1: Upset expression of surprise follows failure of comic take-off (5)
2: Expressed willingness to be away before start of day (7)
3: Many sound prospects for prospectors (5)
4: Playwright rethinking copyright wrangle (4,7)
5: Top card? Excellent! (3)
6: Write to Dee about American the French roughed up (7)
7: Agree to make Lucifer wicked? (3)
8: Sahl joke: House's last two loan agreements (9)
12: Hostile warning: one man has captured the queen (11)
13: Ball tops over-ripe bananas (3)
14: Photographers showed up with noodle soup (9)
17: Without it, set call for recompense (3)
18: Usually regret about loss follows start of stint in AA (2,1,4)
20: Talk about rent for a piece of property (7)
23: Pitchers were transported south (5)
24: An inadequate food? (5)
26: In all, just a little peak. (3)
27: Infection leads from partly uncooked steak (3)