The Sunday Crossword No 3129, Sunday 20 Dec 2020

ACROSS

1   Critic's starting on Affleck war film: 'Terrible piece of costume' (5,5) CARGO PANTS {Cr...c}{ARGO} {PANTS}

6   Took ideas from some flipping trade paperback (4) APED [T<=]

9   (n.) I do PR; cost is ludicrous (4,6) SPIN DOCTOR* &lit

10 Regularly tweak rump that's kind of hot (4) WARM {tWeAk+RuMp}

11 Corn, potato and grain regularly moving? (4,8) CROP ROTATION {CORN+POTATO+gRaIn}* &lit

15 Live regressively, wearing Elizabethan garb, getting expressions of disrespect (7) REBUFFS {R{BE<=}UFFS}

16 Forgives cuts wherein university ousts Italian (7) EXCUSES EXC(-i+u)USES

17 Tire out, made to include 'exciting' meeting with press (5,2) PHOTO OP {P{HOT}OOP}

19 Inhale a little nasty smell, tucking into starter of snails with the French (7) SNIFFLE {Sn...s}{NIFF}{LE}

20 During mass, lecture describing Dutch and English puritans' approach to pleasure (2,10) IN MODERATION {IN}{M}{O{D}{E}RATION}

23 Swiss legend that helps you beat poker rivals (4) TELL [DD]

24 Perhaps a little blue shed makes you disgruntled (7,3) CHEESED OFF {CHEESE}{DOFF}

25 Noisily erect beams (4) RAYS (~raise)

26 Part of film where Rock Hudson finally gets trifle (10) SCREENPLAY {SCREE}{h...oN}{PLAY}

DOWN

1   Salesman might travel with this suit (4) CASE [C&DD]

2   A shower are in charge, we're informed (4) RAIN (~reign)

3   Cocky, losing head, leaders of Tranmere Rovers find cash for 75,000-capacity ground (3,8) OLD TRAFFORD {bOLD}{Tr...e}{Ro...s}{AFFORD}

4   Puts up with ridiculous spectacle endlessly ... and again (7) ACCEPTS SPECTACle

5   Pair of moody teenagers with pained expression: time to get up (7) TWOSOME {EMOS}{OW}{T}<=

7   Fat Paisley comic? Don't take chances (4,2,4) PLAY IT SAFE*

8   Weakened, foolish Everyman, regularly unfit, dropped (10) DIMINISHED {DIM}{I}{uNfIt}{SHED}

12 Ice can coat river flowing into this! (6,5) ARCTIC OCEAN* Semi&lit

13 Landlord in favour of clergyman being denied special old rum, to begin with (10) PROPRIETOR {PRO}{PRIEsT}{O}{Rum}

14 Uncommonly able-bodied seaman? No: Royal Marine and partner in war (10) ABNORMALLY {AB}{NO}{RM}{ALLY}

18 Primarily, practically, your really resolute hardship is counter-productive? (7) PYRRHIC Acrostic &lit

19 Drunk receiving present delivers rude expression (2,5) SO THERE {SOT}{HERE}

21 Essentially meddlesome: drink rejected in book of Bible (4) JOEL {m..dLEs..e}{OJ}<=

22 Uncertain moment, scratching head (4) IFFY jIFFY

Reference List

University = U, Italian = I, The in French = LE, Mass = M, Dutch = D, English = P,  Time = T, River = R, Special = S, Old = O, Drink = OJ(Orange Juice)