No 13127, Thursday 24 Dec 2020, Arden

Solution to 23A has been deliberately left unsolved and is to be answered only by a non-regular / novice commenter, with proper annotation. Those who have answered earlier in the week, please give others a chance.

ACROSS

1   Passing comments — final notice before a direct broadcast (6,5) OBITER DICTA {OBIT}{A+DIRECT}*

7   Starts counting only dead fish (3) COD Acrostic

9   Quiet listener, is trim (5) SHEAR {SH}{EAR}

10 Love and leave, perhaps new money is invested (9) VALENTINE {VALE{N}{TIN}E*}

11 Dropped down a cliff — having committed a crime, hide inside (9) RAPPELLED {RAP{PELL}ED}

12 Muck around in Emil’s place (5) SLIME<=

13 Regularly seen before defeat, last one on the way (2,5) EN ROUTE {sEeN}{ROUT}{onE}

15 The Spanish chic rejects flower (4) NILE {EL}{IN}<=

18 Two dimensions a metre apart meet, reportedly (4) LAMB {L}{A}{M}{B} Definition not understood (Addendum - (~ meat = lamb) - See comments)

20 To be cut with any switch blade (7) BAYONET {TO+BE+ANY}*

23 Pound — to book takes some time (5) T?R?B (Addendum - THROB {TO}{HR}{B} - See comments)

24 Exciting business, with our full assembly (9) COLOURFUL {CO}{OUR+FULL}*

26 View over Vatican is right for the tourist (9) SIGHTSEER {SIGHT}{SEE}{R}

27 Something to eat and drink (5) TOAST [DD]

28 Very much dead under the earth (3) SOD {SO}{D}

29 Ultra fashionable in espousing extreme left-wing views (7,4) RADICAL CHIC {RADICAL}{CHIC} [C&DD]

DOWN

1   He watches over the newspaper (8) OBSERVER [DD]

2   Amateurish, inactive, retains 50% hope (8) INEXPERT (Addendum - {IN{EXPect}ERT} - See comments)

3   Notes anger welling up inside — it’s strange (5) EERIE {E}{IRE<-}{E}

4   Grant’s first lady briefly liked to travel north (7) DEVOLVE {EVe}{LOVED}<=

5   Boy stopped — once made fine pottery (7) CELADON {CE{LAD}ON*}

6   Children’s play with relative’s friend (4,5) AUNT SALLY {AUNTS}{ALLY}

7   Weeps having lost energy — is the situation so serious? (6) CRISIS {CRIeS}{IS}

8   Flower holder for mushroom? (6) DEEPEN {DEE}{PEN}

14 Capital on a brutal reformation (9) ULANBATOR* Enu Should be (4,5)

16 Relay final, remains to be seen immediately (2,1,5) IN A FLASH {FINAL}*{ASH}

17 What one needs to be lithe and act fit (8) ATHLETIC {LITHE+ACT}* &lit

19 Crook nabs Bill King, becomes stern (4,3) BACK END {B{AC}{K}END}

20 Bob Aldrich had worn a belt of sorts (7) BALDRIC [T]

21 Assist flow when blood flow is restricted (6) STASIS*

22 Force hard when cold (6) FRIGID {F}{RIGID}

25 Pending fund, still at the centre (5) UNTIL {fUNd+sTILl}

Reference List

Quiet = SH, New = N, Money = TIN, The in Spansh = EL, Dimension L & B, Metre = M, Book = B, Some time = Hour = HR,Vatican = SEE, Right = R, Dead = D, Note = E, Energy = E, Bill AC, King = K, Force = F