Financial Times 12,971 by Cincinnus

Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of January 10
A few minor challenges here made a typically enjoyable puzzle. Cincinnus came up with some great anagrams for the long downers. (Yeah, I know “downers” are something else and acrossers don’t even exist.)

Across
1. FETCHING – double definition
5. SPEEDO – reverse hidden word
9. FLORENCE – double definition
10. CASTLE – CAST[i]LE
12. HEADS – double definition
13. EBULLIENT – BULL (supporter) + IE (that is) in ENT (hospital department)
14. ADAGES – A (one) + [she]D + AGES (gets old)
16. SARAWAK – SARA (girl) + W (with) + A (a) + K (king)
18. PIQUANT – PI[nt] + [Mary] QUANT
20. GEYSER – homophone (“geezer”)
22. EPICENTRE – cryptic definition
23. SAMEY – ME (Middle Eastern) in SAY (state)
24. SACRED – S (son) + ACRE (area) + D (daughter)
25. IN DREAMS – anagram of MINDS ARE
26. RIYADH – anagram of HAIR DY[e]
27. CREEPS UP – CREEP (unpleasant person) + SUP (drink)

Down
1. FIFTHS – F (fine) + IF (provided) + TH[i]S
2. THOMAS DE QUINCEY – anagram of QUAINT COMEDY HES
3. HEELS – H (hot) + EELS (fish)
4. NUCLEUS – cryptic definition
6. PEARL GREY – anagram of LARGE PREY
7. EAT BETWEEN MEALS – anagram of MEN WE SEE AT TABLE
8. OVERTAKE – OVER (on account of) + TAKE (stomach)
11. PUSS – double definition
15. GRAVESEND – GRAVES (wine) + END (last)
17. APPEASER – S[trif]E in APPEAR (look)
19. TUTU – double definition
20. GLEANER – G (good) + LEANER (slimmer)
21. HYSSOP – H[eav]Y + S[leeper]S + O[verslee]P
23. SURGE – SURGE[on]