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)