GUARDIAN CRYPTIC CROSSWORD NO. 27,536

ACROSS

1 Rogue caught mate

dividing loot (9) 6 Young setter, perhaps a future monarch? (4) 8 Old newspapers,

frequently dated (8) 9 Romeo donning skimpy garment for crowd (6) 10 Flaming row, theoretically about increase in GDP (6) 11 Skilfully manipulate

idolatry (8) 12 Infamous Clyde pub

brawl (6) 15 Paint big birds seizing big cat by its head (8) 16 Party touring Russian capital heading off to share bed (6,2) 19 Leisure activities shunned by current philosopher (6) 21 Individual from Naples

— or Barking? (8) 22 City centre emptied after I came, according to Caesar (6) 24 Rebellious female with gun unfortunately suspended again (6) 25 One of twelve sworn to follow Conservative illusionist (8) 26 Skinned bits ache and

burn (4) 27 Game of cricket put strain on marriage (4,5)

DOWN

1 Close to terror under settee, until now (2,3) 2 Revolutionary Red regularly tilting at pacifist (4-3) 3 Poorly MP hesitantly collecting bodily fluid (5) 4 Dissipation of American male covered by the Guardian (7) 5 Vacuous government accepts zero-hour contract ought to pass (2,7) 6 A thousand and one transfixing openings for tales (7) 7 Pole dancer almost breaking laws (5,4) 13 Reparations united people over time (9) 14 Diminutive Man Friday’s last few hours? (9) 17 Hum bits, playing heavy metal (7) 18 Dad does up opulent houses (7) 20 Mum disheartened after earl leaves beanfeast (7) 22 MI5 served

up poison (5) 23 Idiot husband in

Paisley? (5)