4-across – Container housing a paper garment : CAFTAN

6-across – Has she exploded,having swallowed explosive drug? : HASHEESH

9-across – One beating old age – ran twice! : RONALD

10-across – Plant physics unit in e.g. Dorset : SAMPHIRE

11-across – Useful home device when a person is out : ANSWERPHONE

15-across – Repeating liturgy,first to last,with a part of the Bible : ITERANT

17-across – As orderly patients may be dealt with,said US medical student : INTERNE

18-across – Behave frivolously,ditching what could be hard and onerous : HORSEAROUND

22-across – The fellow surprisingly genial as a philosopher : HEGELIAN

23-across – Brazilian dance seeing off a Greek character : LAMBDA

24-across – Skilful mum unsmilingly disposing of last of children : MASTERLY

25-across – Some rock in church service,followed by a poem : MASSIF

1-down – Fellow hugging the Parisian tree : MALLEE

2-down – Mineral from Spanish region found in mine,bottom of mine : PARAGONITE

3-down – Goods trendy chaps dumped in street : SHIPMENT

4-down – Column has one Scottish flower put up in club maybe : CARYATID

5-down – Ruined female occupying one outbuilding : FINISHED

7-down – Irishman taking a very long time to cross island : EOIN

8-down – See 16 : HEEL

12-down – Model wasting time with friend acting as old man : PATERNALLY

13-down – Ancient weapon with which a Scottish detective protects Queen : ARQUEBUS

14-down – Star about to confront theologian,fighting fellow : REDDWARF

16-down – Sick,beset by pains,the chap with little energy left showing fatal weakness : ACHILLES

19-down – See 9 Across : REAGAN

20-down – One companion and another having hesitation : CHUM

21-down – English and American soldiers providing protection in Washington : EGIS

1-across – Fast food once thought to be under threat from Trump? : MEALSONWHEELS

10-across – Leftie carrying reading matter is excited again : REKINDLED

11-across – Prettier hair-stylist somewhat disheartened : CUTER

12-across – ‘Shark eating raw beginner’ could be metaphor : TROPE

13-across – Unfinished line awful – writer finally stops complaining : QUERULOUS

14-across – He wouldn’t fight against non-feminine boss : CONCHIE

16-across – Saw what plain cake was? : NOTICED

18-across – Flash wearing leather in street : INSTANT

20-across – Choice of routes east round perimeter of Sahara Desert : FORSAKE

21-across – Horror film star,one you said flipped over female : NOSFERATU

23-across – See queens’s backside? That’s vulgar : CRASS

24-across – Has clocked stunner in hat : SHAKO

25-across – Please,what can you do in Victoria? One right to leave : ENTERTAIN

26-across – If camouflager’s clever,some may not recognise its existence : GULFOFAMERICA

2-down – Incredible Hulk’s done for hunters : ELKHOUNDS

3-down – Impaler – Vlad’s second name in one : LANCE

4-down – Maybe obtuse old adult’s bored by intellect : OBLIQUE

5-down – Glamorgan opener cracking poor delivery to leg – duck! : WIDGEON

6-down – Meet nitpicking accountant British and American separately ignored : ENCOUNTER

7-down – Drunk bishop lost gambling game : LOTTO

8-down – Charge for coition,pet – Mrs Trump’s economic policy : PROTECTIONISM

9-down – Annoyed by Band-Aid,could be TV Paul’s subject matter : CROSSDRESSING

15-down – He helped one going round before fellows left : HEADEDOFF

17-down – Cleaner turned around to catch a bus : CHARABANC

19-down – Where to drive taking gangster to centre of Sleaford – not an honest person : TEALEAF

20-down – Bucket shape made by French-American corporation : FRUSTUM

22-down – United supporters upset – it’s a cock-up! : SNAFU

23-down – Nurse having no time for president : CARER

9-across – Record on prowler after probing thus has army finally dropping investigation? : SCATOLOGY

10-across – Money one might charge : RHINO

11-across – Cruel sea rolling back in drift : MEANDER

12-across – Tool within Shaw novel? : HANDSAW

13-across – First of all one’s blasted,or else one’s blown : OBOE

14-across – Hymn I’m fanatic about,good parts : MAGNIFICAT

15-across – Emotional time before reprimand : TEARFUL

17-across – Yards away from cypress,and poplar removed from popular new trees : SPRUCES

19-across – Pillock,new money ultimately spent before business done? : NINCOMPOOP

22-across – Corridor linking capitals of Switzerland and Austria? : STOA

23-across – See 4 Down : THELINE

24-across – Tempted to have hospital department decorated : ENTICED

26-across – Dark – otherwise with second opening? : UNLIT

27-across – Armed criminal in twist has become comic book hero : SPIDERMAN

1-down – See 4 : ISIMPORTANTTOUS

2-down – Romeo,as captured by sculptor : CASANOVA

3-down – See 4 : HOLD

4-down – Awful pity a lout and misanthrope couldn’t care less when customer initially cut off – ‘Hello? I … ’ : YOURCALL

5-down – Passing round pub,predator has cut a dash : HYPHEN

6-down – Move,on wind coming up round both poles : TRANSFER

7-down – Head on couch after shows,a bit of a breather? : AIRSAC

8-down – All the same,only if all sit? : NOTWITHSTANDING

16-down – Sellers of bunches,fifty however in bunch of five items? : FLORISTS

17-down – Nothing’s broken as in rebuilt country : SLOVENIA

18-down – Where a corpse originally buried in a crypt beneath surface of chamber? : CATACOMB

20-down – Hand,or spleen? : NEEDLE

21-down – See 4 : PLEASE

25-down – River kid mentioned? : TEES

1-across – Witness signature and stay low : NOTARISE

5-across – Rightwing extremist leaders are unable to back down : RECANT

9-across – Adjustment of direction that may lead to source : CHANGING

10-across – Perennial barking first thing in the morning and we don’t like it : BAMBOO

12-across – Tory leader in foul play as might be expected : APTLY

13-across – Victim of mariner as Borstal delinquent : ALBATROSS

14-across – Returning pointer running wild around chambers : REPATRIATION

18-across – Novel crossbeam rigged by egg-producer : MADAMEBOVARY

21-across – Puzzler’s song about gold limo? : ARAUCARIA

23-across – After saucy crosswords to begin with,the Guardian’s getting clean : SCOUR

24-across – Bob possibly first to hear radio broadcast : HAIRDO

25-across – Entertainment coverage for home sides taking a last dash : FINALRUN

26-across – Ride through African territory : CANTER

27-across – Tennis player heard chasing bet to come first : ANTECEDE

1-down – Drink is handy when holding court : NECTAR

2-down – Warm and comfortable where little piggy went? : TOASTY

3-down – 13 or 15 creative art – ‘e by gum! : RUGBYTEAM

4-down – Here in California Arab tans easily and another heads north : SANTABARBARA

6-down – Praise would be accurate if penultimately doubled : EXALT

7-down – Divine food as originally barbecued with Maori cooking : AMBROSIA

8-down – You old smooth number : THOUSAND

11-down – Bombshell at heart interested in flying BA or SAS for example : ABBREVIATION

15-down – Tech industry quickly conceals mounting affliction : AEROSPACE

16-down – Definitive hospital having slipped becoming compassionate : EMPATHIC

17-down – New edition about a thoughtful process : IDEATION

19-down – See 9 Across : COURSE

20-down – Managed to interrupt shock therapy,rising in a semiconscious state : TRANCE

22-down – Bum and dunderhead locked up? : CADGE

1-across – Force charged with protecting bird’s favourite perch : SPECIALBRANCH

10-across – Walkway twisting across road in inelegant fashion : AWKWARDLY

11-across – A dog takes a turn round small wood : BALSA

12-across – Follow it out of the bathroom? : ENSUE

13-across – Very bad manager runs to get fit : EXECRABLE

14-across – Our neighbour’s quiet,not loud,frolics : PRANCES

16-across – Random mixture from artist taken by partner to Wells : FARRAGO

18-across – Barrier’s a source of annoyance? : OFFENCE

20-across – A book to do crosswords,free : ABSOLVE

21-across – Preferring food additive left out : FAVOURING

23-across – Some Americans are jerks : YANKS

24-across – In group of musicians nobody is on time : NONET

25-across – Maker of figures perhaps carrying out trick with ease : ICESKATER

26-across – Making aggressive threats sent Gibraltar wild : SABRERATTLING

2-down – Fish with rod – it’s comparatively plain : PIKESTAFF

3-down – Desperately want to be less than wholly cowardly : CRAVE

4-down – Speak to a daughter over clothes : ADDRESS

5-down – Herb damaged by a flea : BAYLEAF

6-down – Yellowish fat said to be ingredient of perfume : AMBERGRIS

7-down – Is one’s fame brief? : CELEB

8-down – Perhaps polyurethane demonstration interrupting work in garden : WATERPROOFING

9-down – Forced to check size of such clothes? : MADETOMEASURE

15-down – For example,copper’s behaviour regularly poor : CONDUCTOR

17-down – From Northern town,heading off for cemetery : ARLINGTON

19-down – With instruction I improve a little more if I decide to turn up : EDIFIER

20-down – A nutmeg prepared to grow larger : AUGMENT

22-down – Plant initially valued by old Peruvian : VINCA

23-down – Burden borne by large countryman : YOKEL