The Sunday Crossword No 2988, Sunday 25 Mar 2018

ACROSS
1   Continually disrupting search, getting frantic (8) FEVERISH {F{EVER}ISH}
5   Spoil start for idealistic married couple (6) IMPAIR {Id...c}{M}{PAIR}
9   Youth led by commanding officer in brilliant tribute (8) ACCOLADE {AC{CO}{LAD}E}
10 Cold in lorry? Extremely cold (6) ARCTIC {AR{C}TIC}
12 Be in control and bag first of trophies with crowds round about (4,3,3,5) HOLD ALL THE CARDS {HOLDALL}{Tr...s}{HE{CA}RDS}
13 Bird ending in awkward scrape (5) DRAKE {a...rD}{RAKE}
14 Alien in service awfully unforthcoming (9) SECRETIVE {SECR{ET}IVE*}
16 Call for help, receiving care in troubled situations (9) SCENARIOS {S{CARE+IN}*OS}
18 Meat company breaking taboo (5) BACON {BA{CO}N}
19 Play a crank, being bothered after appearance (4,4,2,5) LOOK BACK IN ANGER {LOOK} {A+CRANK+BEING}*
22 Say nothing enthusiastic about religion (6) SHINTO {SH}{INTO}
23 Attractive booking (8) ENGAGING [DD]
24 Gloomy doctor, tired, losing weight (6) DREARY {DR}{wEARY}
25 Set of beliefs old yogi developed about energy (8) IDEOLOGY {OLD+YOGI}* over {E}

DOWN
1   Instant force with whip (5) FLASH {F}{LASH}
2   Dither, out of sorts during leave (9) VACILLATE {VAC{ILL}ATE}
3   Engineers left facility free (7) RELEASE {RE}{L}{EASE}
4   Learner admitted to most wretched irritation with needlework (6,6) SADDLE STITCH {SADD{L}EST}{ITCH}

6   Amazing event in distance holding vehicle up (7) MIRACLE {MI{CAR<=}LE}
7   Table covered by special tarpaulin (5) ALTAR [T]
8   Chef getting stickier, working before noon (4,5) RICK STEIN {STICKIER}*{N}
11 Insensitive impression raised about hayseed's family (5-7) THICK-SKINNED {T{HICKS}{KIN}NED<=}
13 Record drop with depth revealed (9) DISCLOSED {DISC}{LOSE}{D}
15 Minor worker, fool in number following one with identity concealed (9) INCOGNITO {1}{N{COG}{NIT}O}
17 Book in a ceremony right for judge (7) ARBITER {A}{R{B}ITE}{R}
18 Moving abroad, guarding against bluster (7) BRAVADO {BRA{V}ADO*}
20 Dwell beneath old tree (5) OLIVE {O}{LIVE}

21 Red clothing good for sport (5) RUGBY {RU{G}BY}

GRID