Two-speed coffeebreak

Two sets of clues – but the answers are the same.

Cryptic clues ACROSS

1 Blocked poet’s report (6) 4 A gin cocktail makes profit (4) 7 Scan a red construction (4) 8 Stoppage is a hit (6) 9 Tool wasted money (4) 10 Betting on a new connection (4) 12 Affair of the bag (4) 14 Fireman’s fury (3) 16 Remote RAF manoeuvre (3) 17 Tardy ordering tale (4) 20 Race round shrub (4) 23 Game I play in Latin (4) 24 Chap has time to run (6) 25 Language in another sentence (4) 26 Difficult to laugh on the way (4) 27 Rude about ship’s force (6)

DOWN

1 Singer has one platform (5) 2 Unusual not to be well done (4) 3 Doctor gets points for attire (5) 4 Girl at a celebration (4) 5 A professor is a handsome youngster (6) 6 New remit for headwear (5) 11 Pets turn out to be vermin (4) 13 Sailor finds the French skilful (4) 15 Rated wrongly by right businessman (6) 16 Refuse match with large harbour (5) 18 Dream about having weapons (5) 19 Stressed about lock (5) 21 Accordance with cable (4) 22 Half a menu hides celebrity (4)

Quick clues ACROSS DOWN

1 Excluded (6) 1 Foundation (5) 4 Win (4) 2 Seldom seen (4) 7 Peruse (4) 3 Gown (5) 8 Punch (6) 4 Formal party (4) 9 Plunder (4) 5 Beautiful 10 Bridge (4) youth (6) 12 Container (4) 6 Bishop’s 14 Anger (3) headdress (5) 16 Distant (3) 11 Nuisance (4) 17 Overdue (4) 13 Competent (4) 20 Type of tree (4) 15 Retailer (6) 23 Board game (4) 16 Dirt, grime (5) 24 Cope (6) 18 Weapon-bearing (5) 25 Gaelic (4) 19 Braid of hair (5) 26 Solid (4) 21 Rope (4) 27 Coercion (6) 22 Celebrity (4) Solutions in next week’s Sunday Mirror

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