CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS 1 Dessert company get rid of Heather (5,8) 10 Planets he featured for vacations on inaugural trip (5)

11 Spill guts or are used as substitute (9) 12 Biblical Jew may realise it is unlikely (9) 13 Find a place to sleep with drug taken in quantities (5)

14 Doll, for example, covering NZ rugby player’s chest (7)

16 Caught by leading sniper who wouldn’t stop complaining (7)

18 Princess has unknown journalist added to her possessions (7)

20 Six are seated with soldier’s guest (7) 21 Robots take on one who’s learning about the country (5)

23 Solicits votes in favour of oil paintings (9) 25 Golfing hazards made by putting bands round a new depth (4,5)

26 Horrid and reactionary collection – it’s the pits (5) 27 Race pigeon, perhaps, from large vehicle (6,7) DOWN 2 Interpol are covering up in direct opposition (5)

3 It contains mail from landlord over fight (9) 4 Fate of the French by the minute (7) 5 Scraps code over fifty shillings (7) 6 Dolly’s broke up with banker (5) 7 Hearing distorted with extreme tiredness? No, needing glasses (4,5)

8 This happened at Easter, some say – Ma’s in on it – but it blossoms in another season (9,4) 9 Dire Easter SOS sent out from North Berwick, say, (7,6)

15 Pine stove may be on the horizon (4-5) 17 A British Victorian composer – one who doesn’t take sides (9)

19 Resign from game when cleared out (7) 20 Butterfly used to assess wind direction over South America (7)

22 Brightened when left with single ram (3,2) 24 Girl that’s unhappy at exchange (5)