Some very clever misdirection and puns in this puzzle.
Solving time, 23 mins
* = anagram
ACROSS
10 C(h)OPPER Busy = slang for policeman
12 f(ACTOR)y Workplace “not taking sides”
14 PHILATELISTS late (no longer) + list (tilt) in (ship)*. One of the good misdirections, hinges being used by stamp collectors.
21 CON(against) + FORMER (what’s mentioned first)
24 M (male) OTHER (alternative). Whole clue is definition too i.e. an &lit. Instinctively I’d have felt it should have been the other way around, but, I’m sure, with Quixote, there’s a good reason B “to” A can be AB
25 PEN (writer) + U + M (male – in second successive clue!) + BRA (female support –
crossword cliche that we find useful to help us along)
27 A(di)FFERENT Take out Di – good misdirection and surface – new word to me.
DOWN
3 WATERSHED Very clever cryptic definition. Set = TV set. In the UK, the watershed is the time after which programmes not suitable for children may be shown. 9 PM, I think.
4 ETON WALL GAME A little surprised that “barrier” seems to be the definition here whereas the answer is the game, rather than the wall. But my knowledge of the game is limited.
7 A in APPRISE Two words often confused in real life, but not here, needless to say.
11 DO-IT-YOURSELF (lousy editor)* + f (following). This was my favourite clue
with an entirely convincing and flowing surface reading suggesting something completely different. Definition is “unprofessional activity”
16 SPECIMEN “Weed” is a verb here! (Good)
17 GRAN + I + TIC “Possibly” to allow for the 36-year-old grans, I guess
19 E + BID “taken up” + LE Definition is “like food”
22 OMEGA Last letter of the Greek alphabet (also often used figuratively). Brand of watches.