Across:
1 Engaged (BOOKED) in 1984 (George Orwell’s 1984 = BOOK-) to one of those working on The Paper (-ED) (BOOKED),
4 Unprepared (OFF GUARD) for unfriendly (OFF) defender (GUARD) (OFF GUARD),
9 Have a go at another sketch (REDRAW) of retiring (= reversal indicator) prison officer (warder = REDRAW),
10 They’re intermediaries between the banks (FERRYMEN) for transport (FERRY-) workers (-MEN) (FERRYMEN),
12 Completely reserved (BOOKED OUT) by 1 across (‘booked’ = BOOKED) going on holiday (OUT) (BOOKED OUT),
13 Selectors to drop Ross (‘selectors’ to drop ‘Ross’ = elect = ELECT) or give him the seat? (ELECT),
14 The Buick stops here presumably (Buick car stops at TRAFFIC LIGHT) for Amber (TRAFFIC LIGHT),
18 Those holding grudges against others (SCOREKEEPERS) in the game involved with The Count (SCOREKEEPERS),
21 Peer (EQUAL) is well-qualified to dismiss wildlife (‘well-qualified’ to dismiss ‘wildlife’ = equal = EQUAL),
22 That man (H-E) admits making up (= anagram indicator) scoop or (scoop or = -OROSCOP-) (HOROSCOPE) feature in the newspaper about the stars (HOROSCOPE),
24 Rapid decline (FREE FALL) of independent (FREE) initially frustrating (initially ‘frustrating’ = F-) to everyone (-ALL) (FREE FALL),
25 Ingredient missing from Distance Learning (‘ingredient’ missing from ‘distance learning’ = saclan = CANALS) found in the streets of Venice perhaps (CANALS),
26 Consider in a different light (REASSESS) most of (l) the actual (“real” without “l” = REA-) engineering (-E-) found in two ships (SS-SS) (REASSESS),
27 Concealed (UNSEEN) perhaps the identity of The Invisible Man (UNSEEN).
Down:
1 Watering-hole for the highflyers perhaps (BIRDBATH) and the chick (BIRD-) from the hot tub (-BATH) (BIRDBATH),
2 Lodger in The Shoe (‘There was an OLD WOMAN who lived in a shoe ...’) dated (OLD) and won (WO-N) over Frenchman (Monsieur = -M-) on second date (second ‘date’ = -A-) (OLD WOMAN),
3 Stay away from (EVADE) First Lady (EV-E) over Bill (-AD-) (EVADE),
5 They reject orthodox beliefs (FREETHINKERS) not held (FREE-) by philosophers (-THINKERS) (FREETHINKERS),
6 Hedge or an (hedge or an = GARDEN HOE) alternative (= anagram indicator) for the horticulturist looking to clear the weeds (GARDEN HOE),
7 Military band (ARMLET) in Montreal fails to get on (‘Montreal’ fails to get / without ‘on’ = mtreal = ARMLET),
8 Discount rate doesn’t include rustic (‘discount rate’ doesn’t include ‘rustic’ = donate = DONATE) present (present/gift = DONATE),
11 Criminal (CON -) is bound to win race (-CERT) for The House (HALL-), starting speculation (starting ‘speculation’ = -S) (CONCERT HALLS) those doing the singing have scores to settle here? (CONCERT HALLS),
15 They have an impact on Features (FACELIFTS), as they promise to make changes along those lines (FACELIFTS),
16 Last month (DEC-), old (-O-) judge (-RATE) (DECORATE) produced paper (paper = DECORATE),
17 Welcomes (USHERS IN) in America (US-) for that woman (-HER-) mentioned in confession (sin = -S IN) (USHERS IN),
19 The man in Ring (man in boxing ring = referee = RE-F-) keeps key (music key = -E-) that opens entrance rattling (opens ‘entrance rattling’ = -ER) (REEFER) in jacket (REEFER jacket),
20 Set up (= reversal indicator) for take (take) mostly (t) (‘take’ without ‘t’ = ake = -EKA) on nice street (Nice/French ‘street’ = rue = EUR-) (EUREKA) for A Cry of Joy (EUREKA),
23 Thespian misses the (‘thespian’ misses ‘the’ = spian = SPAIN) old country in Europe (SPAIN).