No 11883, Wednesday 21 Dec 2016, Aspartame

ACROSS
1   Scab to hit vessel with small rod (13) STRIKEBREAKER {STRIKE}{B{Rod}EAKER}
8   Pressure on Legolas to make black money (4) PELF {P}{ELF}
9   Misinformed one devised all pointless actions (3-7) ILL-ADVISED {1+DeVISED+ALL}*
10 First-born parent steps down from pedestal being relocated (6) ELDEST pEDESTaL*
11 One watching a show for the second time? (8) REVIEWER [E]
12 Instrument to yield highest returns (9) ACCORDION {ACCORD}{NO1<=}
14 Lunar effect about to change (4) EDIT<=
15 Industrialist armies (4) TATA {TA}{TA}
16 The Spanish editor travels west to meet informed reporter found in the Alps (9) EDELWEISS {EL}<=>{ED}{WEISS}(~wise)

20 Fruit family – primarily lychee put in oven (8) LIMEKILN {LIME}{KI{L}N}
21 Deliveries done halfway? That's overstated (6) OVERDO {OVER}{DOne}
23 Ashram icon is brewing liqueur (10) MARASCHINO*
24 Team mixed up right with left end of sail (4) CLEW C(-r+l)LEW

25 Band producing on sets (7,6) ROLLING STONES {ON+SETS}*

DOWN
1   Resin exterior starts to accumulate crud (7) SHELLAC {SHELL}{Ac...e}{Crud}
2   Search thoroughly for gun (5) RIFLE [DD]
3   Shivering kitten got tiny dress that's stitched (7) KNITTED {KITTEN}*{Dr..s}
4   Mob Anglican lord practising Samba (8,7) BALLROOM DANCING {MOB+ANGLICAN+LORD}*
5   Plant in Kiev I'd need to take back (6) ENDIVE [T<=]

6   Cut corners, keep a bit of savings aside – the situation could go either way (5-4) KNIFE-EDGE {KNIFE}{EDGEs}
7   Film on oriental cat oddly to win in votes again (2-5) RE-ELECT {RE-EL}{E}{CaT}
13 Alert like Messi during a match? (2,3,4) ON THE BALL [DD]
15 Agitated son lost in North Sinai going nowhere (4,3) THIN AIR {noRTH+sINAI}*
17 Beware of guard (7) LOOKOUT [DD]
18 Son overcomes onset of insanity, misery (7) SADNESS (-m+s)SADNESS
19 Fruit extracts control itching (6) LITCHI [T]

22 Start to leave renting out one encyclopedia for one who served time (2-3) EX-CON lEXiCON

GRID