Guardian Brummie 27/12

[amalgam]

I've only solved 2 clues so far, 15a and 13d, and am stumped. Any help with the top left corner or bottom right corner would be very welcome. Only a little though, I do like to do it myself if possible, a hint about the theme would also be appreciated.

[rogergeneva]

20d is fun - WANNABE wan for white, nab for collar and e the end of operative. Not sure about vantage....or vintage?

[idh]

I can also add Muckraker for 14d - mucker plus another two k's and an 'a'.

[rogergeneva]

20d seems to be wanabee

[idh]

Oops, Confused myself. I meant an R for Rex plus a K and an A in cards...

[rogergeneva]

oops senile moment. second thoughts on 18d. Could it ne LATIMER?

[cesdlv]

16a - ATYPICAL (anagram of ACT PLAY with one)

21a - BACCARAT? the game, not quite back, then I'm lost.

[rogergeneva]

cesdlv - BACCARAT - back as you say + CAR for coach and I guess A T (ense) for the rest

[idh]

13d is Actuarial.

Thanks to everyone for helping to kick-start my befugged system.

Before I came on here, I had one answer - to 9a - which was wrong, and chewing up the paper in rage was beginning to look a viable option.

Hope you all have a Happy New Year.

[netkey]

Latimer is correct

LAT(IM)ER

one = i'm
following = later

[cesdlv]

(Just had tea)

27a - RURAL DEAN

25a - MANDARIN

[cesdlv]

12a - BANTAM (nick backwards = nab, tam from tam 'o shantar, total being a publisher and a bike?

[cesdlv]

apologies, Vagrant, who got BANTAM a while ago!

[Vagrant]

how about penal for 22 (en is a printing measure, china Cockney rhyming slang - Plate/Mate?)

[Vagrant]

Which makes 23 pinion (sounds like pinnie on)

[netkey]

Penal is what I have

22a = pinion = press down

'pinnie - on' = apron wearer

[cesdlv]

....and 26a (unless that's been sorted above already!) is BLUR (BLURB without the B). And that's it. I prefer solving things on my own, but this has been a delight. Thanks, everybody.

[idh]

My apologies too to Amalgam who had 13d as Actuarial as early as the third post.

I really should learn how to read.

[Vagrant]

Thanks everyone - this joint effort has been a real pleasure.
I can normally do the Gaurdian crossword alone, but wouldn't have even got close on this one.

Happy new year!

[AHearer]

Vintage, not Vantage.

Latimer rather than Luthier? Check the across entry.

[rogergeneva]

Well thanks to amalgam for asking the first question - or the question fiirst. I was completely stuck and ready to throw in the towel. Greatly enjoyed the excitement as we moved forward. Thanks to you all and a Very Happy New Year.