Independent 7548

The wordplay to three Down answers omits one letter. These letters may lead solvers to a hidden message from the setter.

ACROSS

8 Ballet dancer – high jinks linked to one in US city (8)

9 Create some resounding cheer, possibly, nothing more (2-4)

10 Some projectile apparently describing aerial manoeuvre? (4)

11 A couple of Rastafarians upset India (1-3-1)

12 One moving to front of conceited tsar (4)

13 Roman Procurator not at mansion? (4)

14 Atlases and orb reconstituted as navigational aids (10)

15 Whirls frontless lingerie items (6)

17 Ailing international group? How do you like that! (6)

21 Discuss in group Britain’s poor weather (10)

24 Area of depravity: hard core? (4)

25 Stupid plot development’s not succeeded (4)

26 One’s backing European Parliament in saga (5)

27 Target money chest (4)

28 A knight or a king? One’s unsociably absorbed (6)

29 A job worried someone changing their mind (8)

DOWN

1 What’s the point about food shop’s watermark? (8)

2 Joint and dessert for laid-back individual (6)

3 Guess I’m coming into inheritance? (8)

4 Young flappers clearly disheartened gents in a dance (7)

5 Shakespeare character: King to err, caught between loves (6)

6 Think this writer’s period about the ne plus ultra (8)

7 Actor finally entering stage, delivering part of speech (6)

16 Vagrants deserted conmen? Not good (8)

18 Affect important position? Dream on, being misguided (4-4)

19 Authors etc. I found in new edition of Tatler (8)

20 Native American’s complaint about sign of drunkenness (7)

22 Girl’s fresh or uppity (6)

23 Drunk’s encouragement to drink mostly involving cash (6)

24 Hero of Wodehouse manuscript turning up in a hole (6)