CRYPTIC CROSSWORD: NO. 28,545

Across

6 Authorisation for investigation coming from chaser around with battle cry? (6,7)

8 Form of cruelty – unhappy maiden is being imprisoned (6)

9 Reasonable declaration looks phony with December passing (8)

10 Male or female head, not English (3)

11 Fellow looking forward to the match (6)

12 Severity of mess around road – I start to protest (8)

14 Like something a poet’s written or the opposite (7)

16 Advertise concert with note that has name missing (7)

20 Provincial giant has one belief to fight for – against wife always! (8)

23 A source of inspiration, daughter venturing a smile? (6)

24 Theologian embracing a member of the family (3)

25 Flag of monarch placed by watercourse (8)

26 It includes humour? Some miss it completely (6)

27 I love routines, indisposed to change completely (13)

Down

1 Report of people in A&E? What they’ll need, waiting! (8)

2 Agent set up to probe mean tricks moves quickly (8)

3 Why rats could be dark-looking (7)

4 Lecturer maybe in laboratory (6)

5 Ministers soon restricted by Civil Service (6)

6 Railway official resorting to steam trains (13)

7 I ate hot old hen, nasty dish (4-2-3-4)

13 Party in which to see upper-class couple (3)

15 Regret Aussie beast being heard (3)

17 A moving sort of entertainment? (8)

18 Horse at home eating a huge quantity (8)

19 Slow up, being restricted by explosive chemical (7)

21 The female wanting love but denied love is put off (6)

22 Tennis tournament Don avoids – it can be boring (6)