No 12232, Friday 01 Jun 2018, xChequer

Today being Friday only the blank clues will be posted. All those who are not regular commenters/rookie commenters/silent followers of the blog are requested to post answers with annotations in the comments section. In your own interest please avoid looking up the answers from the interactive version. Don't hesitate to post your annotations, in case you make a mistake someone will correct it with the right annotation.

Each commenter is requested to post only 5 answers till 2 PM thereby giving others also a chance to participate. Please provide all your answers in one comment.

The regular blog will replace the clues at 2 PM after which anyone is free to comment. 

Thanks to everyone for the response. Here's the regular blog.

ACROSS
7   Senior citizen, possibly fat, shedding pounds after a period (6) DOTARD {DOT}{lARD}
8   Alert public getting opening to needle Democrat (4-4) OPEN-EYED {OPEN}-{EYE}{D}
9   Century scored in a test, way to go, say, with a bouncing pitch (8) INTONATE {IN{TON}{A}{TEst}
10 Song of praise rendered, then a mass held (6) ANTHEM {THEN+A+M}*
11 Thick to be married? That's baseless (5) MIDST {M}{IDeST}
12 Double digit cut initially brought on resistance (6) RINGER (-f+r)RINGER
14 This feted horse proverbially, in origin being designed — by a committee? (4,2,3,6) SHIP OF THE DESERT {THIS+FETED+HORSE+Pr...y}* &lit
17 Typical as hood folding carriage (6) CALASH [T] Semi&lit

18 Gulf or bay most often polluted (5) ABYSM {BAY+MoSt}*
22 Surface good for flight when pitch gets slicker (6) TARMAC {TAR}{MAC}
23 Foreign language for good old correspondent (8) ANALOGUE {LANGUA(-g+o)OE}*
24 Buck returned round exit, fairly compensated (8) REQUITED {RE{QUIT}ED<=}
25 Monitor perhaps wanting student hazed, essentially barred for vulgar character in the end (6) IZZARD {lIZ{haZed}ARD} Why 'vulgar'?

DOWN
1   Unqualified dead individual's entitlement (9) DOWNRIGHT {D}{OWN}{RIGHT}
2   Fellow's a timid person, not entirely popular (6) FAMOUS {F}{A}{MOUSe}
3   Model said 'Yes, agreed!' (5) IDEAL {I(aye)}{DEAL}
4   Lunatic called into action (8) DERANGED {DE{RANG}ED}
5   Opening ruse involved risks (8) VENTURES {VENT}{RUSE}*
6   Provision for run-off in case we run (5) SEWER [T]
8   Congress casually handing note ruffled Downing Street (3-5,5) ONE-NIGHT STAND {HANDING+NOTE}* over {ST}
13 Honourable judge's presiding instrument (3,6) TRY SQUARE {TRY} before {SQUARE}
15 Setter requesting a ride, say, is shot in the arm (4-2-2) PICK-ME-UP [DD]
16 Joy in life, having rolled the smoke? (8) FELICITY {LIFE}*{CITY}
19 Pub without a smoking zone gets medal (6) BRONZE {BaR}{ZONE}*
20 Japan distributed sake in this can (5) JAKES {J}{SAKE}*
21 Flap mounted in climbing headgear providing protection (5) PANIC{CAP<=} over {IN<=}

GRID

Bhargav's Talepiece

The bouncer and the dancer - Part 51

Gemini School of Dance:

Any DERANGED DOTARD who sang an ANTHEM in praise or uttered lines like "Can you PICK ME UP" with an outrageous thought of a ONE NIGHT STAND was driven out and denied further and future entry.

Kayal:

One side, she In the MIDST of the three dancers  was DOWNRIGHT gorgeous and at times wore an outlandish CALASH.

On the other she in the dark and backward ABYSM of time had been used as a spy in fact as a RINGER in an assignment.

Lt. Gen. Samuel aka Uncle Sam:

Buy why did OPEN EYED Sam kind of PANIC at the thought of being seen along with Kayal?