The Sunday Crossword No 3291, Sunday 28 Jan 2024

ACROSS

1   Excellent timing's provided by such sozzled comic at bars? (6,6) ATOMIC CLOCKS {COMIC+AT}*{LOCKS}

10 Top spy is key (7) CONTROL [DD]

11 Girl to have crush on is different (7) UNALIKE {UNA}{LIKE}

12 Minimal cutting of purple aster (5) LEAST [T]

13 Irrelevant fellow? (8) ACADEMIC [DD]

15 Editor flipped about paper's covering unreal spectacle (10) DREAMSCAPE {ED<=} over {REAMS}{CAP}

16 Pronounced virtuous, married off (4) ORAL mORAL

18 As they say it, man-to-man combat's involving a pair (4) DUAL (~duel)

20 One that's intended to be good moving to end of game room (10) BRIDEGROOM {BRID(-g)E(+g)G}{ROOM}

22 Unaware, as session's incomplete? Have second thoughts (8) REASSESS [T]

24 Newspaper not paying for articles? (5) THEFT {THE FT}

26 Technology adopted by one born in retreat somewhere in Kenya (7) NAIROBI {AI} in {1}{BORN}<=

27 Jazz fan with period of time in retirement for restful moments (7) CATNAPS {CAT}{SPAN<=}

28 Book is describing a set heading west (towards town famous for cake) (12) ECCLESIASTES {I{A}S} and {SET<=} after {ECCLES}

DOWN

2   In temper, find fault with weight (7) TONNAGE {TON{NAG}E}

3   Make minimal progress with book, magazine (4,4) MARK TIME {MARK}{TIME}

4   Mobile market's announced (4) CELL(~sell)

5   Eats stuff including starter of arugula with son in places you'll find rocket, etc (6,4) LAUNCH PADS {L{Ar...a}UNCH}{PAD}{S}

6   Leafy greens. Cold. Tough. (5) CHARD {C}{HARD}

7   Primarily, someone who's immersed, maybe making efforts racing? (7) SWIMMER Acrostic &lit

8   Weather system – horrible – often cold – crud! (8,5) OCCLUDED FRONT*

9   Unusually, cities are calm; find your way around again (13) REACCLIMATISE*

14 Pop star Cliff getting year with a Red Hot Chili Pepper? (5,5) SCARY SPICE {SCAR}{Y}{SPICE}

17 Eats? A contemptible type had seconds (8) AGITATES {A}{GIT}{ATE}{S} 

19 Greed's a sin, a rector's gathered (7) AVARICE {A}{V{A}{R}ICE}

21 Wagner piece? Tiresome, vacuous work (7) OPERATE {OPERA}{Ti...mE}

23 With Everyman dropping in, family mostly uncomplaining (5) STOIC {STO{I}Ck}

25 Quinoa, garlic, chia, goji: finally, a 'superfood'! (4) ACAI Tail acrostic

Reference List

Editor = ED, Married = M, Good = G, Newspaper = FT(Financial Times), Tecchnology = AI, Son = S, Cold = C, Year = Y, Seconds = S, Rector = R