Last week’s solution

()=included, []=excluded

Across: 1. part-s 4. pot-o-o 8. list 9. candid-ates 10. Cal-a-the-a 11. Thomas Ince* 12. col-port-eur 15. To go 18. E L Doctor-O-W 20. c-loses 23. s(harp)ing 25. lays to rest 26. Rice 27. Errol 28. M-and-y. (* Rumoured to have been shot by William Randolph Hearst, who mistook him for Charlie Chaplin after Chaplin allegedly dallied with Hearst’s mistress, Marion Davies: subject of play and film The Cat’s Meow)

Down: 1. P(ate)a 2. race-horse 3. sinkag-e 4. p(a)int 5. T-ea for Two 6. opera 7. Riga-do-on 13. please s(I)r 14. R-iccarton 16. good nick 19. dish-elm 21. leave 22. S(too)L 24. part-y