DAILY MAIL CROSSWORD

No 16,032

PRIZES of £20 will be awarded to the senders of the first three correct solutions checked. Solutions to: Daily Mail Prize Crossword No. 16,032, PO BOX 3451, Norwich, NR7 7NR. Entries may be submitted by second-class post. Envelopes must be postmarked no later than tomorrow. Please make sure you enclose your name and address.

ACROSS

1 Escape a spy touring small capitals (7) 5 He painted Titania almost spread out (6) 9 Bond creator, a native of Flanders (7) 10 White groom unable to impress maiden (7) 11 This writer’s beginning to penalise naughty child (3) 12 Investor in Swedish capital, the German ousting Mike (11) 13 Singer’s note broadcast (5) 14 Deviously laud a Conservative using this sort of language? (9) 16 Go for each pool sprinkler used on course (6,3) 17 Characteristic spirit of those close to the front (5) 19 Coach forced twerp to be like top actors (4-7) 22 Posh school ignores European style (3) 23 Condition in which a name’s mistaken, I assumed (7) 24 Literally defame woman in pub (7) 26 Fanatic captivates Republican mate (6) 27 Heavy crew in fringes of Wembley (7)

DOWN

1 Distress a couple of fellows, beaten soundly? (7) 2 Uninvolved investor distractedly representing pal (8,7) 3 Sash occasionally appears in Holbein (3) 4 Still do good turn (5) 5 Sportswear in which to follow action (9) 6 Banned sailor going in excessively (5) 7 Festooned with guns, he treated them to crackers (5,2,3,5) 8 At home, attempt to keep a place to put files (2-4) 12 Good time to install priest in episcopal seat (5) 14 Man spread out sign in V&A (9) 15 Expert at securing Democrat record (5) 16 Twice roughly handle fruit (6) 18 Benefit from amalgamation, say, cutting a work unit in city (7) 20 Finished tip of flexible stick (5) 21 English bishop visits humble joint (5) 25 Avoid non-stop runner (3)