Nothing too challenging from Merlin today. A few more ‘hidden’ solutions than I’d like, and perhaps one or two somewhat stretched definitions, but also some lovely surfaces. I enjoyed it.
ACROSS
1. WEIGH OUT Weigh [consider] + out [old hat]
6. WEIRDO Witch [weird] + o [old]
9. SALAMI Reversal of alas [unfortunately] + mi [note, as in do-re-mi]
10. CINEASTE Anagram of I cant see
11. NERO Hidden in oNE ROman
12. EVANESCENT Anagram of can vet seen
14. ARK ROYAL R [rex, king] + K [king] within a + royal [majestic]
16. ALTO Altogether [all things considered] minus ‘get her’
18. ESAU A within reversal of use [exploit]
19. HALLMARK Hall [room] + mark [note]
21. PROSCRIBED Scribe [journalist] within prod [dig]
22. CREW C [chapter] + re [about] + w(edding)
24. FORT KNOX Sounds like fought [struggled against] knocks [setbacks]
26. ENOUGH Hidden in thE NOUGHties
27. TRENDY End [goal] within try [shot]
28. SENILITY Reversal of lines [columns] + Italy minus al [Capone, gangster]
DOWN
2. ERASE R(ubber) within ease [simplicity]
3. GLAMOUR PUSS O [round] within anagram of sugar lumps
4. OLIVE OYL Sounds, of course, like olive oil [dressing]
5. TICK ALL THE BOXES Anagram of exile blocks that
6. WINNER W(illiam) + inner [secret]
7. IRA Iraq [Asian country] minus Q [question]
8. DETONATOR Eton [public school] within reversal of rot [nonsense] + a + d [daughter]
13. CHARM SCHOOL Punning on the double meaning of charm [spell]
15. RESERVOIR Reserve(e) [ice – or is it (p)reserv(e)?] + o [old] + Ir [Irish]
17. BLUDGEON B [Bachelor] + anagram of lounged
20. BRANDY Brand [make] + y [algebraic unknown]
23. EIGHT Reversal of GI [soldier] within the to give a rowing crew
25. TIN (Retiremen)t + in [(at) home]
An enjoyable mix of clues making for a perfect, easy to solve puzzle. Thanks to Falcon and Ringo