1-across – Anticipatory point, I see, said to follow one of the people : PROLEPTIC

6-across – It provides food in the wild but has me worried : BUSH

8-across – Be aware of non-western Japanese invader : KNOTWEED

9-across – East German fairy to lose breath … and power of movement? : OSSIFY

10-across – Initial offer a good way round? : GAMBIT

11-across – Old hat to be crushed? Only put inside : OBSOLETE

12-across – So free not to vote for police department : PAIRED

15-across – Universal among goals is the clearance of river beds : SCOURING

16-across – Xerophyte is king : TAMARISK

19-across – Scrambled up tree seeking fame : REPUTE

21-across – Letters on a stake : ALPHABET

22-across – Bird heard noise of old train : CHOUGH

24-across – Compel to do a favour : OBLIGE

25-across – Doctor’s sovereign article : HOUSEMAN

26-across – See 6 : MEAT

27-across – Only one in a suit wearing a vest : SINGLETON

1-down – Peninsular and Albert? A beast! : PANDA

2-down – When to start on Christmassy things — or be extremely reluctant? : OCTOBER

3-down – Apply energetically to the right : EXERT

4-down – Boy finding bills boring : TEDIOUS

5-down – General inspection in the 18? : COOKSTOUR

6-down – I want to get on with sculptured portrait on the French river : BUSTLER

7-down – Peter the leader gives protection to the fallen : SAFETYNET

13-down – Balaclava that is of no account may be there if needed : AVAILABLE

14-down – Doctors, footballers or babies : DRIBBLERS

17-down – First time crime for Dawkins? : ATHEIST

18-down – £1,000 hot spot : KITCHEN

20-down – Demo expert : PROTEST

22-down – Putting herb in chlorine is unkind : CRUEL

23-down – Lie of the wood in salt or sand : GRAIN

8-across – Lawrence told people about Henry’s fundraiser : TELETHON

9-across – Shell out for primitive deal? : COWRIE

10-across – Old writer, one working as decorator in firm : CICERO

11-across – Ranger’s friend turns into the opposite, making low comment : FOOTNOTE

12-across – Ex’s allowance not providing for any car : LIMO

13-across – Contradiction — Georgia, proverbially? : GAINSAYING

15-across – This spare tyre would be one! : LETDOWN

16-across – Clearer of conscience, Shed pens of himself : CASUIST

18-across – Make Violet put back ginger biscuit : BRANDYSNAP

19-across – August following in short tribal division : SEPT

20-across – Inspirational work almost cutting supplies : FINEARTS

22-across – One fled French regime after Revolution : EMIGRE

23-across – Bordeaux’s patron saint with her object of patronage? Not half : CLARET

24-across – Threesome accepted by topless goddess produces a great time! : ETERNITY

1-down – The Times, Le Monde, Die Welt, El Pais and La Stampa will be sure to include it : DEFINITEARTICLE

2-down – Pioneer of space travel making messenger stick with study — swell! : GENERODDENBERRY

3-down – Route to maltreatment? No energy : THROUGHWAY

4-down – The game’s over — ready to meet one’s maker : SNUFFIT

5-down – The chorusmaster’s response from the choir : ECHO

6-down – Many left search in Year One — cracking game! : TWENTYQUESTIONS

7-down – Supporter does, as fan letter paid off : LIFTANDSEPARATE

14-down – With current female covered by separate condition : SWAMPFEVER

17-down – Liqueur that is understood to infuse information-bearer upwards : ANISEED

21-down – Hotel announced legal documentation : RITZ

7-across – See 23 : WITHOUTA

9-across – The general view is it’s a vice : AGREED

10-across – See 23 : NAME

11-across – See 23 : WORTHANAGE

12-across – Weird agent holds love authorised : SPOOKY

14-across – See 22 : TOOSHORT

15-across – See 22 down : LEISURE

17-across – Witch’s home’s point in support : ENDORSE

20-across – Playing tapes about small flower : SWEETPEA

22-across – We haven’t time to waste on trivia: how about art? : LIFEIS

23-across – O Swindon Town! outed from highest league — a fair cow — or a Houlier needed: would this clarion call be any compensation? : ONECROWDED

24-across – NHS advisers are respectable and fastid­ious : NICE

25-across – See 23 : HOUROF

26-across – See 23 : GLORIOUS

1-down – Bramley over the pond? : BIGAPPLE

2-down – He’s a lion, maybe, but I go on a horse : SHOE

3-down – Heartless fugitive on airfield : RUNWAY

4-down – Carbon forest settled then and there : CASHDOWN

5-down – Être fainéant — and maybe stick : FRENCHLOAF

6-down – One wanting food in pub? : BEGGAR

8-down – Put bubbles in fresh tea — about time! : AERATE

13-down – With which comic character pursues shellfish round London? : OYSTERCARD

16-down – Tickings off for agent and so for organiser : REPROOFS

18-down – Covert plan to get little guy in drink : STITCHUP

19-down – Petted pet in quiet party held by convict : LAPDOG

21-down – Microsoft’s idea to get prize of vintage port : WINDOW

22-down – She needn’t do anything for boy to call faulty file reliable : LADYOF

24-down – See 2 : NAIL

1-across – Gold medal placing either way : TOPSPOT

5-across – P for pillock? : PINHEAD

9-across – See 23 : AGNEW

10-across – Stiff won’t be pliable ultimately, in obsession with women’s underwear? : BREATHING

11-across – Kinky Romeo in sexy diamonds, not entirely appreciated by gay people : HOMOEROTIC

12-across – Directive pens letters required for 16’s second post : VICE

14-across – See 20 : ROCKEFELLER

18-across – Centre of Birmingham candlelit, perhaps: magical! : NECROMANTIC

21-across – Pool, oxygen on top : LIDO

22-across – Third of mice forgets to retain squeak : CLOSESHAVE

25-across – Western food the pigs eat, not eastern rubbish : SPAGHETTI

26-across – Some lothario tasting tiny bits : IOTAS

27-across – See 19 : MONDALE

28-across – Russian conclusion? Job unfinished, as went beyond deadline : OVERRAN

1-down – Cheap wood covered by tax : TRASHY

2-down – Land in North America confiscated by parents : PANAMA

3-down – Prisoner flipping secure, flushed toilet : POWDERROOM

4-down – A kick, toe reaching head, off limits : TABOO

5-down – See 12 : PRESIDENT

6-down – Items securing screws — having one loose? : NUTS

7-down – Single part of wheel, big, I levered up : ELIGIBLE

8-down – Times, admitting sin under setter, confused person : DOGBERRY

13-down – Insurrectionary services up for striking, possibly : PERCUSSIVE

15-down – Sweet girl : CHARLOTTE

16-down – America’s endless nuclear missiles emptied and dismantled : UNCLESAM

17-down – I bleed after a cold, water polluted : ACIDRAIN

19-down – Country not quite accepting change, government department restraining new 12 5 : WALTER

20-down – Columnist, English chap after jewel in 12 5 : NELSON

23-down – 12 5 gains power after catastrophe : SPIRO

24-down – Question a command from cavalryman, perhaps : WHOA

1-across – Range of service provided : MASSIF

5-across – Ex-president’s idea of African primate : BUSHBABY

9-across – Tie decoy around one with gun : LIGATURE

10-across – It could be an excellent object, which ancestors have concealed : CHANCE

11-across – Facial problem whence squealing may be heard : STYE

12-across – Form of pasta for 18 not dogs : POTNOODLES

13-across – Divorce centre given points for glory : RENOWN

15-across – One time dimension in due course : ATLENGTH

17-across – Good guy speaks but isn’t fluent : STUTTERS

19-across – 18’s breakable statue’s big idea : MASTER

20-across – Source of jelly produces 18’s carrier’s complaint : MARROWBONE

22-across – See 19 : PLAN

23-across – A complaint I have with a rodent : AGOUTI

24-across – Makes an unconventional drug for such as 2 will be actually : NAMESAKE

25-across – The majesty of King George with half a continent : GRANDEUR

26-across – Original song sung by naturists? : NUDITY

2-down – Somewhat more unusual addition to family : ALITTLESTRANGER

3-down – See 21 : SLAVE

4-down – Old Bob’s third protection inadequate for 18’s land? : FOURPENCE

5-down – Meat and drink makes 18’s Irish criminal live : BEEFTEA

6-down – Pervert, like this stunner : SICKO

7-down – Second arrivals at fictitious castle with imp­erial 11? : BLANDINGS

8-down – Refuted Thatcher when 18 put indication on water carrier : BUCKEDTHEMARKET

14-down – With increasingly ’igh temperature, be on fire for battle : OTTERBURN

16-down – Burden island with logger : LUMBERMAN

18-down – He makes love sentimentally or rather keeps quiet : SPOONER

21-down – Victim of sex trafficker causing 18 just a ripple? : WHITE

22-down – Spode set placed just so : POSED