CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

Across

1. Curiously, Mike wed on Wednesday (7) 5. Dutch video nasty’s free (6) 9. Draw in religious education pamphlet (7) 10. Open at lunch break (7) 11. Wood etc. chopped up to make 8 (3) 12. Junior monks in relays ordered to drink soup (3,8) 13. He lays slates etc., 50 in a row (5) 14. Extracts maximum benefit from fish in drink (4,5) 16. Laughable? Ridiculous perhaps, if one’s in it (9) 17. Play near a sports ground (5) 19. Carmel’s been coaxed into producing a likeness (11) 22. Manage piste (3) 23. American goes with a vigour that’s startling (7) 24. In Italy you can enter shores of Sicily or other region (7) 26. Hate French summers within Departement’s borders (6) 27. Thumbed a lift to get married (7)

Down

1. Sarcastic and/or furious in Montana (7) 2. Attack on tree causes the middle to perish (5,3,7) 3. Majority of 17 recalled long period (3) 4. Pot for pet? (5) 5. They may herald arrival of duke on weird big car (4,5) 6. Farewell at last to steward (5) 7. The thin sea bream wiggled simultaneously (2,3,4,6) 8. Pure but reportedly groovy? (6) 12. Theatre Cyril rebuilt (5) 14. Do extra work at night on piano sonata? (9) 15. Special expert’s room (5) 16. Rope adult into corrupt trial (6) 18. Done any juggling? Tried (7) 20. I get stuck in puzzle ... it’s corny (5) 21. Cut new Officers’ Training Corps hard (5) 25. Order to dog ... it’s trained (3)