CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS 1 The reverse of dull: alluring heart, for example found in Welsh county (3,9) 8 Leaves out American university that’s included in operating system (5) 9 Exercise non-verbal coverage of Times leader that’s toxic (9) 11 Frisk to lay 18, we hear (6) 12 Representative escort conceals excited glee (8) 14 A right-winger, after being stabbed in the back, is crying down (10) 15 Heal French priest (4) 18 Help seaman with alien (4) 19 Leave after asking for money in knife-edge situation (5,3,2) 21 Unprepared for staging the dance (2,3,3) 23 Consider if rash performance by Dr Zhivago star (6) 25 Double dealing of the French priest who left one at Paris, say (9) 26 One with stiff upper lip half stoned in charge (5) 27 Seaside violence to badger environment – exactly (8,4)

DOWN 1 A girl – me! me! – needed to create bulk letter formation (4,5) 2 Unstick or move dog-slide (8) 3 Ruin I leave upside down in slices (4) 4 Get the hang of competition for Nazi fantasy with ... (6,4) 5 ... controlled U-turn by denier (6) 6 Share national entry for sports scene (5) 7 Exceptional person lacking polish unfortunately had dour homing (5,7) 10 Weather forecasters introduce topic it’s time to bring back into play (3,3,6) 13 Behavioural scientist got shot – lie down! (10) 16 Contracted with sub transport officer all right (9) 17 The speed of sound is but a moment for building masculine pride (8) 20 Strait existence contains initial rigour (6) 22 Spill will gradually diminish (5) 24 Song of praise vocalised by that man (4)