The Sunday Crossword No 2942, Sunday 07 May 2107

ACROSS
1   Unjustified when beginning to exult in praise (8) BASELESS {B{AS}{Ex..t}LESS}
5   Unpleasant, chased by police (6) RANCID {RAN}{CID}
9   Verbal attack reflected support by social group (8) DIATRIBE {AID<=}{TRIBE}
10 Still endless criticism about volunteers (6) STATIC {S{TA}TICk}
11 Excited fans stir champ to show skill (13) CRAFTSMANSHIP*
14 Observe, with obvious hesitation, startling event (3-6) EYE-OPENER {EYE}-{OPEN}{ER}
16 Passage in article with silly lies (5) AISLE {A}{LIES}*
18 Skinflint lives alone finally in room after retirement (5) MISER {IS}{a..nE} in {RM<=}
19 Awkward guy at back of house, very withdrawn (3,2,4) ILL AT EASE {vILL A}{T EASE}
20 Hysterical team becoming disunited (4-9) SIDE-SPLITTING {SIDE}-{SPLITTING}
24 Encourage appeal in stirring vein (6) INVITE {INV{IT}E*}
25 Be clear, worried about king being intellectual (8) CEREBRAL {BE+CLEAR}* around {R}
26 Number with link receiving constant attention (6) NOTICE {NO}{TI{C}E}
27 Excellent price attached to object protected by cover (8) SPLENDID {SP}{L{END}ID}

DOWN
1   Mass in depth grasped by child (4) BODY {BO{D}Y}
2   Seekers in vault taken in by prophets (9) SEARCHERS {SE{ARCH}ERS}
3   Los Angeles artist admitting very immature form (5) LARVA {LA}{R{V}A}
4   Unhappily abstain, lust being considerable (11) SUBSTANTIAL*
6   Steward at start of trip unusually tanned (9) ATTENDANT {AT}{Trip}{TANNED}*
7   Surprise in contract (5) CATCH [DD]
8   Resolve, endlessly receiving pressure, at this point cracked (10) DECIPHERED {DECI{P}{HERE}De}
12 Actress, knowing about upset, in bad temper (5,6) MERYL STREEP {SLY}{RE}<= in {TEMPER}*

13 Approval for each assignment (10) PERMISSION {PER}{MISSION}
15 Exploitative pose assumed by soldier in charge (9) PARASITIC {PARA}{SIT}{IC}
17 Astonished head of government's in step with revolutionary (9) STAGGERED {STA{Go...t}GE}{RED}
21 Digger's first turn releasing soft piece of turf (5) DIVOT {Di...r}{pIVOT}
22 Department getting some praise recently (5) ISERE [T]
23 Happy with piece of publicity following good line (4) GLAD {G}{L}{AD}

GRID