Cryptic crossword No 1,662

Lovely work PM. Highlights were 10a (LOI, great PDM!), 11a, 27a (FOI, laughed out loud), 21a, 4a (v. good).

Thanks PM, this was really fun to crack! Some brilliant clues here: 4a, 11a, 27a, 2d (I just love how casual that one sounds, haha) and 5d to name my favourites. 12d was the best of the bunch for me. Ta! :-)

Thanks PostMark, this was a 'goldilocks' crossword for me -- enough challenge to make it worthwhile but not so obtuse to be inpenetrable. (Let me know how you do that!) In any event my top choices were 20a (COTD), 21a, 23a, 27a, 2d, and 8d. I didn't know 1a. Nice work.

Thanks PM, top stuff - towards the friendlier end of your spectrum? Faves include 4a, 11a, 14a, 16a, 21a, 27a, 2d, 4d, 5d & 18d. Nicely done, thanks again!

Thanks PostMark this was a very enjoyable solve. I got some early footholds and then the rest fell steadily in a satisfying way. I love clues like 5d, I imagine you spotted Martini in the fodder and then had your work cut out on the surface? Really good. Other favourites were 14a (great spot and surface/def combo), 21a, 24a, 4d (though it took me an embarrassingly long time, given the answer), 18d, 22d and 25d (timely!).

First one of yours I've finished without reveals. Very satisfying solve with some really clever clues. 14a my favourite. Cheers!

Smooth, and a good stretch. The &lits are a delight.

Top stuff PM, can only echo the prior commentary and list a very pleasing set of favourite clues: 1a (neat), 4a (delightful), 10a (cute), 13a (smooth), 20a (nice), 27a (fun), 2d (neat), 4d (very neat), 5d (delightful) and 22d (neat) - bravo!

I did it PM! The two-day break helped - it mostly fell into place when I returned to it. Thanks, lots of great stuff, my picks being 14a, 17a, 21a, 23a, 3d, 12d and 22d. Spoilers …

Late to this but glad I stopped by! Trademark smooth surfaces and devious synonyms all over the place. Faves: 4a, 14a, 18a, 23a, 27a, 12d and 25d. Thanks!

Can only echo others PM - a very high class puzzle with, in 4a, the best &Lit I have seen in a long time followed by another goodun in 13a. Truth be told I had to reveal in places as some clues/defs proved too tricky for me, but faves, in addition to the &Lits, were 9a, 10a, 14a, 23a, 27a, 2d, 3d, 4d, 7d, 22d.

Thanks PM, I'm very late indeed to this, but it was worth the wait. 4a, 14a, 27a, and 12d were my picks, but COTD goes to the Hoskins-esque 18a