CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

Across

1 Writer Nick oddly entering new pile (6) 5 Old queen achieved nothing (4) 9 Roast? I remove a Swiss dish (5) 10 Unusual one, it’s a country (7) 11 My one opal improves on exhibits here (7) 12 No instrument returned to Ms Winfrey (5) 13 Expert in a reduced department (5) 15 Piece of furniture made from head of sharp instrument (5) 20 Reportedly look hard at step (5) 22 Straighten out a foreign composer (7) 24 A thin material under discussion (2,5) 25 Empty out first of dirt, then shower (5) 26 50-point edict (4) 27 Beamed, as northern transport passed round motorway (6)

Down

2 Attempted to replant seed, say (7) 3 Savoury snack held up by VIP, Sir Chalmers (5) 4 General route of allowable deviation (6) 5 Foreign editor takes little time in US motor city (7) 6 College authority or benefactor (5) 7 Allow redhead in reserve (5) 8 Form a choir to hide being butch! (5) 14 Study South American country with little Sally (7) 16 Do away with building above it (7) 17 Standard American university, Yale at heart (5) 18 Controllers – they help to draw the line (6) 19 Grand dressing is flash (5) 21 Farewell, and perish in gold (5) 23 I’d air differences to produce spokes in a circle (5)