Across
1
Boy with girlfriend is in French musical party (8)
5
Endlessly ask and ask for yoga positions (6)
9
Intermittently, scout in Verdun shot straight (8)
10
Has a king’s backing about British stronghold in North Africa (6)
12
Deal with some theatre attendants (5)
13
Active old criminal’s hedonistic life (5,4)
14
Of which a draw ahead of others constitutes a win? (6,6)
18
Annual study period in America mostly decays, unfortunately (8,4)
23
Long thread about End of Empire (5)
24
Infuriate a Green liberal (6)
25
One wooing Macron upset former queen (8)
26
Tracks onset of sudden change in USA (6)
27
* skater is all over the place (8)
Down
1
First pair of questions in National Curriculum assessment exercises (6)
2
Fundamental parts in clue edited (6)
3
Excellent start, performing in sack (5-4)
4
A lot of sheepdogs flit about showing maximum pace? (5,2,5)
6
Hackneyed opening in short story (5)
7
Beat interrupts writers in old clubs (8)
8
Sentimentality of school head avoiding dance (8)
11
Bye-bye old Sue’s poorly pets? (4-4,4)
15
Where vigilant Customs official might look, however (2,3,4)
16
Juliet’s lot permits supporting better university (8)
17
On which you’d log who arses about (8)
19
Chinese system, one-third Taoism and two-thirds I Ching (3,3)
22
Mean to investigate Guy’s Hospital Trust, initially (5)