1: Companion to take care of worker (9)

5: Batsman leaves cry-baby on the wagon (5)

8: Modernise rear, in the opinion of escort (5,2,2,4)

10: Boy gripping top of pine tree (5)

12: Offering resistance, cattle run wild (9)

14: Freeze one mug filled with tea, essentially (3,2)

15: One going to a higher court backing Father George, cardinal worker (9)

18: Simple addition in cult film (4,5)

19: A garden ornament makes men go mad (5)

20: Friendly over age of consent? (9)

22: Hordes of unions' speakers (5)

24: Unfortunate rot in republic is everlasting (13)

26: Transgression if turning end in Marseille (5)

27: 16-down cousin waves at gorilla (9)

1: Pathological bumbler holds a record (5)

2: Complain about the horse (3)

3: Electrical units losing energy . . . and . . . and . . . (9)

4: One who lives under bridges and eats billy goats and fish (5)

5: Girl hatches subterfuge in prison tower (11)

6: Later round without an opponent (3)

7: True side (5)

9: Manager of Shanghai operation is one who is making an impact? (9)

11: Goes through ere sixpence circulates (11)

13: Ace practised a lot by female golfer in a state of decline (2,1,3,3)

14: Frost to cover the cake (3)

16: Everlasting variety for Peter and Paul (9)

17: Draw the knot (3)

20: A clown circled at a distance (5)

21: Chiefly toast mother country (5)

23: Navigate by terse directions (5)

24: In no state to contain a pregnant virgin? (3)

25: Draw a stomach uprising (3)