Sunday Times Prize Crossword 4545 Sunday July 7Th 2013

[mercedita]

am stuck on two this time. 27 Across: VIP, as it were, topless - wot a babe! (6) _ E _ P _ _. (KEWPIE or SEXPOT? But why?)
14 Down: Folded film initially confused military force (6,4) _ A _ L _ D, _ I _ E. (Called time? Again, why?) Hope someone can help!

[RocW]

Like you, I am also stuck with these. I am also not sure about 20a, which I guess is "EXTENSION LEAD" although I cannot parse it, and 17d which I guess is "RUSSIA". I sort of like "MAILED FIST" for 14d but I can't get into Dean Mayer's mind on that either. There must be some clever person out there who can?

[remuera]

20a ex =dead; butterflies = tensions (as in in your stomach); lead = conduct

[Calibax]

Sexpot
VI=six(sex in Latin) + P + (w)OT

[Calibax]

RocW, I think the Mailed Fist answer was a spoonerism of Failed Mist

[RocW]

Calibax, that is REALLY cryptic! Many thanks. Mercedita, apologies for hijacking your question!

[mercedita]

That's OK, RocW! Thanks, Calibax. Gosh, these are getting harder! See you next week, fog permitting. (We had no papers at all the week before.) :-)