SUPER CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Nobody favouring second-raters, which is just as well (3,3,3,4)

8 The robbers having appropriated the animal food (7)

9 Call the gentleman by a number that’s not the right one? (7)

11 Acknowledge as the least bad turn in it (6)

13 Accommodation that has everything smart about it (8)

15 “The better half” is not wrong (5) 16 Learned before about the audit showing a deficit (7)

18 Turn each head away from the food (7) 19 Looks and looks at the figure entered (5) 21 “Complete” is both wrong and not so (8) 23 Go back when the decree is rendered null (4,2)

25 The former head took one in to atone (7) 26 Learns to play on a well-known team (7) 28 Pickled feet are, in a dining-room (5,3,5)

DOWN

2 A siren, according to what we learn, with a garland (7)

3 Rig out well (3)

4 Attack of which our forefathers made light (4)

5 The facts about where one hails from? (4,6)

6 A name well-known in culinary circles (5) 7 Non-productive at the outset, to annoy you (7)

8 Double over (4,3,4)

10 There’s no reason why one shouldn’t have the power, too (5,2,4)

12 It’s arranged, to start with, by the composer (5)

14 Taking off with the troops (10)

17 First, take time off from the paper for the children (5)

18 Attacked and lay on top off (3,4)

20 And the French learn to adapt to the unchangeable (7)

22 The silly girl: the one that dropped the ball (5)

24 Spike will give you the material (4)

27 The letter said it’s popular with holidaymakers (3)