| Clues across |
| 1 | In France, I confront beginner with falsehoods to obtain children’s desserts (7) |
| 5 | Find quarters in tumbledown semi? No, the other way round to get retribution! (7) |
| 9 | Blocks and raises to third power (5) |
| 10 | Fish and fruit only (5,4) |
| 11 | Drew horse in awful dread (7) |
| 12 | Jotter has stirred tea into pond (7) |
| 13 | Garment? Superfluous garment, we hear (9) |
| 15 | It goes round in both directions (5) |
| 17 | Dilapidated study is probably this (5) |
| 19 | Finish nothing and provide room for action – this will give you an internal view (9) |
| 22 | Ships going by post? (7) |
| 24 | Freeze and glance awkwardly around ring (7) |
| 25 | Rate source of water for plant (9) |
| 26 | Take in as guest, anyway (3,2) |
| 27 | Feared the padre (a dedicated man) to some extent (7) |
| 28 | ‘Bed and the Lake’ presented by literary circle (7) |
|
| Clues down |
| 1 | Sailor’s money turned over for bird (7) |
| 2 | Places of reference could be provided by Blair, sire (9) |
| 3 | Awareness of what’s not out of view (7) |
| 4 | Thus cover has no internal cavities (5) |
| 5 | Named no bird ‘Ted’ (9) |
| 6 | Church wanted? Clergyman has lost one! (7) |
| 7 | In short, is pen a kitchen utensil? (5) |
| 8 | Beginner in transmitter is tall and thin (7) |
| 14 | Buy too many and drop seven, unfortunately (9) |
| 16 | Sports car, perhaps, or tandem (3-6) |
| 17 | Put down sop turning up, indeed! (7) |
| 18 | Put unknown quantity on dilapidated deli with Edward, and gave up (7) |
| 20 | Beats student organisation turning up for place to get a tan (7) |
| 21 | Cut out fasteners within boundaries of Europe (7) |
| 23 | Island’s unusual centre has no name (5) |
| 24 | Spilt oil in cricket club, causing disorder (5) |
|
