Cryptic crossword No 1,785

Thanks jugular, good fun. A few raised eyebrows (including the double unches in 1d and 18d) but I think you can be forgiven for meeting the 15^2 challenge! Some very well-spotted wordplay opportunities in here. My favourites were: 10a, 19a, 27a, 5d and 21d. Spoiler ...

Sorry to be slow getting to this - though I suppose it's only been two days. This was plenty of fun. And you have risen well to the 225 challenge which I must have missed. Faves inc 4a, 11a (for the fun tho' not 100% on the indicator), 19a (ditto), 26a, 27a, 3d, 7d, 23d. Thanks. PM

Thanks Jugular, good fun and double-unches forgiven for admirably rising to the 'challenge'. Faves include 4a, 27a, 3d, 21d & 23d, plus 11a & 19a with caveats a la PM. Thanks again!

Haha that was fun, I wasn’t aware of the ‘challenge’ but smiled when the penny dropped! 😁 Podium: 4a, 26a, 10d. Minor quibble in reply. Thanks!