Across
27a
(and 24 Across, 27 Across) Letter from Greece (old Antioch) bought and adapted for a play (4,3,5,7)
Wary that man Miliband fleeces unsuspecting Labour leaders (7)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
HE (that man) + ED (reference ED Milliband [born 1969], current UK Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero) + FUL ( first letters of [leaders] each of F LEECES, U NSUSPECTING and L ABOUR)
Bard is one press-ganged by Lieutenant for frontier (5)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
( I’M [I am; Bard {the setter} is] + I [Roman numeral for one]) contained in (press-ganged by] LT (Lieutenant)
“Er … Steve, I’m confused - finish your sentence!” (5,4)
Rebus (with 6A 24 27) reveals price from Waverley Station to the Royal Mile, perhaps (3,4)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
Anagram of (with MUCH ADO ) REBUS containing ( ABOUT ) FA (abbreviation used for either of a couple of phrases that mean NOTHING ) – using the whole of the entry from 6a/24/27 as the anagram and containment indicators.
‘Wonderful’ Radio 2 host stalks police officer (6)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
DI (Detective Inspector; police officer) + VINE (reference Jeremy VINE [born 1965], Radio 2 presenter)
Starts to bolster old material, putting card into flat caps and coats (6,7)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
BOM ( first letters of [starts to] each of B OLSTER, O LD and M ATERIAL) + ( JACK [playing card] contained in [put into] BERETS [flat caps])
Big music venues in America less crazy on reflection (6)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
A (American) + SANER (less crazy) reversed (on reflection)
Italian fellow about to honour one with love (7)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
C (circa; about) + LAUD (honour) + I (Roman numeral for one) + O (character representing zero [love score at tennis])
Was able to stomach eel tart (with 6A 24 27) - doubtful at first! (9)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
( Anagram of [with MUCH ADO ] EEL TART containing [ ABOUT ] O [character representing NOTHING ]) + D ( initial letter of [at first] D OUBTFUL) – once again using MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING (6a/24/27) as the anagram and containment indicators
See 6 Across
Syrup, maple perhaps, around a hundred litres (7)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
TREACLE (dark, viscous uncrystallizable syrup obtained in refining sugar)
See 6 Across
Down
Racket’s special type of shaft (4)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
SCAM (swindle; racket)
Incantation starts to make auntie nauseous - half in trance (6)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
MANTRA (a sacred text used as an incantation)
Gives up F-word with no limits on curses? (9)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
FORSWEARS (renounces upon oath; gives up)
D Icke transfigured beneath mountain, he’s in love with 16 (8)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
BENEDICK (character in MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING who is in love with BEATRICE [entry at 16 down])
Assuming FA backtracking on deal it arranged in league (10)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
AFFILIATED (member of, a league for example)
“Drink up in pub,” I lamented (6)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
MALIBU (coconut flavored liqueur, made with white rum; drink)
That woman’s nothing? Au contraire! (4)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
HERO (illustrious person, usually brave; someone who is the opposite of ‘nothing’) Note that HERO is also a character in the theme play MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING .
Conductor (not American) taking on introduction to Irving Berlin’s songs (6)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
LIEDER (German [Berlin] lyrics or songs)
More filthy lines with 6A 24 27 at end of pier (10)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
( Anagram of [ MUCH ADO ] LINES containing [ ABOUT } LOVE (zero score in tennis; nothing]) + R ( last letter of [end of] PIE R )
California very hot - lake evaporating and going down fast (9)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
CA (California) + SCA L DING (very hot) excluding (evaporating) L (lake)
She defeated Anneka? (8)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
BEAT (defeated) + RICE (reference Anneka RICE [born 1958], Welsh-born television and radio personality)
Old dad’s a singer (4,2)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
PA’S (dad’s) + TIT (bird; singer)
Follow old reserves with German military ID (3,3)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
DOG (follow) + TA (old name for the British army reserves) + G (Germany)
Anticipates power, we’re told, in a second (6)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
WAIT ( sounds like [we’re told] WEIGHT [power]) contained in (in) A + S [second]
Inflammation found in crusty eyes (4)
Disregard 2D? I can’t, ultimately (4)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
OM (a sacred syllable intoned as part of Hindu devotion and contemplation, a MANTRA [entry at 2 down]) + I + T ( last letter of [ultimately] CAN’ T )
Type letters or click words in the clue