Clues

1-across – It’s of little help to a European trying to make his mark : PFENNIG

5-across – Commander’s commander in sort of novel that could go either way? : AGASAGA

9-across – Serious-minded one keeping fledglings within view? : INEARNEST

10-across – After good quarrel, left with snarl : GROWL

11-across – Change when season comes around : EDIT

12-across – What’s tossed by Scot heading off with two men – one his compatriot : ABERDONIAN

14-across – Warning – superior gent has very little money : TIPOFF

15-across – Sign of something wrong with performance? See about that, just! : EXACTLY

16-across – One who fights partner no end, love being deficient : MATADOR

18-across – Go through childhood with small gang of people around : GROWUP

20-across – One maniac on the loose in the early part of year must be brought to book : JAMAICAINN

21-across – A mostly gloomy time in the Jewish calendar : ADAR

24-across – Deploring bankruptcy, getting $1,000 : RUING

25-across – Numbers recorded this mysteriously flowering plant : AARONSROD

26-across – Like stars around Uruguay not seen in our hemisphere : AUSTRAL

27-across – Anticlimax coming back to earth? : LETDOWN

1-down – Saw lions disappear at the end of every summer? : PRIDE

2-down – I get weary, me – it’s another way for those who’ve retired! : EMERITI

3-down – Some drug sounds like grass : NARK

4-down – See 1 : GOESBEFOREAFALL

5-down – Legal officer presenting a longer entreaty when in difficulties : ATTORNEYGENERAL

6-down – Language in a slogan that’s silly – Number 10’s spinning : ANGLOSAXON

7-down – A follower of Aquinas – not hard sort of philosopher? : ATOMIST

8-down – Around time of austerity, pay perversely is more than enough : APLENTY

13-down – Dogged girl being devious? : GOLDDIGGER

16-down – Army officer about to take over a holiday island : MAJORCA

17-down – Medal for bravery that is associated with the ultimate in sacrifices first given to soldiers : TOMMIES

19-down – Suffer in submission to divine power endlessly : UNDERGO

22-down – Gas gets central heating device functioning : RADON

23-down – Difficult problem when word of denial is heard : KNOT

9-across – Hides falsehoods – attempt to follow first : LIESDOGGO

10-across – Solvers, this is missing in Salad Days : YOUTH

11-across – Going for gold with a fruit : ARCHERY

12-across – I agree with gold : EYESORE

13-across – Field for good guy with a higher degree than 23 down : LEAST

14-across – Dumb blonde at Nottingham? : GOOSEFAIR

16-across – 4 could be grotty in the past : NOTAPRETTYSIGHT

19-across – Refusal to contribute with 22 down and then down for some 11 : NOTAPENNY

21-across – Setter finds shelter from fight : MELEE

22-across – Doctor on-line: it is the opposite of 16 : MOONLIT

23-across – Reluctant Scotsman in Scottish region : LOTHIAN

24-across – Right oven? Cook in it : ROAST

25-across – See 4 : CUSTOMERS

1-down – Call NE9 to show it’s been washed and ironed : CLEANLINEN

2-down – Tendency to write vocal music : PENCHANT

3-down – Commercial opening is coming : ADVENT

4-down – Most cruel guys, maybe – don’t tangle with them : UGLY

5-down – Lyrics fitted to lyre without Ove Arup’s finale : LOVEPOETRY

6-down – Burner for body spotted coming up from the range : PYRENEES

7-down – Prize, a look back at the dome : CUPOLA

8-down – Say Go away! at end of brake : SHOE

14-down – Vegetables on credit at break : GREENSTICK

15-down – State of Denmark? Nonsense – almost American one : ROTTENNESS

17-down – Provide inhabitants for the head without half the wealth : POPULATE

18-down – Traveller’s ear turns up with internal organ : GULLIVER

20-down – Turn to Rome with sham utopian : THOMAS

21-down – Spooner’s liquid treatment a shambles still? : MOTION

22-down – See 20 : MORE

23-down – See 21 : LESS

1-across – A doctor, stupid fellow, with a frock for the envoy’s wife : AMBASSADRESS

8-across – Relate to exercises in art, perhaps… : PERTAIN

9-across – … when getting point, for example, on first-class weapon : ASSEGAI

11-across – Going over in opposition to one’s real case : REVISAL

12-across – They owe something to wild bet accepted by the late Diana : DEBTORS

13-across – Warm hat commonly associated with chartered accountant : CALID

14-across – Extensively a predicament in Wales, perhaps : WHOLESALE

16-across – Tree presenting problems for some of you : ARAUCARIA

19-across – Weight of vehicle at rear : CARAT

21-across – Fashionable ways to make encroachments : INROADS

23-across – He may be too strict in demanding payments from retired player : EXACTOR

24-across – Boy the French see as a flower : NIGELLA

25-across – Very hard for first male worker : ADAMANT

26-across – Gate soldiers go to first in a state of joy : ENTRANCEMENT

1-down – Painter upset by competitor’s approach : ARRIVAL

2-down – Cooked up crazy ideas on old railway organisation : BRAISED

3-down – Follower of Helios not so quick to embrace riotous fun : SUNFLOWER

4-down – Judgement on conflict in modern times : AWARD

5-down – Ridiculous increase, getting one pound back : RISIBLE

6-down – Italian lady soldiers going up to girl : SIGNORA

7-down – Increasing value of sympathetic criticism : APPRECIATION

10-down – Look closely into and harangue examining body : INSPECTORATE

15-down – In general, one accepts a grave problem : ONAVERAGE

17-down – Rag once used to gather moss : ACROGEN

18-down – Baby with obsequious charm? : CRAWLER

19-down – After tea, read about pantomime : CHARADE

20-down – Withdraw what was said about region : RETRACT

22-down – Rustic one swallowed by bird : SWAIN

1-across – Apparently not alone in being in a tizzy : BESIDEONESELF

10-across – US president to resolve New Deal : ROOSEVELT

11-across – In decimal, it represents just over 1pints : LITRE

12-across – Hide away sound currency : CACHE

13-across – Space for joint study : ELBOWROOM

14-across – Is set in this month’s presses : INSISTS

16-across – Net adjustment by water board : ENTRAIN

18-across – Are moving home; it must be serious : EARNEST

20-across – Fruit ran short outside : CURRANT

21-across – Support, from chair, fuss about sick animal : ARMADILLO

23-across – Invitation to trencherman : DIGIN

24-across – Trace misdirected supply : CATER

25-across – Uses soft soap, as fatty stuff’s increased in price : BUTTERSUP

26-across – Resolute drama students are : PREPAREDTOACT

2-down – His is a dispiriting occupation : EXORCISER

3-down – She made peace in Greece : IRENE

4-down – Odds on the Spanish teams : ELEVENS

5-down – VIP turning up on schedule : NOTABLE

6-down – Sailor takes drink on the briny : SALTWATER

7-down – Game many take to : LOTTO

8-down – Trial marriage? : PRACTICEMATCH

9-down – Midlands town exceptionally pleasing to man : LEAMINGTONSPA

15-down – Drivers aren’t slow to fall into it : SPEEDTRAP

17-down – Bill without a single wrong number : ANALGESIC

19-down – Ring bell on counter where travellers have to pay : TOLLBAR

20-down – Hit 150 before getting dismissed : CLOUTED

22-down – Mother making the final move? : MATER

23-down – I’d return, say, to ring James in Spain : DIEGO

1-across – Eventual defeat at cards brings connection with London banks : WATERLOOBRIDGE

9-across – Minor disturbance caused by blow during a bit of sleep : SCUFFLE

10-across – Arfur : TEARFUL

11-across – Henry and Jane sound absent-hearted : FONDA

12-across – Loved one in the morning or at first : INAMORATA

13-across – See 25 : LASTNIGHT

14-across – Beg that initiator of debt be put in prison : CADGE

15-across – Most newspapers mostly back a poem : ILIAD

17-across – Operatic realm to disallow acknowledgment in song : BARATARIA

20-across – Turn to comedian in battle scene to make changes : MUTATIONS

22-across – Sit back after opening of Absolutely Fabulous man : AESOP

23-across – Nervy model going in without partisanship : NEUTRAL

24-across – Heavy metal shows signs to be telescoped : BULLION

25-across – Question of yesterday’s accompanist from snow-white youth and whiter gal : WHOWEREYOUWITH

1-down – Optimistic movie in network: Dream Come True : WISHFULFILMENT

2-down – Absentees get less than genuine workers : TRUANTS

3-down – Stopped man with whistle whetted? : REFRAINED

4-down – First hole? : OPENING

5-down – Two pieces, not of a star : BITPART

6-down – Last stage of setter’s past? : IMAGO

7-down – A present help in time of trouble : GIFTAID

8-down – Very happy to be playing chess quietly with Paul and Edna : PLEASEDASPUNCH

14-down – It’s all about trouble after cinema opens at movie : CATBALLOU

16-down – Communicating off the field : INTOUCH

17-down – Chick gets back part of the regalia I left the Queen : BROILER

18-down – Fireweed for windows : ROSEBAY

19-down – Composer is at sea in one : ROSSINI

21-down – Disconcerting way to produce pottery? : THROW