1: Toff aimed to do himself proud. (11)
8: Short line in letter back-fires (5)
9: Kidnaps sailors swimming around the Channel (7)
10: Simpletons at home with no money (9)
12: Heretic repented, holding tissue (5)
13: Bunch of devotees arouse group (3,4)
15: Defence work to smell a rat all over again (7)
16: Pattern upset clients (7)
18: Softly, French author questions socially correct behavior (2,3,2)
21: Artist back on the issue of causing inflamation. (5)
22: An oral examination is not advised if one has this sort of foresight (4,5)
24: Furniture style improper for formality (7)
25: Squeeze in a pash (5)
26: Neil lost a letter and ended up with nothing (3)
27: Missed hoax set up to trap Sunday drunk outside saloon entrance (4,5,2)