No 2673, Sunday 12 Feb 12

ACROSS
1   - A stubborn type beginning to trust a lucky charm (6) - AMULET {A}{MULE}{T}
4   - Drink one with a girl after time (3,5) - TIA MARIA {T}{I}{A} {MARIA}

9   - Choked, the lord upset about IOM race (9) - THROTTLED {THRO{TT}LED*}
11 - Unusual paperback? (5) - NOVEL [DD]
12 - I frame Swedish director seducing new Swedish actress (6,7) - INGRID BERGMAN {I}{N}{GRID} {BERGMAN}

14 - Device that spins to and fro (7) - ROTATOR <-> &lit
15 - Drink, more bubbly, for top boss (7) - SUPREMO {SUP}{MORE*}
17 - Hear about old shocking event (7) - TRAGEDY {TR{AGED}Y}
19 - Brief increase in small dried grapes (7) - RAISINS {RAISe}{IN}{S}
21 - Medal winner? Initial clue required? (8,5) - VICTORIA CROSS {VICTOR}{1A CROSS}

24 - Child about to leave Mediterranean island (5) - MINOR MINORca
25  - Not fully satisfied, cook eats a tin around one (9) - INSATIATE {INSAT{I}ATE*}
26 - Copy of short specification - mine smudged (8) - SPECIMEN {SPEC+MINE}*
27 - Perhaps fly home ahead of party (6) - INSECT {IN}{SECT}
DOWN
1    - Sadly it's a threat, if the situation stays as it is (2,4,4) - AT THIS RATE*
2    - Just out of bed? Correct (7) - UPRIGHT {UP}{RIGHT}
3    - New titles composed for famous bass guitarist (9) - ENTWISTLE*
5    - Popular group struggling badly (2,4,7) - IN DIRE STRAITS {IN} {DIRE STRAITS}

6   - Note small car on motorway (5) - MINIM {MINI}{M}
7   - Earnings, extremely remunerative on location (7) - REVENUE {R)(E}{VENUE}
8   - Supporter in mass meeting, losing head (4) - ALLY rALLY
10 - Celebrity bid stupidly to secure old undergarment (7,6) - LIBERTY BODICE {LIBERTY B{O}DICE*}

13 - Pleased about half-sister being true to priniciples (10) - CONSISTENT {CON{SISter}TENT}
16 - Royal taken over to northern university (9) - PRINCETON {PRINCE}{TO}{N}
18 - Further loan (7) - ADVANCE [DD]
20 - Cut off, one very much overdue (7) - ISOLATE {I}{SO}{LATE}
22 - A dog may be company on rig at sea (5) - CORGI {CO}{RIG*}
23 - Prophet from Arabia - Moses? (4) - AMOS [T]