No 2526, Sunday, 29 Mar 09

Had to scartch my head for a while, still have not managed a couple of answers
ACROSS
1 - Mind about boy pinching answer (6) - RE{A}SON
4 - Peer got harassed close to one female ward (8) - PROTEGE{E}
9 - TV series - it's funny, endless tease (6) - SIT*{COM}(-b)
10 - Girl from a French region (8) - LORRAINE [2]
12 - Daughter has more than only fish (5,4) - D{OVER} SOLE
13 - See eye to eye with a -conservationist? Not quite (5) - {A}GREE(-n)
14 - Path through the countryside an utter liar portrayed differently (6,5) - NATURE TRAIL*
18 - Jumping style shown off in horse opera part, reportedly (7,4) - WESTERN ROLL(~role)
21 - Humorist with name to memorise (5) - LEAR{N}
22 - Held back popular book (2,7) - IN RESERVE [2] Very nice double definition clue
24 - Behind the whole lot, when push comes to shove (5,3) - AFTER ALL [2] Another nice DD clue
25 - Lumber theologian place in auction (6) - SA{DD}LE
26 - How eggs may be served if done slowly (4,4) - OVER E?S?
27 - Female, 50, has spoken of a Roman goddess (6) - F{L}ORAL
DOWN
1 - I study in peace in local (8) - RES{I}{DEN}T
2 - Start to play a part, Evita, nervously (8) - {ACT}IVATE*
3 - Duck with grim smell (5) - O{DOUR}
5 - I adore joiner working in Port (3,2,7) - RIO DE JANEIRO*
6 - Informer set up boy wearing hat (9) - TAR<-{PAUL}IN
7 - Swelling, blood covering it (6) - GO{IT}RE
8 - Still supporting the Spanish sports team? (6) - EL{EVEN}
11 - Former PM defends town (5,7) - NORTH SHIELDS I had to google for this answer and guessed it after searching for the name of all the PMs of the UK
15 - Near tower, diseased mountain ash (5,4) - ROWAN TREE*
16 - Car thief brings girl, on one condition? (8) ?O?R?D?R (Addendum - JOY{RIDER})
17 - Flower girl in 1930s dance troupe? (8) - BLUEBELL ? Just a guess based on the crossings, looks correct as the Flower is right
19 - UK group steps in in US city (2,4) - EL PASO ? Got this from the crossings
20 - Chess piece thrown by the Parisian (6) - CAST{LE}
23 - Box squadron's leader, of more than average height (5) - S{TALL}