Fifteensquared

Ah, my second Falcon puzzle to blog. This proved moderately easy and somehow I even dredged CHOTA PEG (19A) out of the back of my mind. I love 20D and 10D is very cute.

Across
1. SATANIC - A (a) + TAN (bronze) in SIC[k] (disappointed no end)
5. BRANCH - B (British) + RANCH (large farm)
8. ON THE BALL - double definition
9. CREAM - [profiterol]E in CRAM (stuff)
11. TENSE - T[heatre] + anagram of SEEN
12. CHORISTER - CH (church) + OR (or) + [s]ISTER (nun needing no introduction)
14. NOAHS ARK - anagram of H (hands initially) + ANORAKS
15. DIADEM - D[uke] + anagram of I (one) MADE
17. BALLAD - BALL (dance) + AD (notice)
19. CHOTA PEG - anagram of GOT CHEAP. Chota peg is a British military slang term, Indian in origin I believe, for a short drink like a gin and tonic.
22. AGREEMENT - MEN (soldiers) in A (a) + GREET (salute)
23. AORTA - hidden word
24. ETHER - anagram of THERE. This is a clever and devious clue but also a variation on a well known theme.
25. CLEARANCE - double definition
26. DRAW IN - DR (doctor) + A (a) + WIN (secure)
27. SCRAPIE - I (one) in SCRAPE (tricky situation)

Down
1. SHOOTING BRAKE - SHOOTING (filming) + B (British) + RAKE (playboy). I am old enough to know this term well.
2. TITANIA - TITANI[c] (short film) + A (a)
3. NIECE - PIECE (board game figure) with P (pawn) changed to N (knight)
4. CHANCERY - CHANCER (opportunist) + [cla]Y
5. BALLOT - ALL (everyone) in BOT[tom] (base except Tom)
6. ARCHIVIST - anagram of THE VICAR
7. CHEATED - C[ompany] + HEATED (furious)
10. MARY MAGDALENE - anagram of ELY ANAGRAMMED
14. SCARECROW - S[hows] + CARE (concern) + C (about) + ROW (string)
16. SHATTERS - S (small) + HATTERS (milliners)
18. LURCHER - H (horse) in anagram of CRUEL. A lurcher is a hunting dog. This is the one word I did not know and had to look up.
20. PARSNIP - PAR[e] (cut, cut) + SNIP (cut)
21. BEACON - BEACON[sfield] (Bucks town)
23. AIRER - AIRE (English river) + [wei]R. The definition refers to a stand as in a frame for drying clothes.