No 2767, Sunday 01 Dec 2013

ACROSS
1   Comic jokes about heading for Paris, a capital city (6) SKOPJE {SKO{P}JE*}
4   Behave flamboyantly in musical (8) SHOWBOAT [DD]
9   Dull day back at yard (6) DREARY {D}{REAR}{Y}
10 Forefather? No trace, unfortunately, around the south (8) ANCESTOR {ANCE{S}TOR*}
11 Cold? Olivier prepared a vitamin supplement (3-5,3) COD-LIVER OIL*
14 Demure maiden I married (3) MIM {M}{I}{M}
15 Old-fashioned, for a newspaper (6,3,5) BEHIND THE TIMES {BEHIND} {THE TIMES}
17 Authority quickly shown after suspension of early business meeting? (5,9) POWER BREAKFAST {POWER} {BREAK}{FAST}
21 Fish in the Elbe (3) EEL [T]
22 A new US state formed? That could be extremely good (5,2,1,3) SWEET  AS A NUT* 
23 Find out about record surplus (8) DISCOVER {DISC}{OVER}
25 Trouble with crew (6) WEIGHT {W}{EIGHT}
26 Set off from college in time (8) DETONATE {D{ETON}ATE}
27 Underwear from shopping complex on board ship (6) SMALLS {S{MALL}S}

DOWN
1   Win over extremely sensible leader (6) SEDUCE {SensiblE}{DUCE}
2   Finished straight behind (7) OVERDUE {OVER}{DUE}
3   Ornamental pots and wide-mouthed container with reeds in, I suspect (11) JARDINIERES {JAR}{DINIERES*}

5   Worker working with courage, honestly (4,2,5) HAND ON HEART {HAND} {ON} {HEART}
6   Had on? Runs off in misery (3) WOE WOrE
7   Prefer mother to bring one in the very best (7) OPTIMUM {OPT}{1}{MUM}
8   Dessert - it is a rum concoction (8) TIRAMISU* Favourite dessert of crossword setters.
12 Soldiers in on desert manoeuvres, getting green light (11) ENDORSEMENT {ENDORS{MEN}T*}
13 Released pent-up emotions, then forgave silly mates (3,3,5) LET OFF STEAM {LET OFF} {MATES*}
16 Marvellous spindle carved by daughter (8) SPLENDID {SPINDLE*}{D}
18 Shaft prepared, strongly built (4-3) WELL-SET {WELL}-{SET}
19 Country girl seen weaving ahead (7) SENEGAL {SEEN*}{GAL}

20 Briefly declare American position (6)  STATUS {STATe}{US}
24 Admit dress is topless (3) OWN gOWN