Not too difficult – solving time, 18 mins
* = anagram
ACROSS
1 T (A MA) RACK
5 SCH E MA
9 ATROCIT Y (Riot Act)* Y = end of unruly (last letter)
10 PULL-UP Reads the same both ways.
12 CH EER Companion of Honour
13 LOUNGE BAR (be langour)*
14 GEOMETRICIAN (A coterie Ming)*
18 COUNTER TENOR “Tenner” (in the auditorium)
21 BATH SHE BA
23 ADORE Hidden
24 A MINE’S
25 DO (MIN) ANT
26 DOGGER Double definition
27 STAND A RD
DOWN
1 TRA (N) CE ambition ultimately = last letter
2 MARR (i) ED
3 RE CURRENT
4 CATTLE MARKET (Tackle matter)*
6 C (musical notes A to G) LUNG
7 EX L I (B) RIS
8 AS PI RANT
11 PUT THE CAT OUT It can let itself out through the ‘cat-flap’
15 ISOLATION (Liaison to)*
16 S CAB BARD
17 HURT LING How long ago it was when I first learned ling = heather
19 SONATA Hidden
20 PEN TAD A set of five.
22 STELE “Steel”