The Sunday Crossword No 3279, Sunday 05 Nov 2023

4010  2D, 7D

ACROSS

1   Simplest to recast with characters in unexpected places (8) MISSPELT*

5   Go silent, caught by large wildcat in retreat (4,2) CLAM UP {C}{L}{PUMA<=}

10 Table's gold dish seen first (7) PLATEAU {AU}<=>{PLATE} 

11 State to equip keen vicar at regular intervals (7)  ARMENIA {ARM}{kEeN+vIcAr}

12 Family member in French city, outspoken (5) NIECE (~nice)

13 Film director, jerk, one strutting about (9) HITCHCOCK {HITCH}{COCK}

14 Soil – mud, even – shaped for sculpture (5,2,4) VENUS DE MILO*

18 Sometimes I cavort around Penny in shameless displays (11) IMMODESTIES {SOMETIMES+I}* over {D}

21 Here we learn about girl on heath, looking back (9) CLASSROOM {C}{LASS}{MOOR<=}

23 Overly trusting in French spa town, kicked back (5) NAIVE<= 

24 Uncomfortable when travelling, gives voice to disgusted expression (7) AIRSICK {AIRS}{ICK}

25 Overwhelmed by destiny, outfit in warship (7) FRIGATE {F{RIG}ATE}

26 Evades ruses (6) DODGES [DD}

27 Let aunt off, accepting kiss that's joyous (8) EXULTANT {LET+AUNT}* over {X}

DOWN

1   Aimlessly moving, cleaning floor half-heartedly (6) MOPING MOPpING

2   Climbs up a sign (6) SCALES [DD]

3   Kept quiet, uncommunicative (9) PRESERVED {P}{RESERVED}

4   Spooner's finding canal workers ridiculous types (8,6) LAUGHING STOCKS (~staffing locks to laughing stocks)

6   Liquid you make promoting health, primarily? (5) LYMPH Acrostic &lit

7   Musical instrument that may be kept by a stoner (8) MANDOLIN [DD] 

8   Halfwit not having arisen: it's a simple form of life (8) PLANKTON {PLANK}{NOT<=}

9   Can't fix formats misapplied in children's book (9,2,3) FANTASTIC MR FOX*

15 Needed a kind of oil (9) ESSENTIAL [DD}

16 Fish in mostly beer with leafy green (8) PILCHARD {PILs}{CHARD}

17 Everyman's assigned a counterpart that's faulty (8) IMPAIRED {I'M}{PAIRED}

19 Ian and Pat involved in something that needs beating (6) PINATA*

20 Modern part of leisure centre (6) RECENT [T]

22 Share some of driver's licence (5) SLICE [T]

Reference List

Caught = C, Large = L, Gold = AU, Penny = D, About = C, Kiss = X, Quiet = P