The Sunday Crossword (2859), Sunday 20 Sep 2015

ACROSS
1   Bankrupt regretted embracing hollow illusion (6) RUINED {RU{Il...oN}ED}
4   Material in article pinched by humorous writer (7) LEATHER {LEA{THE}R}
9   New set primed for paint (9) DISTEMPER*
10 Dance in uncertain state (5) LIMBO [DD]

11 Captured period, retaining look in old-fashioned cinema (11) NICKELODEON {NICKE{LO}D}{EON}
14 Run into great area of land (4) ACRE {AC{R}E}
15 Dramatic rendition of choir isn't entertaining one (10) HISTRIONIC {HISTR{1}ONIC*}
17 Guarantee fuel, securing litre subsequently (10) COLLATERAL {CO{L}{LATER}AL}
18 Speaker's solitary advance (4) LOAN (~lone)
20 Betray twenty in style of ancient Rome? (6-5) DOUBLE-CROSS {XX}
23 Engineers joining line in charge for survival (5) RELIC {RE}{L}{IC}
24 Proper uncertainty reflected in gambling (9) BEFITTING {BE{FI<=}TTING}
25 Mark for each escape (7) SCARPER {SCAR}{PER}
26 Superior ordered no rise (6) SENIOR*

DOWN
1   Sadly cry and end up without power, showing uselessness (10) REDUNDANCY {CRY+AND+END+Up}*
2   Home and dry, you finally rest safely? On the contrary (10) INSECURELY {IN}{SEC}{yoU}{RELY}
3   Team taking part in cruel event (6) ELEVEN [T]
4   Flair the angler wildly exaggerated (6,4,4) LARGER THAN LIFE*
5   Opponent among last struggling for lost land (8) ATLANTIS {ATL{ANTI}S*}
6   Be busy, quietly coming to prominence (4) HUMP {HUM}{P}
7   Rip off piece starting in corner (4) ROOK [DD]
8   Counterpart to pope is afflicted with senseless hesitation (8,6) OPPOSITE NUMBER {TO+POPE+IS}* {NUMB}{ER}
12 Motion in an old car showing advancing age (4,6) ANNO DOMINI {AN}{NO D}{O}{MINI}
13 Using garlic in a stew, left out sweet powder (5,5) ICING SUGAR {USING+GARlIC}*
16 Hamper with help I cover (8) HANDICAP {HAND}{I}{CAP}
19 Tool chest rattled, holding unknown quantity (6) SCYTHE {SC{Y}THE*}
21 Flower heads for instance rich in scent (4) IRIS Acrostic

22 Fold, lacking time for appeal (4) PLEA PLEAt

GRID