Guardian Cryptic #27690

2018-12-12

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Across

1a

Called Island about band member (7)

5a

Accumulates trouble below and on high (5,2)

9a

Start working group (5)

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10a

Dismisses backing band twice before show starts (4-5)

11a

King or queen beyond rabbit hole? It's hard to say (10)

12a

See 6

14a

Start of true love? Licks honey, prepared for French kissing (6,6)

18a

Query reason for neatness (5,2,5)

21a

See 19

22a

Air complaint for Mavis (4,6)

25a

Wooden home beside main road across northern China (9)

27a

Detective showing face around Oxford? (7)

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28a

Umpteenth rallentando's hidden charm (7)

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Down

1d

Bad jokes about parking in the capital (6)

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2d

Deny any connection with row about female (6)

3d

Car (rattletrap), one that goes on and on (10)

4d

Reportedly one that's gone off soft leather (5)

5d

Variable length, once absorbed in respectable screw (9)

6d
12a

Slap fool that's left for Germany (8)

7d

Small child gets into wrong Ford in Bulgarian capital (8)

8d

Speaks about taking the lead from Yorkshire and Surrey openers (4,4)

13d

Painful condition making a horse trot unevenly (4,6)

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15d

Kill time in US cafe, around about half four (9)

16d

Punishment from cross man (8)

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17d

Refuse to acknowledge detective's right (8)

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19d
21a

Stare at Johnny before kiss (10)

20d

Someone having tooth extracted that likely heads for small town in Eastern Europe? (6)

23d

Birds raised in these eggs (5)

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24d

Tongue-in-cheek, helpful tips for a small person (4)