LATERAL THINKING: CRYPTIC

Use the cryptic clues to solve this crossword with a twist.

ACROSS

1. Circus performer fits into macro bathers (7)

5. Bad omen – upset stomach (7)

8. Flit about – otherwise, brigade would be left with cheese (3)

9. Bandit exposes old-fashioned statute (6)

10. Not real, even of talkies (4)

12. Wet blanket for Rod in the quicksand (5-2-3-3)

13. Eve ruins the world? (8)

14. Carries teddies (5)

16. Poles or stakes to start (5)

18. Islands in the Pacific that swamp everyone (8)

22. Beijing was once known differently by drift in code (9,4)

24. Roughly sew harness (4)

25. Sit awkwardly next to painting and its creator (6)

26. Dan disturbed about genetic information (1,1,1)

27. He investigates death of suspect crooner (7)

28. Rubbish starts building in garage

(7)

DOWN

1. Month for us to see Roman emperor (8)

2. Wheel spokes for the first person to follow Rear Admiral and Detective Inspector (5)

3. Prevent correspondence arriving from capitals (5,7)

4. Somehow attunes to lockjaw (7)

5. A way to go - why the lack of interest? (6)

6. Follow a winding course with me and ‘er (7)

7. Require the French knitting rod (6)

11. Elvis lookalike whimpers on a torturous section (12)

15. Fellow actor was a childhood friend (8)

17. He may have major responsibilities (7)

19. Losing your head when paddling can be confusing (7)

20. Corrosion, I see, is rural (6)

21. It allows you to monitor your self-image (6)

23. Land involved in Latin diary (5)