Thursday 19 February

Across

1 Scottish symbols left out in ironic pieces (7) 5 Conservative, challenged, losing head, snickered (7) 9 I will block rejection of unconvincing message (5) 10 Film company runs a live broadcast (9) 11 Musical piece: singer tailing off in front of non-mainstream group (9) 12 Possible result of investigation: academic with double character (5) 13 Keep a big audience, say, on the radio (5) 15 Impression received by two clubs almost entirely the same (9) 18 Spanish percussion and Scottish rock in Lloyd Webber musical (9) 19 Energy in assistant is something useful (5) 21 Continue to split Yorkshire city (5) 23 Mike capturing dismissive sound after company’s funny scenes here (5,4) 25 Fellow sadly wrong about spring as source of amphibians (9) 26 Invalidates lines in newspaper after backlash? (5) 27 Quick scan: beauty, grace and allure at last (4-3) 28 Recalled vote against including University guy in part of Mexican trip (7)

Down

1 First to snatch key amid the rioting shows sneakiness (7) 2 Leaves magistrates imprisoning Rector for drinking sessions (3,6) 3 Perhaps Vaughan Williams recording receiving cheer? On the contrary (5) 4 Acrobatic toy was high – about time? That is about time (5,4) 5 Lead meeting to ditch hot, old African city (5) 6 Queen relocated to palace, embracing King (9) 7 Ranch equipment to remain fresh, trimmed in this way (5) 8 Unhappy party line about distribution of fuel (7) 14 Air support picked up one’s identification (9) 16 A source of wealth? It’s sick, without question, getting surprised comment about individual (4,5) 17 Person in legal affair getting tense, in a stew (9) 18 Painstaking official probing birth membrane (7) 20 Youngster supporting viewpoint is distraught (5,2) 22 Expressionless when absorbing racy picture (5) 23 Engrave Harold’s initial in piece of luggage (5) 24 Pessimist in Surrey finally turned up, blocking County Council (5)