An avoidable typo spoiled my taking possession of the early head of the leaderboard, but I’ll still say I got through this in 13.34, and would have been quicker if I hadn’t diligently and carefully (and fruitlessly) proof read. Mind you there was (is) one clue I can’t unravel properly, though the answer is obvious enough from the definition. There’s some GK that might not be all that G, such as the philosopher chappie and the Irish land of eternal youth which looks a lot like a misprint (it’s not).
I present clues in italics, definitions therein underlined, and SOLUTIONS.
Across
1 Good, pink paper for wrapping one’s present (4)
GIFT G(ood) F(inancial) T(imes), a famously pink broadsheet newspaper, wrapping I (one). The ‘s should be taken as “is”.
3 Certain Americans developing British mania, alas (10)
ALABAMIANS An anagram (developing) of B(ritish) MANIA ALAS. I used the anagram fodder to get the correct spelling with the I.
9 Roman general, an old man, assuming control (7)
AGRIPPA Marcus Vipsanius, buddy of Augustus Caesar with many notable victories to his name, together with the construction of great buildings such as the Pantheon in Rome. Get him from A old man: PA, taking in GRIP for control.
11 Typical farmer astride gee-gee is a funny fit! (7)
GIGGLES I did not know this, but “Farmer Giles” derives from a Tolkein fable, Farmer Giles of Ham, and has entered British and American slang as a stereotypical bumpkin farmer. Chambers says it’s CRS for piles, haemorrhoids. Place him around two G’s (spelt out in the clue)
12 Excellent ambition by worker perhaps to get one up (9)
DEFENDANT One up in court, that is. DEF for excellent, END for ambition, and ANT for the familiar (six-legged) worker.
13 Tongue? Hold it, with oxtail initially not available (5)
SHONA One of the languages of Zimbabwe. Construct it from SH for hold it, O(xtail) “initially” and N(ot) A(vailable), and hope for the best.
14 Herb repelled Scottish devil woman — but took his time? (5-7)
DILLY-DALLIED The herb is DILL, then take the Scottish version of devil, which is DEIL and a generic woman, LADY, and reverse both. Famous from “My Old Man”
18 Long digital film dealt unusually with gender ID (6,6)
MIDDLE FINGER In which digital is a noun. It’s an anagram (dealt unusually) of FILM and GENDER ID.
21 Disown niece, oddly out of order (5)
IONIC One of the orders of Greek architecture. Delete the odd letters of dIsOwN nIeCe to arrive at your solution.
22 Sort of weapon taken from NCO was carried by everyone (5-4)
SMALL-BORE The NCO is a S(ergeant) M(ajor), and “was carried by everyone” translates to ALL BORE.
24 Philosopher’s nadir: redundant, in retreat, diminished (7)
DERRIDA Jacques, 1930-2004. Even if you are not acquainted with the name, the setter has kindly reverse-hidden it (in retreat, diminished) in nADIR REDundant to make it almost unmistakeable.
25 Kenny’s outside cutting turf up (7)
SKYWARD The outside letters of KennY inside (green) SWARD for turf.
26 Filling one glass after female called (10)
FRANGIPANE A tasty filling for a tart. F(emale) RANG for called and then I (one) PANE (of) glass.
27 Postponement indeed on the way (4)
STAY As in of execution. AY for indeed stuck on to ST(reet) for way.
Down
1 Pop producers putting sum of money on promotions (8)
GRANDADS Well, your grandad did produce your father. Sum of money GRAND, promotions ADS.
2 Lots to eat? Suffolk runs out! (8)
FORKFULS Unlikely looking anagram (out) of SUFFOLK R(uns)
4 High capital growth ultimately when investing in the City (5)
LHASA The last letter (ultimately) of growtH plus AS for when, placed into LA for the city.
5 Piece of music which Swiss hero managed not to broadcast (9)
BAGATELLE The only Swiss hero everyone knows is William TELL, but where the rest of word comes from is still a mystery to me. I’ll let you know if light dawns before I post. It looks as if it might be a “sounds like” from broadcast, but…[curryowen has it! In the Tell legend. William is obliged to shoot an apple from his son’s head by the tyrranical Austrian occupying ruler Gessler, which he successfully did. So he managed not to BAG A (junior) TELL, which is what our solution sounds like (if broadcast). Crumbs!]
6 With command from military, Gaels dispersed (13)
MAGISTERIALLY An anagram (dispersed) of MILITARY GAELS.
7 Out of a book, one fed yarn (6)
ABLOOM Blink and you miss the definition. A B(ook), and something you feed yarn to is a LOOM.
8 Strut made of wood for example holds (6)
SASHAY For example gives SAY, this time, and it holds ASH for wood.
10 Near miss, perhaps: too close for comfort? (5-8)
PENNY-PINCHING Near in its sense of miserly. The random miss you need is PENNY, and the rest of the clue more or less defines the pinching bit.
15 Light seen by a lord quietly embracing religion (5,4)
ALDIS LAMP One of those signalling lights that navy ships talk to each other with. A L(or)D plus P for quietly takes in ISLAM for religion.
16 Tir nan-Og strangely left out of the picture? (8)
IGNORANT I came across Tit na nOg (my spelling) in an ancient Spectrum game which was pretty unfathomable but had surprisingly good graphics. Irish Elysium. But you don’t need to know that! It’s just the anagram (strangely) fodder.
17 Small fish sandwiches I polish off with large cordial (8)
FRIENDLY Small fish: FRY encloses I END for I polish off.
19 Not exactly a family affair following (4,2)
KIND OF A family affair is whimsically a KIN DO, add F(ollowing)
20 Girl with touching article (6)
ANDREA With gives AND, touching RE, and article just A
23 Firing from big guns upset native (5)
ARSON Big guns are R(oyal) A(rtillery) and then native gives SON, as in “Now is the winter of our discontent Made glorious summer by this son of York”
Thx setter and blogger. Hoping for a full house with Friday.