ACROSS
1 Golden platter backer, as seen by Abou? (9,5)
9 Laundress, but not the French take-off of it… (7)
10 …and your French friend can make it easy to get along with. (7)
11 Would the English consider them dirty digs? (6)
12 Highly compressed paper saver carried to extremes. (8)
14 Thus our exits are made quickly, if you do. (4,3)
15 Steer down here in good time for the winner. (5)
17 and 23 X U represents two functions in New York. (5,6)
19 One in carpentry and bricklaying, for example, makes outbursts. (7)
21 Short rations may be good for the young. (4,4)
23 See 17 across
25 Sort of ripe a short month back, as some ears might be. (7)
26 No Pollyanna could make it saltier! (7)
27 Great tennis stars might win with such instant inspiration! (6,2,6)
DOWN
1 The actors aren’t polished evidently, but this is rudimentary. (9)
2 Some body is a bounder in the way you’ll swear! (7)
3 Takes another hitch. (9)
4 and 22 Disguised CIA post of this, by the very nature of the case. (4,5)
5 Old circus performers. (10)
6 The horse sounds so negative, we hear. (5)
7 Some pipes might be pushed out of the way. (7)
8 Drawn by eye, if you’re a certain kind of expert. (4)
13 Walker comes across with it, possibly. (10)
15 Certainly not the right hip in Moscow! (3,6)
16 Poetaster—the sort that might be musical. (9)
18 Certainly not the most bitter time LSD brings out. (7)
20 Language literally belonging to the coast. (7)
21 Moves, possibly one foot up, with the grain. (4)
22 See 4
24 Count in German. (4)
