9-across – Line sauna roughly and make like winter? : ANNUALISE

10-across – Dress up puritanical Priest : PRIMP

11-across – Relevant article in support of stance being curtailed : APROPOS

12-across – More than one player is captivated by redesigned boots : OBOISTS

13-across – Sporting challenge has advertised keen attitude at first : HAKA

14-across – Outcast ditching husband – possibly means to block that, failing to recall meaningful things : PARAMNESIA

16-across – Worry boarding attitude will do for ship’s capacity : TONNAGE

17-across – Firm line taken aboard competition boat : CORACLE

19-across – Kid sailor with answer about parrot : JACKANAPES

22-across – Old Emperor and old King leaving cave : OTTO

24-across – A lot of fog and wet weather leading to cattle disease : MURRAIN

25-across – A small detective seen in pub, confused : INASPIN

26-across – Surplus, no longer a soldier? Tense inside : EXTRA

27-across – What’s dear in France? Alien cooking : CHOUENLAI

1-down – Standard to have a piece of clothing under sloping channel – one aspires to a soft landing : PARACHUTEJUMPER

2-down – Nun moved to go around without money, without respite : UNBROKEN

3-down – Greek character, one in Kipling swallowing up pages : KAPPA

4-down – Tells everyone about speed where planes fly : AIRSPACE

5-down – School body retaining chess expert for game : PELOTA

6-down – Posh joke over attempt to secure senior officer further inland : UPCOUNTRY

7-down – King and unmarried girls – here’s some amorous activity : KISSES

8-down – Posit Asia agenda presented in novel form here? : APASSAGETOINDIA

15-down – Articles about bloke turning up in excellent headgear : PANAMAHAT

17-down – Someone expecting payback about social media user dismissing a Democrat : CREDITOR

18-down – A strike blocking fashionable project : CATAPULT

20-down – Minister’s signal to collar scoundrel : CURATE

21-down – Fine to leave continent having seized new medicinal plant : ARNICA

23-down – Indication of agreement accepted by potential energy recipient : PAYEE

9-across – Penny wears fake Rolexes to impress Romeo, Cook and Drake? : EXPLORERS

10-across – Demo initially lost 950 in wood : LARCH

11-across – Soldiers detain king over communist supporters : GIRDERS

12-across – Engineers uranium inside remains? : RESIDUE

13-across – You ignoramus! Her reckless budget ends in disaster : TRUSS

14-across – Thinks about fireman’s red – is no Chippendale revealed? : CONSIDERS

16-across – Joining record set to be broken following European investment opportunities : EMERGINGMARKETS

19-across – Trial by fire axed to protect independent witness : TESTIFIER

21-across – College fellow left out of story in telegram : CABLE

22-across – I don’t know the answer to strikes – make void? : BEATSME

23-across – Stained fabrics in draw starting to discolour, of course : TIEDYES

24-across – Change the last word down : AMEND

25-across – Language earns poet bucks : ESPERANTO

1-down – It’s most important you and I gain 81 stone : WEIGHTIEST

2-down – During fitting, queen’s certain to lose small opening : APERTURE

3-down – Settlers kennel 10 dogs : BOXERS

4-down – Where to find roses in county : BEDS

5-down – One reviewing moon, star and limits of double quasar : ASTRONOMER

6-down – More glamorous bird, perhaps circling tree : FLASHIER

7-down – Game of golf described by newly-wed : BRIDGE

8-down – Pastry delivered for loafer? : SHOE

14-down – Social worker first punches intelligent support : CANTILEVER

15-down – Deferral of South American allowance : SUSPENSION

17-down – One’s unhappy breaking leg outside in dance movement : GLISSADE

18-down – Shutting in criminal, maybe in top of gaol : EMBAYING

20-down – Remained sober as instructed : STAYED

21-down – Bishop leaves drinks after church in good health : CHEERS

22-down – West starting to break up broadcast : BEAM

23-down – Katy Perry showing character : TYPE

7-across – Parts of hierarchical structure close when wanting week off : ECHELONS

9-across – Text written about everyone’s underwear : SMALLS

10-across – Chance meeting of Liberal and Conservative in country : LUCK

11-across – Derestricted final agreement leads to collapse : CONCERTINA

12-across – Ingenious description of gallery? : ARTFUL

14-across – What makes dreams come true repels me in a way? : REMSLEEP

15-across – Study tense journalist suffering from depression? : DENTED

17-across – Striking man lives next door to a crime boss : ADONIS

20-across – Supporter impedes talkshow hosts : PEDESTAL

22-across – Seed mainly spread by South American plant : SESAME

23-across – Quickly read ‘Joins in matrimony’ aloud in shock : SCANDALISE

24-across – Knockout left Henry lying about cause of black eyes : KOHL

25-across – Member of school ignoring head and going wrong : ERRING

26-across – Chilling effect on being in vulnerable position financially : EXPOSURE

1-down – Received caller’s first question mid-broadcast : ACQUIRED

2-down – Try to find person with faith in hearing : SEEK

3-down – Depressed US state good for corporation? : LOWCAL

4-down – Greatly respected guide meets explorer returning from the interior : ESTEEMED

5-down – Stewed rat eaten by mad English people like us : EARTHLINGS

6-down – Games lesson introducing breathing apparatus for diving activity : PLUNGE

8-down – Ordered to go with railway guard : SENTRY

13-down – Digital protection that’s reduced by using certain files? : FINGERNAIL

16-down – Separate established area where animal is found : ESTRANGE

18-down – County welcomes measure of current growth in coastal regions : SAMPHIRE

19-down – Almost every tree is growing at high altitudes : ALPINE

21-down – Intrusion prevention mechanism in key address resolution protocols originally : ESCARP

22-down – Member of high society who’s no social climber : SHERPA

24-down – Briefly meet notorious band : KISS