheese was enforced ( 7 )

19. Carriers of cash surrounding Spielberg film ( 7 )

20. Power tool used in a lung transplant (4,3 )

22. Parent’s final requests for chores ( 5 )

Thanks to Twitter user @Silent_knight49 for 18-across. To enter our weekly cryptic clue competition, follow the hashtag #Tspclues on Twitter.