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Thanks Chrise, 27 ac. confused me too the only fitting answer is a verb form
Never heard of Quid in relation to puff puff but with Paul I am always on a learning curve.....

Hi roof
Yes, very common word. I can't give any more hints without spoiling, but the structure is
XX XXX X X

roof,
Look up second meaning of quid in TCD. A word ending in O.

Have worked out the parsing for 27 across, the centre is a famous Kipling poem reversed! Surrounded by 'something written....

Still haven't the foggiest about the parsing for 5 d

'Female bird mpressed by male's train, I see? (6)'

I'm not seeing "something written" for the rest of my answer, playbus!

Seen in the other forum. For 5d.

And a female swan is a PEN, impressed (AH!) by a male’s train (E, the last letter of male.).

Thanks sunray.
Hmmmm!

20, 14.. Initial followed by the actor's surname + 2 words meaning free...

19 the last 4 letters are a chess piece (man.)

19a.
Think of the opposite of fat.
Put 2 letters before it to make it fat.
Man is a piece in Chess.