CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 26 at hop around two hours before midnight (10)

6 Fruit, fleshy, reduced (4) 9 Distinctive person (10)

10 Guy to miss start of march taking place soon (4) 12 Sappers become weary, go to bed (6)

13 An advocate by day, that woman in a tent, scratching head (8) 15 & 18 Long-running show song (3,5,2,2,1,11)

21 Huge reduction in fuel that’s mined (8) 22 Sophisticated city, European (6)

24 Slightly wet in Amsterdam, perhaps (4)

25 Stinging insect squashed by most angry ruminant (10) 26 Barrier in former London prison, not new (4)

27 Traders – I’ve upset one located on Madison Avenue, maybe (10)

DOWN

1 A change involving one enclosure for birds (6) 2 What single person might want until now? (2,4) 3 Elves sent her out anyway (12) 4 Assistant in a team lacking leadership (4) 5 Apprehensive admitting girl makes wine (10) 7 Behold, through window, legendary knight … (8) 8 … troubadour in street protected by Merlin somehow (8) 11 Dish erstwhile bar concocted (5,7)

14 Pair took in wad, anxious to secure folio (3,2,1,4)

16 Look to follow Ofwat, say (8) 17 Envoy’s graduation certificate required on top of those (8) 19 Shows concern over son’s pet (6) 20 Derisive remark about extremely stout clown (6) 23 Club losing wickets, and advantage (4)