No 2552, Sunday, 27 Sep 09

ACROSS
1 - Combo's leader plays soppy love song (7) – {C}{ALYPS*}{O}
5 - Became unwell on top of that quarry (4,3) – {TOO}{K ILL}
9 - Certain garments are wet - our slacks (9) – OUTERWEAR*
10 - Conspirator caught in José's house? (5) – CAS{C}A
11 - Brontë heroine describing one in nest (5) – EYR{I}E
13 - Poor Estonian in possession of black robe worn by heretics (9) – SAN{B}ENITO*
14 - A lifeboat crew may celebrate (4,3,4,3) – PUSH THE BOAT OUT
16 - Book what the holidaymaker wants? (1,4,4,1,4) – A ROOM WITH A VIEW
20 - Continues to squeeze hooter upon return (7,2) – {PRESS}{ES ON<-} )
21 - Belief expressed by everyone initially entering marquee (5) – TEN{E}T
22 - The Parisian in prison is innocent (5) – C{LE}AN
23 - Where one may eat curry across channel (9) – G{RILL}ROOM Didn't know this meaning of curry, always thought of it as 'Sambar' etc!!
25 - Hot abbreviated version, reportedly (7) – SUMMERY(~summary)
26 - Thief taking nowt in the Highlands? (7) – RUSTLER [E]
DOWN
1 - Photographs miss filling mugs (5-3) – C{LOSE}-UPS
2 - Will-o'-the-wisp's fate (3) – LOT [T]
3 - Tense cobblers in The Hunting of the Snark, say (7,8) – {PERFECT} {NONSENSE}
4 - Manage series of lines in middle of poem (7) – (-p)O{VERSE}E(-m)
5 - Boy bitten by Dorothy's dog in major city (7) – TO{RON}TO
6 - Startles scholar working in part of theatre (9,6) – ORCHESTRA STALLS*
7 - Established practice in residential home (11) – INSTITUTION [DD]
8 - Entice one lad abroad (4,2) – LEAD ON*
12 - Second eleven shown in book mate edited (7,4) – {RESERVE} {TEAM*}
15 - Couple send up unfaithful type (3-5) – {TWO}-{TIMER<-} )
17 - Learned to make fun of smart Aleck (4,3) – {WISE} {GUY}
18 - Granite ground in port (7) – TANGIER*
19 - Special cards in boxes (6) – {SP}{ACES}
24 - What can be extracted from half of olives treated? (3) – OIL(-ves)*

GRID