Cryptic crossword - The Scotsman 25/11/2011

ACROSS

1 Funny plays in which one arrives only to perish in the act (8)

5 Bits and pieces of ancient law (6)

10 Talking a lot of rubbish over BSE (7)

11 Freedom orally to deceive with meaning (7)

12 Cares, yet smashes up, by the sound of it (5)

13 Who confused Rugby Union, allegedly, with greeting? (3,3,3)

14 Chief character accompanied by director takes first note of Marlowe’s poem (4,3,7)

17 Reportedly went for a canter on Red Rum, perhaps, sitting backwards - some chicken! (5,6,3)

21 Easter buns claimed to have mixed origins? (9)

23 Filthy lucre — it’s so vicious (5)

24 Unwelcome plant that’s torture on the mountain (7)

25 Subject of 15, perhaps, is a poet in disguise (7)

26 Hypothesis concerning beginning and end of thespian history (6)

27 Radon is essential ingredient for handsome young men (8)

DOWN

1 In a small bay, radio transmission is hidden (6)

2 Motoring organisation takes nearly two kilometres to achieve something amazing (7)

3 Gives up idea of ice cream in favour of cake (4,5)

4 Keen plan thrust out by drunk (9,5)

6 Officer and dog come to mind (5)

7 Upset when any done out of order (7)

8 Draughts reported by American in British country house (8)

9 No-one ill or in a bad way? That’s as may be (3,4,3,4)

15 Modern-day speech forms habit (9)

16 Good fellow — flier — gets blunt criticism (8)

18 Instrument inclusive of tax is like upturned egg (7)

19 Roman knights had shares one missed out on (7)

20 Bass is sustained as it crashes out (6)

22 Bird to benefit from run (5)

Thursday’s solution

Across: 1 Hidebound, 6 Lemur, 9 Secures, 10 Apparel, 11 Stake, 12 Tendering, 13 Blend, 14 Larcenist, 17 Interests, 19 Poles, 21 Sacrifice, 24 Angle, 26 Origins, 27 Trainer, 28 Eased, 29 Endlessly.

Down: 1 Hosts, 2 Declare, 3 Bartender, 4 Unsettles, 5 Drain, 6 Lapse, 7 Martini, 8 Relegates, 13 Brimstone, 15 Respected, 16 Esplanade, 18 Tactics, 20 Legends, 22 Iliad, 23 Issue, 25 Early.