5  Oval shaped bath containing, say, a boar's head (3,5)

 9  Chain letters for Spooner arriving at his place of work (3,7)

10 Trace notes (4)

11 Label firmly established, presumably, in BC period? (8)

12 Mum's outside in an instant (6)

13 Those providing cursory direction? (4)

15 14 and 28 getting together for the answer? (5,3)

18 Strange secretion flowing without end (8)

19 Maiden followed by key single, perhaps (4)

21 Utterly evil warrior (6)

23 Luxury car seemed improper outside church (8)

25 Study conclusion of Great Depression (4)

26 One giving thumbs-up to 20 25, perhaps (5-5)

27 Consignment of French dressing (8)

28 Mix bait to be added to trap (6)

 2  She made tracks for 19, 21 and 25 (5)

 3  Mastermind contestant on vacation after upset in dodgy race (9)

 4  Canary or chicken? (6)

 5  Union with 100 percent strike record? (3,7,5)

 6  Always revere criminal concealing working method (8)

 7  Those responsible for promoting oddly deficient Saudi soldiers (5)

 8  It's one absorbing Doctor Who battle (4,5)

14 Perfidious batting, following on (9)

16 Lamenting addition of fruit to three quarters of cake (9)

17 Note time taken by Hook's craft (8)

20 Not Martha's regular Thursday clothes (6)

22 Clobber openers in Galle - England team under pressure (3-2)

24 Drug certainly taken up (5)