Telegraph crossword

Across

1 Openings (skin) (5) 4 A quarter (6) 9 Anything (archaic) (5)

10 Beg (7)

11 Hold spellbound (7) 12 Legal defence (5) 14 Climbing plant (3) 15 Excavation (3) 16 Frequently (3) 18 Insulate; fall behind (3) 21 Villain (5)

22 Fit of temper (7) 23 Desert (7) 25 Melodies (5) 26 Whole (6)

27 Rate (5)

Down

1 Aircraft (6) 2 Conservative (5-4) 3 Lampoonery (6) 5 Disbursement (6) 6 Fish eggs (3) 7 Empty talk (3,3) 8 Gum boots (11) 13 Niece fern (anag.) (9) 17 Highly decorated (6) 18 Guide; head (6) 19 Merges (6) 20 Entertained (6) 24 Perform (3)