A fairly easy puzzle from Sleuth this morning, and one that I enjoyed. Just one cavil: the number of clues that require us to remove a letter here or there before putting the solution together. Feels sort of lazy. But anyway, a nice way to start the day, so thank-you, Sleuth.
ACROSS
1. BEDAUB B(elievable) + u [university] within dab [expert]
5. CHARISMA Ch [champion] + a + ism [theory] within RA [Royal Academy, artist]
9. SPINSTER Cryptic definition
10. DECIDE CID [Criminal Investigation Department, force] within Dee [river]
11. ESCUDO Esc [key, on computer keyboard] + (j)udo
12. INTERCOM C [constant, the speed of light] within anagram of no merit
14. CASUALTY WARD Casual [irregular worker] + anagram of d(i)rt way
18. ENTREPRENEUR Rep [salesman] + re [concerned with] + n [note] within anagram of tenure
22. HACIENDA Cite [name] minus t [time] within hand [labourer] + a
25. AVENGE Ven [Venerable, archdeacon] within age [time]
26. HOOPOE Hoop [ring] + o(n)e [individual]
27. PRISTINE Pristina [European capital] with E [European] replacing A [American]
28. AS IT WERE A + w [western] + ER [Elizabeth Regina, royalty] within site [place]
29. THREAD T(ale) + anagram of heard
DOWN
2. EXPOSE Ex [former] + s [singular] within Poe [US writer]
3. ANNOUNCER Noun [part of speech] + c [a hundred] within anagram of near
4. BOTTOMS UP Bottom [last] + sup [drink]
5. CORSICA Cor [fancy!] + (populou)s + ICA [Institute of Contemporary Art, gallery]
6. AUDIT Audit(ory) [of hearing]
7. INCUR Reversal of RUC [Royal Ulster Constabulary, old police] + NI [Northern Ireland]
8. MEDIOCRE I [island] within Medoc [wine] + red [wine] lacking d [depth]
13. ELY Regular letters from rEpLaY to give the crossword setter’s favourite diocese
15. THERAPIST (Launderett)e within anagram of shirt apt
16. WORCESTER Anagram of tree crows
17. INFAMOUS Inf [information] + U [universal, for all to see] within Amos [Biblical book]
19. EYE Double definition
20. EXAMPLE Exam [test] + Pole [European] minus O [zero, nothing]
21. AGENDA Age [get on] + n [new] + DA [District Attorney, lawyer]
23. INPUT Putin [political leader], cycling around
24. NIECE Sounds like Nice [Mediterranean resort]