CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

Across

1. Articles I’d inserted in place of hard news (7) 5. Devious, keen to go round back of boat (6)9. Flex turned into glutton’s rug used in court (7) 10. Posh doctor in Lagos reduced backache (7) 11. Discharge Patrick at regular times (3) 12. Short girl and bloke heard at ball giving wrong directions (11) 13. Spike old letter (5) 14. It’s hard to crackthis unknown quantity in absurd tribunal (6,3) 16. A grand tomb at boring compound (9) 17. Old Peruvian at home with container (5) 19. Poverty demo suspended shortly before third month (6,5) 22. Fate of Abraham’s nephew (3) 23. Lion is distracted, fed with rare meat (7) 24. Middle East country’s PM loses head (7) 26. Record-holder appears in Carlisle eventually (6) 27. Stirred in eggs with new medicinal root (7)

Down

1. Brave sailors reach this finest forest food (7) 2. BBC boss put one cleric in enlarged broadcast (8-7) 3. Going north, was victorious straight away (3) 4. Yo-yo stories? (5) 5. During visit, copper put away tot (9) 6. A communist covers miles carrying weapons (5) 7. Neglecting oral, I arranged place to study education maybe (8,7) 8. Secret past revealed in court (6) 12. Mother nurses girl supplying spiritual nourishment (5) 14. Doctor bemoaned defending posh fashionable people (4,5) 15. Hibernian flag on top of house (5) 16. Shocked ace has sports car impounded (6) 18. Writing about husband’s love (7) 20. Ruminants, avoiding colonist, run away quietly (5) 21. Having regrets, I called hosts (5) 25. Oversaw sailors circum navigating area (3)