A pretty straightforward but very enjoyable puzzle from Paul.
In a lot of cases, I got the answer immediately, from the definition – leaving some interesting wordplay to work out. Then again, there were several simple charades, so a nice variety of clue types, with some smiles to help things along. Many thanks, Paul.
[To those going to York this weekend: have a brilliant time – of course you will! Have a drink or two for me as I fly off for a week’s walking in Mallorca.]
Across
1 In exercise, exalt bishop — and thank the Lord! (6,2)
PRAISE BE
In PE [exercise] RAISE [exalt] B [bishop]
5 Dance has the talent, if you 16 (6)
CANCAN
CAN [has the talent] X 2 [seeing double -16]
9 A soft fabric binding linen at first, in sewing technique (8)
APPLIQUÉ
A P [a soft] PIQUÉ [fabric] round L[inen]
10 Pure beginner? (6)
NOVICE
A beginner with NO VICE would be pure
12 Plant ending in posy behind first of flowers picked by Eric Cantona, perhaps? (11)
MANUFACTORY
[pos]Y after F[lower] in MAN U ACTOR [Eric Cantona, perhaps] – one of my favourite clues
15 Men in leggings for riders (5)
CHAPS
Double definition
18 Scottish author nevertheless Samoan at the end, by the way (9)
STEVENSON
ST [way] + EVEN SO [nevertheless] + [samoa]N – a lovely surface for Robert Louis Stevenson, who died in Samoa: he wanted his poem ‘Requiem’ on his tombstone there:
“Under the wide and starry sky,
Dig the grave and let me lie.
Glad did I live and gladly die,
And I laid me down with a will.
This be the verse you grave for me:
Here he lies where he longed to be;
Home is the sailor, home from sea,
And the hunter home from the hill.”
but it is misquoted there and elsewhere [‘…home from the sea’]
19 At that point, gathered’s gathered (5)
THERE
hidden in gaTHEREd – a nice surface followed by a pretty nonsensical one
20 Book learned in Oxford, only covers erased (11)
OBLITERATED
B [book] + LITERATE [learned] in O[xfor]D [only covers]
24,7 Fashion worn by companion in babyish sort of clothes, initially (6,4)
SHABBY CHIC
Anagram [sort of] of BABYISH round [worn by] CH [Companion of Honour] + C[lothes]
25 Promise clothes with identically matching tops for bikinis etc (8)
SWIMWEAR
SWEAR [promise] round [clothes] W[ith] I[dentically] M[atching]
26 Model, a dolly? (6)
SITTER
Double definition – in cricket, dolly and sitter are both terms for an easy catch.
27 Novel unread, it went (8)
URINATED
Anagram [novel] of UNREAD IT – it wouldn’t really be a Paul puzzle without one like this, would it?
Down
1 Drug dealer providing agriculturalist with abnormal growth, say? (10)
PHARMACIST
Sounds like [say?] FARMER [agriculturalist] CYST [abnormal growth]
2 Those bits that are extra mature, snapped off externally (10)
APPENDAGES
Anagram [off] of SNAPPED round AGE [mature]
3 Challenging body (5)
STIFF
Double definition
4 Lively man, children’s entertainer? (6,6)
BOUNCY CASTLE
Charade of BOUNCY [lively] + CASTLE [man – in chess]
6 Soldier shackling a young rogue, one solving others’ problems? (5,4)
AGONY AUNT
ANT [soldier] round an anagram [rogue] of A YOUNG
8 Christmas prize giver, gutted (4)
NOEL
NO[b]EL [Alfred] – prize giver
11 Submarine part defrauding tug? (7,5)
CONNING TOWER
Another simple charade: CONNING [defrauding] TOWER [tug]
13 Banker close to golfer, one getting green fee on the house? (5,5)
RIVER TRENT
[golfe]R + I [one] + VERT [green] + RENT [fee on the house]
14 Into bottom, bottom-pinching man with pretty woman aroused (10)
ENGENDERED
In END [bottom] we have [Richard] GERE [star of ‘Pretty Woman’] round [pinching] END [bottom] – nice one, Paul!
16 Experience an illusion having date with a large drink (3,6)
SEE DOUBLE
SEE [date] + DOUBLE [a large drink]
21,17 Old commander in love with unit or wayward battalion, ultimately (5,9)
ROMAN CENTURION
ROMANCE [love] + an anagram [wayward] of UNIT OR + [battalio]N
22 Goddess has life, if you 16 (4)
ISIS
IS [has life] X 2, seeing double
23 Don’t eat seconds in lard (4)
FAST
S [seconds] in FAT [lard]
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