Financial Times 17,253 by MONK

Monk is a notoriously tough setter, and no exception to that this morning.

Plenty to enjoy in this morning’s puzzle, but I’m afraid I’m stumped on 27d so I’ll leave it to one of you to assist and then update the blog. EDIT: Hovis has the solution, so I’ve amended this in the blog. Thank you!
There’s a bit of repetition going on in the north-west corner but if there is something cleverer going on, I’m afraid I’m not seeing it.

All the same, many thanks to Monk!

picture of the completed grid

ACROSS

1. They go round back of French passes (6)

EDDIES

DE< (<back, of, French) + DIES (passes)

4. Adult drug shaped like a star (8)

ASTEROID

A (adult) + STEROID (drug)

10. Renegade filibuster stripped of his external prize (3)

RAT

[pi]RAT[e] (filibuster, stripped of his external PIE (prize))

11. Original meanings of old record in English stymie novel (11)

ETYMOLOGIES

O (old) + LOG (record) in (E (English) + STYMIE)* (*novel)

12. It doesn’t collide with ball bearing, ruined (3,4)

AIR SHOT

AIR (bearing) + SHOT (ruined)

13. Perhaps from which we’d find rain hit unexpectedly? (4,3)

THIN AIR

(RAIN HIT)* (*unexpectedly) &lit

15. Entering Egypt, stole old enemy vessel (1-4)

E-BOAT

Entering ET (Egypt), BOA (stole)

16. European weapon for fencing maybe Polish? (8)

ELEGANCE

E (European) + LANCE (weapon) fencing EG (maybe)

19. Clan member cutting lines on most of tree trunk (8)

CAMPBELL

MP (member, Member of Parliament) cutting LL (lines) on CABE[r] (tree trunk, most of)

21. Willow’s more promising when pollarded (5)

OSIER

[r]OSIER (more promising, when pollarded)

23. Stuff to burn after husband’s done a bunk (7)

OVEREAT

OVER[h]EAT (to burn, after H (husband)’s done a bunk)

25. About to check tree in crater (7)

CALDERA

CA (about, circa) to check ALDER (tree)

26. Identify round spring linked to furious knocking (11)

DISPARAGING

ID< (identify, <round) + SPA (spring) linked to RAGING (furious)

28. Put away hater, saving skin (3)

ATE

[h]ATE[r] (saving skin)

29. Disease makes most of beasts die, sadly (8)

DIABETES

(BEAST[s] (most of) + DIE)* (*sadly)

30. Ingenious answer, right? (6)

ADROIT

A (answer) + DROIT (right)

DOWN

1. Tight tie tangled with beard (8)

EBRIATED

(TIE + BEARD)* (*tangled)

2. Hinder harangue about Italy in decline (11)

DETERIORATE

DETER (hinder) + ORATE (harangue) about I (Italy)

3. Busy with small, stolen glance (7)

EYESHOT

EYE (busy) with S (small) + HOT (stolen)

“Busy” and “eye” are slang terms referring to a policeman of sorts

5. Animal is singular — exactly! (5)

STOAT

S (singular) + TO A T (exactly)

6. Soft porn books stashed by Heather (7)

EROTICA

OT (books, Old Testament) stashed by ERICA (heather)

7. Heads of international boxing organisation held up belt (3)

OBI

(I[nternationl] B[oxing] O[rganisation] (heads of))< (<held up)

8. Teacher caught in act scratching bottom itch (6)

DESIRE

SIR (teacher) caught in DEE[d] (act, scratching bottom)

9. In discussion, still interrupting Eeyore — sadly, that’s not right (3,2,3)

EYE TO EYE

YET (still) interrupting (EEYO[r]E)* (*sadly, not right)

14. Playing Gaelic harp on Love Island series? (11)

ARCHIPELAGO

(GAELIC HARP)* (*playing) on O (love)

17. Catholic, Celtic accent essentially jarred (8)

ECLECTIC

(CELTIC + [ac]CE[nt] (essentially))* (*jarred)

18. Widest minor route is in Paris (8)

BROADEST

B ROAD (minor route) + EST (is, in Paris, i.e. in French)

20. Fanciful charge for peeping Lords, at least (7)

PEERAGE

Cryptic definition

Wordplay on the two meanings of “peer”

21. Bound dictionary, unusually glib inside (7)

OBLIGED

OED (dictionary, Oxford English Dictionary), (GLIB)* (*unusually) inside

22. Nearly pick out cheated mercenary (6)

SORDID

SOR[t] (pick out, nearly) + DID (cheated)

24. United Artists holding up commerce (5)

TRADE

[unit]ED ART[ists]< (holding, <up)

27. Worthy men led my son — all may follow this great wave (3)

SEA

SEAworthy, SEAmen, SEAled, SEAmy, SEAson (all may follow this)