This crossword No. 27042 clues and answers were published on Tue 15 Nov 2016 and the puzzle can be visited by following The Guardian Cryptic Crossword No. 27042 link.
All Across Clues and Answers:
1-across – Kind mother? : NATURE
4-across – Exercise books lose one 11s : PEBBLES
9-across – Do Russian rebels become old-fashioned types? : DINOSAURS
10-across – After drink, sailor twirls to dance : RUMBA
11-across – Stoke-on-Trent’s code is a gem : STONE
12-across – Plant on which money might grow? : BREADTREE
13-across – Clever person — Sting, that is : SMARTIE
15-across – US fruit drink : SQUASH
17-across – Grounds for first divorce? I traded in sober adult : STADIA
19-across – Foundation of plot 11 : BEDROCK
22-across – It can help one get a start in life : INCUBATOR
24-across – Rule, which comes from above, they say : REIGN
26-across – 11’s fine dressing : FLINT
27-across – Docker does exert, working shifts 10 to 5 : STEVEDORE
28-across – Spooner to ask for stories as extras : LEGBYES
29-across – See 23 : GRABLE
All Down Clues and Answers:
1-down – When they’re busy, they’ve nothing on : NUDISTS
2-down – Drink made from brown leaves? Not half! : TANGO
3-down – Took time out squeezing muscle to be admired : RESPECTED
4-down – Questions about IT? No one notices : POSTERS
5-down – Not interested in meals being delivered? : BORED
6-down – Sparkling wine for meat course, almost cooked : LAMBRUSCO
7-down – Criticises 11s : SLATES
8-down – Utter problem — there’s no time for pieces of 11 : RUBBLE
14-down – Fighting animal volunteers upset leader : ATTACKING
16-down – Foreign articles close to home in war briefs, perhaps : UNDERWEAR
18-down – Declares at cricket matches : ATTESTS
19-down – Quarrel breaking out nearby : BARNEY
20-down – German philosopher covers the Spanish, English or Finnish instrument : KANTELE
21-down – Enough to get you drunk: no end of drink — is that morally wrong? : SINFUL
23-down – ’40s actress is teetotal and fit, eating yogurt regularly : BETTY
25-down – Encircle part of Britain or Belgium : INORB
This crossword has in total 32 where 16 are across and 16 are down.