Independent 12,280/Hippogryph

A fine crossword from Hippogryph to start the puzzling week in the Independent.

Abbreviations
cd cryptic definition
dd double definition
cad clue as definition
(xxxx)* anagram
anagrind = anagram indicator
[x] letter(s) removed

definitions are underlined

Across

1 Prisoner‘s label tucked into socks
HOSTAGE
An insertion of TAG in HOSE. The insertion indicator is ‘tucked into’.

5 One sometimes working to restore mobile bars?
CHARGER
A cd. The bars are the ones on the screen of your mobile phone.

9 Is surrounding old lady with religious leaders
IMAMS
An insertion of MAM in IS. The insertion indicator is ‘surrounding’.

10 Trendy set fairly regularly coming to place for treatments
INFIRMARY
A charade of IN, FIRM and ARY for the even letters of ‘fairly’.

11 Make weak argument defending current literature
DEBILITATE
An insertion of I for ‘current’ and LIT in DEBATE. The insertion indicator is ‘defending’.

12 Object of love left after part of wedding service?
IDOL
A charade of I DO and L. Only problem is that I DO isn’t part of any wedding service. It’s I WILL. ‘Will you, John, take Janet to be your lawful wedded wife?’ ‘I will.’ But people think it’s I DO, so the clue is fine.

14 TV show that rioters condemned
THE TRAITORS
(THAT RIOTERS)* with ‘condemned’ as the anagrind. I think I am the only person in the cosmos never to have watched the show.

18 Flustered caterer missing last pound stops to double-check the scales
RECALIBRATE
An insertion of LIBRA in (CATERE[R])* The anagrind is ‘flustered’ and the insertion indicator is ‘stops’.

21 Take a picture as camera tracks along from right to left
SNAP
A reversal of PANS.

22 Extremely safe scan
ULTRASOUND
A charade of ULTRA and SOUND.

25 Trimming rear seal
TAILORING
A charade fo TAIL and O-RING.

26 Become confused retracting upheld damage claims
ADDLE
Hidden reversed in uphELD DAmage.

27 Exploited shingle originally from Brighton?
ENGLISH
(SHINGLE)* with ‘exploited’ as the anagrind.

28 Get her eating nibbles on that account
THEREAT
Hidden in GeT HER EATing.

Down

1 Maybe Bob Harris’s debut transformed radio?
HAIRDO
A charade of H for the initial letter of ‘Harris’ and (RADIO)* Cleverly constructed surface.

2 Threadbare throw worn by abbess
SHABBY
An insertion of ABB in SHY. The insertion indicator is ‘worn by’.

3 Skilfully coats item in liquid with 100% effectiveness
ABSOLUTELY
An insertion of SOLUTE in ABLY. The insertion indicator is ‘coats’.

4 John almost upended George
ELIOT
A reversal of TOILE[T], referencing the author of Middlemarch, among other works.

5 California holiday? Look up somewhere to eat
CAFETERIA
A charade of CA, FETE and AIR reversed.

6 A measure of port
ACRE
A dd.

7 Security measure upset travel beyond Driffield following evacuation, by gum!
GUARD DOG
A charade of GUAR, DD for the outside letters of ‘Driffield’ and GO reversed.

8 Perhaps Queen fan is inspired by improvisation of Taylor
ROYALIST
An insertion of IS in (TAYLOR)* The anagrind is ‘improvisation of’ and the insertion indicator is ‘inspired by’.

13 Mushy peas and rice stored in iron apparatus for emergency use
FIRE ESCAPE
An insertion of (PEAS RICE)* in FE. The insertion indicator is ‘stored in’.

15 Discovered one of crew coming round queasy – quiet below deck!
EMBELLISH
A charade of [M]EMBE[R], ILL reversed and SH.

16 Parisian curls first tee shot
FRISETTE
(FIRST TEE)* with ‘shot’ as the anagrind.

17 Grazing rat gets hold of rubbish
SCRAPING
An insertion of CRAP in SING. The insertion indicator is ‘gets hold of’.

19 After first day off insensitive student body withdraws ice cream
SUNDAE
A reversal of [D]EAD and NUS.

20 Essentially, Canadian shivered into the period before Christmas
ADVENT
The central letters of CanADian, shiVEred and iNTo.

23 Correct change of direction in Sun?
RIGHT
Hippogryph is inviting you to change the L in LIGHT into an R.

24 Climbing, sex or bread?
ROTI
A reversal of IT and OR.

Many thanks to the setter for this morning’s puzzle.