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 stadium (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)