No 2597, Sunday 08 Aug 10

Posting from Chennai

ACROSS
1 - Noteworthy gesture (6) – SIGNAL[DD] 
4 - They may provide openings for a rock band (3,5) – THE DOORS [DD]
9 - Greek leisure film (6) – {GR}{EASE}
10 - Samaritan surprisingly run off island (8) – TASMANIAr*

12 - Novel writer - Wheatley, say (9) – {PEN}{DENNIS}
13 - Well-known college rejected daughter (5) – {NOTE<-}{D}
14 - Perry's accent confused actor (7,5) – SPENCER TRACY* Remember him as Capt Culpepper in 'It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World' great movie, remade in Hindi a few years ago.
18 - Jet he'd taken round area in spring (12) – {FOUNTAIN}{HE{A}D}
21 - Female victim in Eliot's river (5) – {F}{LOSS}
22 - Unlucky, a guy unable to relax (3,2,4) – {ILL} {A}{T EASE}
24 - Quick joke about English ship (3-5) – {ON}{E} {LINER}

25 - I name patient as a precaution (2,4) – {I}{N}{CASE}
26 - Attempt to fix a match, all but a farce (8) – {TR{A}{VEST}Y}
27 - Go away, exhausted, with Italian (4,2) – {BEAT} {IT}
DOWN
1 - One may help you along the way (8) – SIGNPOST [CD]
2 - Drink teenager brewed (5,3) – GREEN TEA*
3 - A passage from Australia is lengthy (5) – AISLE [T]
5 - Choice phrase? (5,2,5) – HEADS OR TAILS [CD]

SEE THIS CARTOON

6 - See sister in party dress about noon (9) – {DO}{MINI}{C}{AN}
7 - Decorated knight brought in to give a speech (6) – {OR{N}ATE}
8 - Drink readily available after opening of saloon (6) – {S}{HANDY}
11 - Uncompromising in nets training bats (12) – INTRANSIGENT*
15 - Not quite covered, rounding tree, bullets coming from all sides (9) – {CROSS{FIR}Ed}
16 - Greek character, in ancient Greek city, almost singled out (3,5) – {S{ET A}PARTa}
17 - A depression engulfing that female supporter (8) – {A}{D{HER}ENT}
19 - A launch at sea (6) – {A}{FLOAT}
20 - Fellow, say, visiting a wine shop (6) – {BOD}{EG}{A}
23 - Under emotional strain in past, perhaps (5) – TENSE [DD]

GRID