No 2703, Sunday 09 Sep 12

Toughie today

ACROSS
1   - Telephone back about one garden ornamental (5)  - LILAC {L{I}LAC<-}

4   - Female journalist cries then tries relaxing (3,6)  - SOB SISTER {SOB S}{TRIES*}
9   - Judges 50% of recipe books (9)  - RECORDERS {RECipe}{ORDERS}
10 - Collect a million as head of state (5)  - AMASS {A}{M}{AS}{S}
11 - Sullen after a king shows eagerness (6)  - ARDOUR {A}{R}{DOUR}
12 - Difference of opinion in mathematical operation (8)  - DIVISION [DD]
14 - US actor touring provinces for magazine (3,9)  - NEW STATESMAN {NEW {STATES}MAN}
17 - I'm mixed up with her, pop star, having a pleasurable way of life (8,4)  - PRIMROSE PATH {IM+HER+POP+STAR}*
20 - Inspector, formerly a collier (8)  - EXAMINER {EX}{A}{MINER}
21 - Boil egg, mostly runny, and serve (6)  - OBLIGE {BOIL+EGg}*
23 - Pancake left in container next to one (5)  - BLINI {B{L}IN}{I}

24 - Honest one struggling to win (2,3,4)  - ON THE NOSE*
25 - Reptile swimming at Lake Gloria (9)  - ALLIGATOR{AT+L+GLORIA}*
26 - Shout for nurse (5)  - TREAT [DD]
DOWN
1   - Stories about wet weather in a region of France (8)  - LORRAINE {LOR{RAIN}E}
2   - Security measure in prison makes rugby player depressed (8)  - LOCKDOWN {LOCK}{DOWN}
3   - Formula One driver's fitness regime? (7,8)  - CIRCUIT TRAINING [CD]
4   - Stage favourites put up (4)  - STEP <-
5   - Top dog? Famous footballer at home who's tricky (4,2,4)  - BEST IN SHOW {BEST} {IN} {WHOS*}
6   - I protest about an item, an awful item (9,6)  - INANIMATE OBJECT {I}{AN+ITEM*} {OBJECT} (Addendum - {I}{AN+ITEM+AN*} {OBJECT} - See comments)
7   - Unfortunate soldier in overturned buggy (6)  - TRAGIC {TRA{GI}C<-}
8   - Royal Engineers, posted, feel aggrieved (6)  - RESENT {RE}{SENT}
13 - Put a stop to charge, shortly, abroad (7,3)  - STAMPED OUT {STAMPEDe} {OUT}
15 - Voice of Italian, one behind counter (8)  - BARITONE {BAR}{IT}{ONE}
16 - Clear off with Dolcelatte and vermouth? (6,2)  - CHEESE IT {CHEESE} {IT}
18 - Outbreak of rabies in part of Europe (6)  - SERBIA*

19 - Politically extreme? No Conservative spoke (6)  - RADIAL RADIcAL
22 - Famous entertainer bare? Bottom can't be seen (4) - STAR STARk