No 13180, Thursday 25 Feb 2021, Arden

Solution to 16A  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   Tease about vegetable, and run to copy an actor (7,6) RICHARD BURTON {RI{CHARD}B}{RUN+TO}*

10 A peg’s good for repeating (5) APING {A}{PIN}{G}

11 Spiked over, it’s on volume (9) DECALITRE {LACED<=}{IT}{RE}

12 Talk on “Harbours harbouring old stronghold” (4,5) HOLD FORTH {H}{OLD}{FORT}{H}

13 Everyone heard him in town (5) CRIER [CD]

14 The French stop taking interest in such relationships (7) LESBIAN {LES}{B{I}AN}

16 In Russia no restricting speed for a Lolita, perhaps (7) N?M?H?T (Addendum - NYMPHET {NY{MPH}ET} - See comments)

18 Trained terrier, one who is out of service (7) RETIRER*

20 Perfect example of a story book, about to be banned (7) EPITOME {EPIc}{TOME}

22 Flower almost at the back (5) ASTER ASTERn

24 Chinese delicacy — a tailless cat which no one wants to deal with (3,6) HOT POTATO {HOTPOT}{A}{TOm}

26 Bottom’s bust — direction to jump from a cliff (9) TOMBSTONE {BOTTOMS}*{NE}

27 Go right into a cheap bar (5) DRIVE {D{R}IVE}

28 Another pair connected — always gets hurt (8-5) ACCIDENT-PRONE*

DOWN

2   They just hang around in freezing weather, aren’t working electricians (7) ICICLES eLECtrICIanS*

3   Person with lot of ability will reach greater heights, says Spooner (4,5) HIGH FLIER (fly higher to high flier)

4   Rights to catch fish added as an additional clause (5) RIDER {R}{IDE}{R}

5   Old priestess finds mantra in book one (9) BACCHANTE {B}{AC{CHANT}E}

6   In the barrel I can fill what’s left over (5) RELIC [T]

7   On set, every other character is funny, but it never takes off (7) OSTRICH {On+SeT}{RICH}

8   Do just before saying “I do” (8,5) BACHELOR PARTY [CD]

9   King’s collecting ground rent, hope to acquire skills (5,3,5)  LEARN THE ROPES {LEARS}* over {RENT+HOPE}*

15 Direction followed by European to name a geographical feature (5,4) NORTH POLE {NORTH}{POLE}

17 Lie ramrod straight if you want it delivered home (4,5) MAIL ORDER*

19 Steering committee discharged me — it’s symbolic (7) TOTEMIC COMmITTEe*

21 No bar on using new ideas, gets the applause (7) OVATION innOVATION

23 Indian saint has turned European from top to bottom (5) RISHI (-i)RISH(+i)I

25 Intent is to pick right flower (5) TRENT {T{R}ENT}

Reference List

Good = G, On = RE, Harbour = H, The in French = LES, Interest = I, No in Russian = NYET, About = C, Right = R, Book = B