CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Ride taken round Honshu, principally, by inscrutable person (6)

4 Bad fire in branch (8)

10 A dry, mostly freezing, upper room (5)

11 Significant worker, one having special skills (9)

12 Prune others spreading, indefinite number (7)

13 Uncomplaining, study portable shelter (7)

14 Fight adversary misguidedly creating work throughout the night (9,5)

17 Held one’s gran if upset, conciliatory words being required (2,4,8)

21 News coming back about old soldier (7)

23 Stuff at sea it polluted (7)

24 Love a speech introducing Democrat (9)

25 Percentage of quota cut (5)

26 Legacy of millions missing from retreat (8)

27 Cool customer, initially wearing tartan (6)

DOWN

1 Celebrity on mixed gins – Leo, perhaps (4,4)

2 Stew at ball? A delicate matter (3,6)

3 Item worn with audacity ahead of match (7)

5 Language used before preparing something for the salad? (6,8)

6 Constant check (7)

7 In abeyance round Mediterranean resort (2,3)

8 Deal with Yankee, making pact (6)

9 A lot of possibly unproductive activity travelling between places? (5,3,6)

15 Extraordinary worker having sparkling wine in football club (9)

16 Heavenly body of a bodybuilder? (8)

18 Stop after snake makes for pitch (7)

19 Misprint in literature on period of history ending in turmoil (7)

20 Join a church following a tense time (6)

22 Love dreary perfume (5)