8-across – Minus I, lake is imaginary : NOTIONAL

9-across – I’m going mad, ie unhinged to some extent : ADIEU

10-across – Flag’s back alongside issue number : SONG

11-across – Record first put on tape a non-starter for visionary : IDEOLOGIST

12-across – Very contrary, kill bird : OSPREY

14-across – Rocky I, fit : UNSTABLE

15-across – Tiny gap unknown in fractures close to ankle : SYNAPSE

17-across – I must secure home, in truth : HONESTY

20-across – Nothing to achieve on reflection in message — that’s the whole thing : CABOODLE

22-across – I am in debt, endlessly, as spineless : YELLOW

23-across – Main barrier takes a little time to split weaker bar that’s damaged : BREAKWATER

24-across – Intend to be cruel : MEAN

25-across – I, I kill : ISLAY

26-across – A very old revolutionary in America confesses : AVOUCHES

1-down – I: speak : COLONSAY

2-down – I, first of ideas yet to be hatched? : EIGG

3-down – Being hospitable finally, US city welcoming bird : ENTITY

4-down – Shrewd to fix duel in competition : CLUEDUP

5-down – Cry is directed at a nymph : CALLISTO

6-down – Bar selling rum seems familiar : RINGSABELL

7-down – Seafood with not as much hesitation thrown up : MUSSEL

13-down – New Orleans, and a case of blue sound : REASONABLE

16-down – Across middle, regular parts lost among rocks : SIDEWAYS

18-down – Body parts from the wielder of a hammer and hatchets : THORAXES

19-down – I, U and I deviate : WESTRAY

21-down – Skilful commercial industry initially in decay : ADROIT

22-down – Haul up fish on line in river : YARROW

24-down – I refuse : MUCK

1-across – Nuts put my daughter in hospital and put my nuts in boiled ale and brandy : HUMPTY

4-across – See 1 : DUMPTY

9-across – See 13 : FIRSTTHECHICKEN

10-across – Entrance initially ajar to receive special delivery : DOOSRA

11-across – To ignore harmful sexual partner, husband’s moved over, cover over head : SUNSHADE

12-across – Perfect description of anarchy by small force : FLAWLESS

14-across – Opening, small and round, in which university’s fitted a satellite : EUROPA

15-across – Quantifiers of liquid science : OPTICS

18-across – Sap’s complaint about entering annual regatta unprotected : ENFEEBLE

21-across – See 13 : ORTHEEGG

22-across – Band having to pass round unwelcome Tijuana tourist’s address? : GRINGO

24-across – Snipe ok to go? No, as it turns out, prematurely opening mouth : SPEAKINGTOOSOON

25-across – Nevertheless, 25% of service has been withdrawn : EVENSO

26-across – Grand Master caught by 12 pin : GNOMON

1-down – Address for one Louis XVI in shackles, wanting lubrication for locks? : HAIROIL

2-down – Case so melodramatic lawman’s stitched up : MOSES

3-down – Measure strength of restraint collaring diminutive Italian diner : TITRATE

5-down – Create imbalance painting house anew — but not, strangely, patios : UNHINGE

6-down – Hack, supply secured with tight ropes? : PACKHORSE

7-down – Relinquish possession of institute, set in rolling, sweet grassland : YIELDUP

8-down – Mrs English repeatedly ignored by Courier and Herald? : MESSRS

13-down – A question of life priorities : WHICHCAME

16-down – Popeye Doyle feature? One investigating chips in poker game : PORKPIE

17-down – Coins : SPECIES

18-down – Attract plum work lifting and separating : ENGAGE

19-down – Nautical warning for new mists over rising mercury : FOGHORN

20-down – Perhaps height’s lost without straw hat : LEGHORN

23-down – Whatever the total is, minus rubbish : INSUM

1-across – Pound loss with a new drop in ounces : SNOWLEOPARDS

9-across – Article, pretty sharp : ACUTE

10-across – Drinking loads, fish has a drink : CREAMSODA

11-across – University central to artier Bohemian region of old Italy : ETRURIA

12-across – Is in the past defining present, however? : WHEREAS

13-across – Skiing gear for Shropshire dance troupe? : SALOPETTES

15-across – Test period complete : OVER

18-across – Feeling party heading for government, politician not beginning to embrace it : ORGY

19-across – Old actions right after western in American broadcast : CRIMEANWAR

22-across – Confused mixture coming from newspaper published in the Algarve? : FARRAGO

24-across – Double agent finally caught by spy, then daughter spotted : MOTTLED

25-across – Scrooge broke banks in US state : SKINFLINT

26-across – Firm rear : STERN

27-across – Large mammals eating duck, bloody little one, less than excited : BOREDTOTEARS

1-down – Position dinosaur’s taken on stage : SQUARELEG

2-down – I reprove wrinkly, as going to seed : OVERRIPE

3-down – Material heading for comet in small constellation : LYCRA

4-down – However unlikely, lame odds for defeat : OVERWHELM

5-down – After uprising, I’m inspired by belligerent god, fighting multitudes : ARMIES

6-down – Queen’s partner cooked outstanding royal starter : DRONE

7-down – Light touch for a lady driver? : CARESS

8-down – Egyptian leader participating in revolution, as serene : NASSER

14-down – Sin is in midst of battle, as enemy of freedom? : TERRORIST

16-down – Myth is so very old, old actor beginning to slumber : VOWELLESS

17-down – Wonderful work ending for magician in land of huge, huge proportions? : FANTASIA

18-down – Stupid remark after online discovery? : OAFISH

20-down – Unpleasant noise breaking gear on a bike : RIDING

21-down – Spirit phenomenal, when up for puzzle : BAFFLE

23-down – Greek character welcoming home a pachyderm : RHINO

24-down – Ultimate in excitement in bubbly composition : MOTET

7-across – Trendy outfit? Hot! : RIGHTON

8-across – See 20 down : MACOUTE

9-across – Getting heavier on a regular basis? That’s a bit of a shock : HAIR

10-across – Eating heartily after cutback, family then drink : TUCKINGIN

12-across – Suppressed sex appeal : SATON

13-across – 6 21 down followed by rice pudding? That’s modern : NEOTERIC

15-across – Cross, if oversleeps? : SPAN

16-across – Complaint concerning English bit of steak : TBONE

17-across – Small heaps : TONS

18-across – Seat about 500 in this cinema? : ARTHOUSE

20-across – See 12 down : TONIC

21-across – Rule badly as male sovereign, stupidly banning One Direction : MISGOVERN

22-across – Two females after answer, following start of fling? It’s awkward and time-consuming : FAFF

24-across – Country in East Asia lacking capital : ESTONIA

25-across – Haircut in order? Undoubtedly : TONSURE

1-down – Capital of Qatar, I gather : RIGA

2-down – One representing Ben-Hur as prince astride horse : CHARLTON

3-down – Off to get rhubarb before tucking in! : ROTTEN

4-down – Island toured by bald singer : BARITONE

5-down – Stone lost by one visiting speaker : TONGUE

6-down – Pudding from M&S : ETON

11-down – A scene surprisingly typical of a Chinese city : CANTONESE

12-down – Ray has drink with Eric : SUPER

14-down – Ancient Greek impresario : IONIC

16-down – The pupil regularly top of class in German : TEUTONIC

17-down – I shun fat when cooking for swimmer : TUNAFISH

19-down – See 2 : HESTON

20-down – Nutmeg provides hiding-place for blooming militiaman in Haiti : TONTON

21-down – See 6 : MESS

23-down – Card game for a drunk : FARO

9-across – Dirty dog’s ending in no little trouble : ILLGOTTEN

10-across – China in Japan, damage between the two : IMARI

11-across – Saving a little time, don’t stay to see opera singer : DOMINGO

12-across – Union supporter on course to return in Chinese dynasty : MEETING

13-across – Runner caught someone at the top : EXEC

14-across – Straggly branch OK with tall, hollow bush : BLACKTHORN

16-across – Painter, way less than a month through the alcohol : GAUGUIN

17-across – Picture lover in ecstasy during fling : CINEAST

19-across – Drooling, one throwing up during chant : SLOBBERING

22-across – Shake hands on mammal with flippers : SEAL

24-across – Bird I adore’s heading for flowering shrub : ROBINIA

25-across – Looking away when gran nude, is it sur­prising? : TURNING

26-across – See 25 : ASIDE

27-across – Leader, the best of the bunch? : TOPBANANA

1-down – Essentially, fat insects pumped with lead shot, then pared off : MIDDLEAGESPREAD

2-down – Torch, innocent thing in iron and gold : FLAMBEAU

3-down – Certain limit : BOUND

4-down – Giant captured by boy, well I never! : STROLLON

5-down – Briefly witty as some comic, I’m on guard being sent up : GNOMIC

6-down – Enjoy a furore very much : LIKESTINK

7-down – Las Vegas establishment equally popular, business raking it in : CASINO

8-down – Noted communication error mine, alert leader in government when trebly confused : SINGINGTELEGRAM

15-down – Spooner’s poem to Chelsea that may go to one’s head? : SUNBONNET

17-down – Monument, knock one up in church : CENOTAPH

18-down – A quality detailed, and among the best, as a nation’s aspiration for a better life : AMERICAN

20-down – Leg before wicket partly, one way to get out? : ONBAIL

21-down – US property concerned with key industry, ultimately : REALTY

23-down – See 18 : DREAM