Across
1 Stronghold, one sacked in
former kingdom (6)
4 Sit down, weak, and tape
broadcast (4,1,3)
9 Husband presented with
new Omega out of
respect (6)
10 Mean to pen article on river
fish (8)
12 Sleep-inducing if caught by
tailless scorpion abroad (9)
13 Colour always sported by
chanteuse - Piaf? (5)
14 Medal winner, one on the
other side (8,5)
18 Blue equatorial waters
here (2,3,8)
20 Knock over raised
object (5)
22 Poverty - end is seen after
a struggle (9)
24 Aunt Sally, for example,
a legitimate target for
ridicule? (4,4)
25 Pollute narrow pass (6)
26 Extracting pounds from
sport (8)
27 Climb a trail (6)
Down
1 Tending to stick together -
unnaturally, he voices (8)
2 What a judge may do with
number appearing for
trial (3,2)
3 Aggressive young drunk
shot a lot with Luger (5,4)
5 Cynical notes about
highs (12)
6 Game failing to start in
county town (5)
7 Father in French capital
wants us raised
together (4,5)
8 Approach place to get
buttonhole (6)
11 Commend a fine novel
turned into a film (2,4,3,3)
15 Greek character sheltered
outside place with a
monkey puzzle (5,4)
16 Sundials? They’ve been
around for years! (3-6)
17 Easiest (I suspect) in my
opinion (2,1,3,2)
19 Ridiculous talk over a wife
makes one laugh loudly (6)
21 Poke one with end of first
finger, perhaps (5)
23 Pick of Renaissance
literature (5)