SUPER CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 It’s clear after going over the performances (8)

5 Model painter lacking the right shades (6) 10 It’s popularly drunk (7,8)

11 Northern dwellers find one is trapped between banker and doctors (7)

12 As delivered by the singing postman? (3,4)

13 Had a cry when Des turned out to have been followed (8)

15 Put off a strong-hearted creature (5) 18 Switchblade (5)

20 Cutting wrongly-cued band out (8)

23 By reason of her heartless, hard exterior (7)

25 Outbursts of fury on the motorway arenít what they seem (7)

26 Going to provide a setting for hit Don Ward directed from a fine script (4,11) 27 Consuming passion of an English giant (6)

28 Plans to take one to the top rifleshooting areas (8)

DOWN

1 Curbed or restrained star running out (6) 2 For a joke, fired Annie Oakley, for one (5,4)

3 Given order when decorated (7) 4 Punishment strokes (5)

6 Trapped in mud and mire, unfortunately (7)

7 Try giving Maud half a cheese (5) 8 They’re learned so Charles, revising, can drop English (8)

9 Required a masculine figure indeed! (8) 14 Throw over favoured head-girl’s place (8)

16 If it’s over, nag Heather for cheating (9) 17 Greet Poe’s mysterious girl-pupil (8) 19 Make rugged gun hero dance (7) 21 Oscar, in charge, runs the island (7) 22 Practices of superior men of wisdom (6) 24 Right to ring East German in bed (5) 25 One cutting down Western leader in Rome revolution (5)