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After a slow start this was pretty quick in the end. Didn't have much joy in the acrosses at first then it all fell into place...

27A was my COD, 26A FOI, 19D LOI for some reason.

No rhyming couplets I could see at first glance.

Despite the quick finish I thought this was fairly challenging for an Everyman.

Thanks to Everyman. I thought there were many excellent clues. Couldn't figure out the long first word of 9, so I've set the puzzle aside for a while.

OK, finally got 9, which should have been quicker after solving Buccaneer's weekend FT puzzle (25a)...
Agreed, more difficult than the usual Everyman but I liked it.
FOI 11, LOI 9.
27 is COD, though narrowly over 25, 18, 1a, 1d and 2. Also enjoyed 5, 8, 10 and 16, so I congratulate Everyman on his (her?) cluing.

9D was one of my later ones as well... obviously we have never been anywhere near those sort of places!

Apparently they are less seedy than I first thought... I know who to blame... some old guy with a blonde mullet driving their reputation into the gutter ;)

Thanks Everyman....some tricky clues and particularly enjoyed 8.

Any hints on 25 across would be appreciated. Thanks

25: defn. "soldiers", results from subtracting 1 letter from a 2-word term.

10a: LOI. never heard of this tv character here. Fortunately, the crossword solver program here could get the missing letters for me.

The two long downs were my first in and I thought their endings might be a connection, and hoped another couple might appear to make the set, but it was not to be. All good though, I thought this was better than last week.