No 2822, No 2820, Sunday 21 Dec 2014

ACROSS
1   Good mimic could make one stare open-mouthed (4) GAPE {G}{APE}
3   Typesetter in awfully poor sitcom (10) COMPOSITOR*
10 Big city pub and clubs with no ale, surprisingly (9) BARCELONA {BAR}{C}{NO+ALE}*
11 Mostly elegant town (5) URBAN URBANe
12 Maiden on mountain in Crete's pointing to legendary king (5) MIDAS {M}{IDA}{'S}
13 Head of precinct extremely upset about Irish detective (6) POIROT {P}{O{IR}OT<=}
16 Never-ending contest à la Tom and Jerry? (3-3-5,4) CAT-AND-MOUSE-GAME Definition by example

17 Ambassador in West Germany in novel - author? (6,9) ERNEST HEMINGWAY {HE}in{WEST+GERMANY+IN}*
20 We, entertained by young socialites? They're socially inept! (6) DWEEBS {D{WE}EBS}
21 Row across river in German city (5) TRIER {T{R}IER}
24 Buddy (American) and I correspond (5) AMIGO {AM}{I}{GO}
25 Native of Lincoln checking ancestry? (9) ABORIGINE {AB{ORIGIN}E}
26 Appropriate to grieve over, say, a large sea creature (5,5) RIGHT WHALE {RIGHT} {WHALE}(~ wail)

27 Fail to hear young woman (4) MISS [DD]

DOWN
1   Leave bishop, slapped, utterly astonished (10) GOBSMACKED {GO}{B}{SMACKED}
2   Dior happy to wear favourite semiprecious stone (7) PERIDOT {PE{DIOR*}T}

4   One blew on euphonium initially, then this? (4) OBOE Acrostic
5   Mourn a VIP, a remarkable Finnish runner (5,5) PAAVO NURMI*
6   Potter's creation, and urn squire with kiln forged, with hint of turquoise inside (8,6) SQUIRREL NUTKIN {URN+SQUIRE+KILN}* over {T}
7   Girl from different habitat (7) TABITHA*
8   Telephone engineer circling number (4) RING {RI{N}G}
9   Pastoral events turned sour, resulting in uprising (8,6) PEASANTS REVOLT*
14 Obama broadcast includes bit of history, every single D-Day code name (5,5) OMAHA BEACH {OMA{H}A B*}{EACH}
15 Wonky knees worry people from Manhattan? (3,7) NEW YORKERS*
18 Indicating yes, theologian at home is brought in alcoholic drink (7) NODDING {NO{DD}{IN}G}
19 With first-rate singing partner of Elton in Honolulu beach resort (7) WAIKIKI {With}{AI}{KIKI}
22 Favourite aspect of carnival (4) FAIR {F}{AIR}
23 Black bird of prey in a hollow (4) BOWL {B}{OWL}