1 1948 movie of the financially well placed (7,6) SITTING PRETTY [Direct Clue]

9 A wager to royalty from an accomplice (7) ABETTOR [A + BETTOR(Wager)]

10 Make a statement and close the innings (7) DECLARE [Double Defn.]

11 Procession of cars to transport a cad to Rome (9) MOTORCADE [Anag. of A CAD TO ROME]

12 Destined to be an overweight journalist (5) FATED [FAT is overweight ED is editor aka journalist]

13 Swimmer in the red whirled about (6) REELED [EEL is the swimmer, in the RED so R eel ED]

14 How to cook steak if looking for a word of appreciation (4,4) WELL DONE [Direct Clue]

17 A nastier, new type of well (8) ARTESIAN [Anag of A NASTIER]

19 Convent superior, bachelor backs little Elizabeth (6) ABBESS [Explanation please??]

23 Critical assessment, say, of light entertainment (5) REVUE [Homophone - REVUE sounds like REVIEW, Critical assessment]

25 Erratic type of troop member (9) IRREGULAR [Explanation please??]

26 A drink for the friendly (7) CORDIAL [Double Defn.]

27 Stay due to be made difficult at this time of the week (7) TUESDAY [Anag of STAY DUE]

28 Man of few words, this business associate (6,7) SILENT PARTNER [SILENT(Man of few words) + PARTNER(Associate)]

Down

1 Speech impediment upsets m'master (7) STAMMER [Anag of M'MASTER]

2 Medico's vocation — to deal with people on time (9) TREATMENT [TREAT + MEN + T]

3 Among themselves, here printers engage in talk (5,2) INTER SE [Direct Clue??]

4 Reptile rising from its lair aggravates all (6) GARIAL [Reverse Container Clue - LAIR AGgravates]

5 Considered afresh and cashed the bonds (8) REDEEMED [Direct Clue]

6 Diplomatic fault rectified around Connecticut (7) TACTFUL [Anag of FAULT + CT]

7 It enables the baker to get a raise (5) YEAST [Direct Clue??]

8 Device operated by foot altered afresh (7) TREADLE [Anag of ALTERED]

15 Excessively burdened (9) OVERLADEN [Direct Clue]

16 Toy dog makes pop all in somehow (8) PAPILLON [Anag of POP ALL IN]

17 Fruit found in bed after almost a month (7) APRICOT [Almost APRI(L) + COT(Bed)]

18 A place is turned exceptional (7) SPECIAL [Anag of A PLACE IS]

20 A nightmare to irritate Teddy (7) BUGBEAR [BUG (Irritate) + BEAR (Teddy)]

21 Start saying invocation for an aerosol (7) SPRAYER [S + PRAYER]

22 No water in the faucet (3,3) DRY TAP [Direct Clue]

24 Agent of disease that could travel on the Internet (5) VIRUS [Direct Clue]