| Across | Answers and Clues | Explanations |
| 1 | PASSAGE | |
| Silver lining used in dated part of book (7) | AG inside PASSE | |
| 5 | GRIPPE | |
| Crook pop singer not affected by son’s influenza (6) | Anagram of POP SINGER minus SON | |
| 9 | CARDS | |
| Vehicle died close to this bridge, for example (5) | CAR + D + thi(S) | |
| 10 | TANTALISE | |
| Lead on bronze is featured in report (9) | TAN + (IS inside TALE) | |
| 11 | LUMINOUS | |
| Obvious swelling reduced a little bit by one with nous (8) | LUM(P) + I + NOUS | |
| 12 | GIFTED | |
| Brilliant condition documented in great edition (6) | IF inside GT + ED | |
| 14 | ELECTIONEERING | |
| Notice greenie not happy about Labor leader’s political campaign (14) | Anagram of NOTICE GREENIE outside (L)abor | |
| 16 | CARPET-SWEEPERS | |
| Cleaners and carers eating Favourites, shed tears (6-8) | CARERS outside (PETS + WEEP) | |
| 20 | SECURE | |
| Find out about dog in the bag (6) | SEE outside CUR | |
| 22 | TEENAGER | |
| Sort of agreement not catering for male adolescent (8) | Anagram of AGREEMENT minus M | |
| 24 | EXPLAINED | |
| Former head of personnel backed rejection and provided clarification (9) | EX + (P)ersonnel + DENIAL reversed | |
| 25 | IGLOO | |
| Man leaving Mongolia strangely bound for White House? (5) | Anagram of MONGOLIA minus MAN | |
| 26 | GASKET | |
| It helps seal request listed in contract (6) | ASK inside GET | |
| 27 | DESTROY | |
| Get rid of contaminated oyster after outbreak of disease (7) | Anagram of OYSTER after (D)isease | |
| Down | Answers and Clues | Explanations |
| 1 | PICKLE | |
| Fix tool left 12 inches short (6) | PICK + LEFT minus FT | |
| 2 | SCRAMBLER | |
| Off-road motorcycle, as such, oddly used by drifter (9) | (S)u(C) + RAMBLER | |
| 3 | ARSENIC | |
| Crane is sprayed with a toxic element (7) | Anagram of CRANE IS | |
| 4 | ENTHUSIASM | |
| The man is mistaken about American relish (10) | Anagram of THE MAN IS outside US | |
| 5 | GANG | |
| Part of song angered close-knit group (4) | sonG ANGered | |
| 6 | IMAGINE | |
| Picture that is on cover of publication currently popular (7) | IE outside (MAG + IN) | |
| 7 | PAINT | |
| Describe one wearing short trousers (5) | I inside PANT(s) | |
| 8 | SEA DOG | |
| Pirate goes wildly around carrying a dissenter’s head (3,3) | Anagram of GOES outside [A + (D)issenter] | |
| 13 | UNDEFENDED | |
| Euros invested in dodgy fund finished exposed (10) | E inside anagram of FUND + ENDED | |
| 15 | IRREGULAR | |
| Unusual German gun turned up in possession of IRA, right? (9) | LUGER reversed inside (IRA + R) | |
| 16 | CASTER | |
| Time put into lawsuit by river fisherman, for example (6) | T inside CASE + R | |
| 17 | EARMARK | |
| Tag mare knocked around by animal transporter (7) | Anagram of MARE + ARK | |
| 18 | PANTIES | |
| Underwear and neckwear shipped in containers (7) | TIE inside PANS | |
| 19 | BROODY | |
| Heartless boy holding crucifix is introspective? (6) | B(o)Y outside ROOD | |
| 21 | CUPPA | |
| Drink finished by executive’s offsider after start of course (5) | (UP + PA) after (C)ourse | |
| 23 | KNOT | |
| Boss’s number replacing one in kit (4) | (NO for I) inside KIT |
