No 2608, Sunday 07 Nov 10

ACROSS
1 - Place containing tiny back room (6) – {L{EEW<-}AY}
4 - Lead in Otello, part he developed carrying a gibus (5,3) – {O}{PERA H{A}T*}

9 - Plant, rosy in bloom, Faith cultivated outside (9) – {F{ORSY*}THIA*}

11 - Master has little time during bad defeat to be upset (5) – {T}{UTOR*}
12 - One who makes a bit? (7) – LORIMER [E]
13 - Notice one model is fatty (7) – {AD}{I}{POSE}
14 - A Vivien Leigh role, as Charlotte, baroque artist (8,5) – {SCARLETT O’HA*}{RA}

17 - Magazine's article about me in a Cheshire town (9,4) – {ELLE’S}{ME}{RE PORT} Had to cheat on this one
21 - Breakfast dish made by great Italian round Los Angeles (7) – {GRAN}{O}{LA}
22 - Former social worker without equal, covering miles on runs (7) – {AL{M}ONE}{R}
24 - Country home needs help sent over (5) – {IN}{DIA<-}
25 - Dame's with German husband in siege town (9) – {LADY’S}{MIT}{H}
26 - Discount boy not working (4,4) – {MARK} {DOWN}
27 - Make fun of post at college (4,2) – {SEND} {UP}
DOWN
1 - Flies flying round the French flat (8) – {LIFE{LES}S*}
2 - Mistake admitted by conjuror, really upset (5) – ERROR [T<-]
3 - Shocking times, wearing a shortened mini! (7) – {A}{BY}{SMALl}
5 - Operate without assistance, as one into patience will (4,1,4,4) – PLAY A LONE HAND [CD]
6 - Nastier fizzy Greek wine (7) – RETSINA*
7 - Recently stolen on Jersey? That could be a controversial issue (3,6) – {HOT} {POTATO}
8 - Aim at goal (6) – TARGET [DD]
10 - Not at all credible, bird under car being clipped (4,2,7) – {HARD TOp} {SWALLOW}
15 - Unexpectedly relaxed about article, the leader of the band? (9) – {ALEX{AN}DER*}
16 - Sailors aboard vessel, science fiction craft (8) – {S{TARS}HIP} The picture of USS ENTERPRISE below is from my all time favourite serial 'Star Trek'

18 - US writer's come over to be entertained by fat cat (7) – {L{EOP<-}ARD}

19 - Man sees shapes in a body (2,5) – EN MASSE*
20 - Discrimination shown in shocking images (6) – AGEISM*
23 - Diana disguised as a nymph (5) – NAIAD*

GRID