CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

Across

1. Military commander’s promise to hold area on both sides (7)

5. Cook topside of beef, then

rear (6)

9. Performance in old fashioned hat likely to touch people (7)

10. Covering remaining old

song (7)

11. Expert service in court (3) 12. Short beauty with ardency

gyrating? (5,6)

13. Guarantee Republican’s

deleted result (5)

14. Ruined fen’s wasted, not

cultivated (9)

16. European’s missing from fastest record for dance (9)

17. Man of habit’s a worker in

chippy, so I hear (5)

19. Knight arrives unexpectedly during a city centenary maybe (11)

22. Have a meal in the attic (3) 23. Loss of sound? It returns

around middle of clip (7) 24. What was in one pot before being put in a different one? (7)

26. View function in small

church (6)

27. Horrific-looking guy managed to save energy while asleep? (3-4)

Down

1. Power needed to carry on holding a series of races (7)

2. NASA boffin’s salad is nicest mixed with thyme primarily (6,9)

3. It may be worn in Tokyo

bistros (3)

4. Live and prosper, wanting

nothing (5)

5. Party’s over following mistake in practical joke (5,4)

6. District circling new stadi

um (5)

7. Assuredly wayward client offends lady, taking no notice (4-11)

8. Pushy bridegroom holds

cross (6)

12. Magistrate welcomes rare

time off (5)

14. Extremely upset by a recent vile comment (9) 15. Good score at Old Trafford

or Lord’s initially? (5)

16. Shake note (6)

18. Stopped work and went to

bed (7)

20. Rude gesture against

Italian man or not? (1-4) 21. Dial drunken bishop for

impromptu comment (2-3) 25. Swampy bit of ground

primarily (3)