CRYPTIC CROSSWORD
Across
1. Prophet inspires French noble, one who’s alluring (7)
5. Shock former US president briefly hosting American (6) 9. Stopped and dropped (4,3)
10. Bedouin maybe has backed Arab article (7) 11. Helium and nitrogen layer (3)
12. Sixteen played in small bay, occupying the same space (11) 13. Old-fashioned leader of underground ousted by Republican (5)
14. Like ducks etc paid for online? (3-6) 16. Scylla’s partner cooked crab dish, the last of many in centre (9) 17. Choose the Parisian to probe English court (5) 19. Rare sort of Vogue or art magazine (11)
22. Pub, one with two names (3)
23. Female leaves attractive print (7)
24. Tramp nicks one file (7) 26. Notice 2 and get very angry (6)
27. Article lambasted performance (7)
Down
1. Rush up nervously to collect large element (7) 2. The real thing? (8,7) 3. I’m surprised chef hasn’t finished (3) 4. Hurriedly search Winchester perhaps (5) 5. Lab containers and casks turned up in river (4,5) 6. Pale, like 11 (5)
7. Red Stalinist miner awkwardly hides cross (7-8) 8. I want to impress director of course (6) 12. Sidekick keen on being included (5)
14. Sort of lens we aligned in different places (4-5) 15. Overweight medals pinned on earl (5) 16. Calling nurse to collect last of medicine (6)
18. Shoot tried twisting over northern end of wall (7) 20. Ground grain initially seen in gravel (5) 21. Hundreds ordered to avoid NHS milk supplier (5)
25. Pick up briefcase and small bag (3)