No 12650, Wednesday 12 Jun 2019, xChequer

ACROSS
7   Appearance on behalf of mother ending in fight (6) FORMAT {FOR}{MA}{f..hT}
8   Biting, cut close to bone (6) SEVERE {SEVER}{bonE}
10 Male needing place to retire with suitable companion (8) HELPMEET {HE}{PL<=}{MEET}
11 Musician's appeal reflected in burning passion (6) LUTIST {LU{IT<=}ST}
12 Racing boat out of yard and harbour in operation (5) YACHT {Y}{AC{H}T}
14 Alert when explosive fuel trails vehicle (7) CAREFUL {CAR}{FUEL*}
15 Novel to follow the timeless touch, entirely from fantasy (3,2,5,5) OUT OF WHOLE CLOTH {TO+FOLLOW+THE+tOUCH}*
18 Merciful chapter before sanction to quarter soldiers (7) CLEMENT {C}{LE{MEN}T}
19 Month to live perhaps (5) MAYBE {MAY}{BE}
20 Mica so used in tile pattern (6) MOSAIC*
21 Kept away from top due to imbecile (5,3) OPTED OUT*
23 King wearing an allowed ornament (6) ANKLET {AN}{K}{LET}
24 About to consider buy back (6) REDEEM {RE}{DEEM}

DOWN
1   Expression of deference unfortunately true of anybody without guts (5,3) AFTER YOU {TRUE+OF+An...dY}*
2   Good to have rent control (4) GRIP {G}{RIP}
3   Overdue book lying hidden (6) LATENT {LATE}{NT}
4   Left in charge, independent say, to act as one may wish (4,4) FEEL FREE {FEE}{L}{FREE}
5   Extremities associated with once the greatest fundamental weakness? (4,2,4) FEET OF CLAY {FEET}{OF}{CLAY}
6   Wives selectively employing craft (6) VESSEL [T]
9   Executive remuneration showing high cost, then over to pink slips? (5,6) STOCK OPTION {COST}*{O+TO+PINK}*
13 Shut up before nasty son comes to show solidarity (5,5) CLOSE RANKS {CLOSE}{RANK}{S}
16 Poor women gagged (8) WRETCHED {W}{RETCHED}
17 Myth demolished about basis of entertainment with 'Silent Movie' (3,5) THE MUMMY {TH{En...t}{MUM}MY*}
18 Church getting vocal about group singing (6) CHORAL {CH}{ORAL}
19 Protection for hand, but struck head off (6) MITTEN sMITTEN
22 Deserts line in battle (4) DUEL {DUE}{L}

Reference List
Place = PL, Appeal = IT, Yard = Y, Harbour = H, Time = T, Chapter = C, King = K, About = RE, Good = G, Book = NT(New Testament), Son = S, Women = W, Church = CH, Line = L

GRID