No. 11300 Saturday 24 Jan 15, xChequer

As one expects from this setter, an engaging puzzle with smooth surfaces and unambiguous cryptic instructions. Lots of clues to like. I’m not sure of my anno for 10ac and can’t work out 17ac – so paging Sandhya :-) or any one else who can explain them. Thanks Colonel

ACROSS
7 Appropriate greeting card (6) HIJACK [greeting=HI + card=JACK] 
8 Unfinished, badly built housing area is publicised (8) BLAZONED [BADLy* outside area=ZONE] 
9 Extremely faithful male lover carrying a torch (8) FLAMBEAU [FaithfuL + Male + lover=BEAU outside A]

10 Giants originally, finally lost for good (6) TITANS [GIANTS –Good + losT]*
11 Representative of a man (5) AGENT [A + man=GENT]
12 Equanimity or a measure of acidity on getting married? (6) PHLEGM [measure of acidity=PH + on=LEG + Married]
14 Delaying actions in part, or wavering (15) PROCRASTINATION [ACTIONS IN PART OR]*
17 Miss Tina acting in serial from next episode (6) SEQUEL [serial=SEQUE(ntia*)L]
18 Twists, fighting against limits of physics (5) WARPS [fighting=WAR + PhysicS]
22 Dish to cook at short notice, a simple bread dish (6) PANADA [dish to cook=PAN + short notice=AD + A]
 
23 Breathe in when angry to maintain poise (8) ASPIRATE [when=AS + angry=IRATE outside Poise]
24 Precious element, a metal essentially, in highly valued rings (8) PLATINUM [A + meTal + IN inside highly valued=PLUM]
25 Winning sympathy, becomes arrogant (6) UPPITY [winning=UP + sympathy=PITY]

DOWN
1 Rural folk poorly buried in makeshift graves (9) VILLAGERS [poorly=ILL inside GRAVES*]
2 Empty gun holding bullets perhaps? Nonsense! (6) GAMMON [GuN outside bullets=AMMO]
3 Lofted edge from crease caught by slip (5) SKIED [creasE inside slip=SKID]
4 All the gods displaying power other than one (8) PANTHEON [Power + THAN ONE*] 
5 Continued to hold part-time worker in disdain (8) CONTEMPT [CONTinued outside part-time worker=TEMP] 
6 Slight in speech conveying mock attack (5) FEINT [~slight=FAINT]
8 Feverish from that bug, he died (6,3,4) BOUGHT THE FARM [FROM THAT BUG HE]* 
13 Photoshopped, thanks to controversial issue (3,6) HOT POTATO [PHOTO* + thanks=TA + TO] 
15 Victim unconcerned at first, tense with anxiety in the end (8) CASUALTY [unconcerned=CASUAL + Tense + anxietY] 
16 Familiarise Bill with one described as being new to town (8) ACQUAINT [bill=AC + one=1 outside as being=QUA + New + Town]
19 Precipitate or salt showing up in sides of retort (6) ABRUPT [salt=AB + UP inside RetorT] 
20 Moving up close to enemy lines, captures American chopper quite casually (5) LAXLY [ (enemY + lines= L L) <= outside American chopper=AX] 
21 Go on son, pull a face (5) SPOUT [Son + pull a face=POUT]

GRID