Cryptic crossword No 1,769

Spoilery background in reply …

Congratulations on your first 50, Coot. A fine achievement. And this is a delightful puzzle with which to mark it. Not too tricky most of the way through but I got somewhat held up in the NW before the PDM with 2d and finally making sense of 9a. Plenty to like inc 10a, 11a, 20a, 2d, 8d, 17d, 20d, 21d and 26d. Spoilers in reply. Thanks. PM

Thanks Coot, what a great crossword to mark a milestone. My top picks were 10a, 11a, 16a, 28a, 2d, and 17d. My only 'reveal' was 21d. Spoiler in reply.

Congratulations Coot, quite a milestone! Thanks for an enjoyable puzzle, favourites included 20a, 22a, 24a, 27a, 2d, 20d, (and TIL what 6d meant!), cheers and congrats!

Fabulous - congratulations Coot! Liked 4a, 15a, 24a, 27a, 8d and 17d. Spoilers follow ->

Well done on the milestone, Coot, and an excellent puzzle with which to mark it! I actually - and I can't believe I'm saying this - found this reasonably gentle with 11a my COTD, but 10a, 27a, 3d, 21d, 23d also earning admiration. Bravo

Congratulations Coot, and a lovely puzzle to boot! I particularly liked 11a, 4d, 17d, and 26d.

Lovely stuff, thanks Coot - congratulations on the milestone! Podium 3d, 8d & 25d. Spoilers ...

Congratulations on the milestone, Coot! I have to say I found this a lot trickier than others seem to have, needing a good amount of reveals. Favourites were 10a, 11a, 20a, 27a, 29a, 2d, 7d, 16d, 21d, 25d (COTD) and 26d...

Rather slow to say congrats here as I solved in two sittings – but congrats! A bit tricky for me in places but very entertaining. Podium 16a, 26a and 3d. Thanks

Wonderful stuff Coot, and congratulations! 4a, 9a, 6d, 17d, 21d the highlights. Thanks!

Well done Coot on reaching your half-century. An enjoyable puzzle, my favourites being 10a, 11a (which combines a Boris dig, always welcome, with a brilliant misdirection), 27a, 3d (I'll even forgive you for reminding me of Sportswashing City FC), 4d, 7d and 26d. I always think that clever clues for very short words are among the most difficult things to do, and you succeed brilliantly.