4  Substituted for champ (5)

 7  Regularly claims benefit (3)

 8  Metal brick made of top grade iron, essentially removed carbon and hydrogen beforehand (5)

 9  Some relish a lyrical following (5)

10 Couple really enjoying pouring away french wine (3)

11 Apologetic murderers gutlessly admit evil (5)

14 Order, frightfully elegant (5)

17 Rest by adopting posh new name (5)

19 Snug places of early development (5)

22 Japanese sash is clothing of Honshu baby, at first (3)

23 Eggs, cooked essential ingredients of omelet (5)

25 Espresso drink made in entertaining new way, at last (5)

26 Witness firm earning nothing (3)

27 Exalt alternative rock (5)

28 Express scorn very loudly, interrupting rolling drunkard (5)

 1  Late rising, swallows last of breakfast and spews (5)

 2  Cat cage covers almost all of cat (5)

 3  Eccentric, starting to tease, jazzed to take clothes off (5)

 4  Gourd, oddly, could be carved up (5)

 5  Negating gate story negating gate (3)

 6  Attack targets (5)

12 Turn over dead nocturnal bird (3)

13 Show regret for expelling head boy (3)

15 Very quiet, concealing one expression of surprise (3)

16 Name a number to move up and down (3)

17 Overwhelm director's first scenes (5)

18 Gang is lucky when last mafia member goes to Italian capital (5)

19 Tricks foolishly made mockery out of me (5)

20 Firearm with novelty casing and dull finish (5, US sp)

21 Rigid, head-to-tail unqualified (5)

24 Triumphant cheer when one tucks into starters of baked beans (3)