CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

Across

1 People who rejoice seeing tirades by B-lister? (10)

6 Condition of being new in service (4)

9 Praise sources of profit and loss before financial review (7)

10 Take up the cause of European partner (7)

12 Popular and match fit, beyond dispute (13)

14 Risking missing end - irritating (8)

15 Design single duct to carry nitrogen (6)

17 Covering article in duplicate (6)

19 Stop on the way for a jumper (8)

21 Gatecrashers? (9,4)

24 Gave up crossing river and crumpled (7)

25 Running late, the marathon man perhaps? (7)

26 Okay, call for help - ring! (2-2)

27 Ladder broken during party - nonsense (10)

Down

1 Excels in room mainly facing north (4)

2 Start to doubt being embraced by unusually genial principal (7)

3 Books from Italy pinched by new copper's bride (6-7)

4 Upsetting taunting, finding the right pitch (8)

5 Present given after the end of August as expression of sympathy (5)

7 About to uncover deceit and fall apart (7)

8 Sort of school for chemistry? (10)

11 Obtain protection for design and flog such shiny stuff (6,7)

13 Plan to reverse small vehicles (10)

16 Cyclist may have this defence against aspersions? (8)

18 Poles must welcome complete idiots (7)

20 Caver getting worried about one's organs (7)

22 Country that's after golf hotel? (5)

23 The compiler needs quiet for the grid (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTION

Across:

1 Cuckoo, 4 Amused, 8 Feasting, 10 Le mans, 11 Acme, 12 In the clear,

13 Announcement, 16 Disappointed, 20 Separately, 21 Band, 22 Suitor,

23 Suspense, 24 Throw, 25 Hyphen.

Down:

1 Crescent, 2 Caste, 3 Opinion, 5 Moliere, 6 Simpleton, 7 Denial, 9 Gutter press, 14 Old master, 15 Tennyson, 17 Sparrow,

18 Odyssey, 19 Result, 21 Beech.

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