The Sunday Crossword No 3028, Sunday 30 Dec 2018

3759
ACROSS
1   Gloom in party captured by playwright (6) SHADOW {SHA{DO}W}
4   Artificial image? Continue to be enthralled by it (7) PLASTIC {P{LAST}IC}
9   Delight in harbour (9) ENTERTAIN [DD]
10 Substantial specimen, not small (5) AMPLE sAMPLE
11 Drama in period setting’s first to get awards (7) HONOURS {HO{NO}URS}
12 Fish held and cut (7) HADDOCK {HAD}{DOCK}

13 Exuberant force, group mostly seen with love in revolutionary outfit (12) RAMBUNCTIOUS {RAM}{BUNCh}{TI{O}US<=}
17 Terrible trophy, comical, not a symbol of major sporting event (7,5) OLYMPIC TORCH {TROPHY+COMICaL}*
20 Bird emerging from box with noise (7) SPARROW {SPAR}{ROW}
22 Eager one with speed of light entering event (7) ITCHING {1}{T{C}HING}
23 Robust, guarding against split (5) HALVE {HAL{V}E}
24 Exile in wretched case riots (9) OSTRACISE*
25 Fast strike without real purpose (7) RAPIDLY {RAP}{IDLY}
26 Thin air outside pub (6) SKINNY {SK{INN}Y}

DOWN
1   Perfect day disrupted by measure of acidity in conduct (8) SHEPHERD {SHE{PH}ER}{D}
2   Many too prepared to restrict universal independence (8) AUTONOMY {MANY+TOO}* over {U}
3   Different future in a rum old Victorian tale (3,6,6) OUR MUTUAL FRIEND*
4   Forcefulness required to get a drink (5) PUNCH [DD]
5   Expert under oath, worried about Arctic region, raised difficult problem (1,4,3,2,5) A HARD NUT TO CRACK {AH{TUNDRA<=}TO*}{CRACK}
6   Excellent work after lean time (3-3) TIP-TOP {TIP}{T}{OP}
7   Happy with king instead of rook getting forward? (6) CHEEKY CHEE(-r+k)KY
8   Pepper? Limit amount covering one starter for child (8) CAPSICUM {CAP}{S{1}{Ch..d}UM}
14 One foolish person, angry, lacking right start (8) INITIATE {1}{NIT}{IrATE}
15 Fulfilment I found in working for unit (8) FRUITION {I} in {FOR+UNIT}*
16 Violent behaviour almost embraced during endeavour (8) THUGGERY {T{HUGGEd}RY}
18 Some interest heretic displayed in Old Testament book (6) ESTHER [T]
19 Run good article on vote coming up (6) GALLOP {G}{A}{POLL<=}
21 Befuddled in court over unknown quantities (5) WOOZY {WOO}{Z}{Y}

GRID