The Sunday Crossword No 3151, Sunday 23 May 2021

Lockdown Day 25 of 40 Stay Safe

ACROSS

1   Iron edicts, fierce instructions (10) DIRECTIONS*

6   Regularly reimburse Australian natives (4) EMUS rEiMbUrSe

9   FBI agent hollers for Spooner and associates (10) BEDFELLOWS (~ fed bellows)

10 Loudly performed hornpipe for navy? (4) BLUE (~blew)

12 Celebratory music describing monarchs with horrible droning (8,4) DRINKING SONG {DRIN{KINGS}ONG*}

15 Makes peer and earl run away from home, twice (7) EQUATES {E}{QUArTErS}

16 Primarily strongly tasting, it's legally trademarked (of necessity!) (7) STILTON Acrostic &lit

17 Sheep cries about what pig becomes in the islands (7) BAHAMAS {BA{HAM}AS}

19 Earnest European getting behind how metric system counts (7) INTENSE {E}<=>{IN TENS}

20 Where music heard awfully regularly, carry tune? Can do! (7,5) COUNTRY DANCE {CaRrY+TUNE+CAN+DO}*

23 With temperature dropping, blended Tokay wine may taste like this (4) OAKY tOKAY*

24 Hobnobs and a slice is so refreshing (10) SOCIALISES*

25 Protective cover idiot's pulled back (4) TARP<=

26 A glutton, Stu baked goods earlier including piping (6,4) GREEDY GUTS  {STU*}<=>{G}{REEDY}{G}

DOWN

1   Smears fingerprints (4) DABS [DD]

2   Republicans: 'Commies!' (4) REDS [D]

3   O my! The carrot, surprisingly: technically a fruit! (6,6) CHERRY TOMATO*

4   At first, not doing splendidly for 'Months in Islam': '... Christmas, Easter etc?' (7) ISLANDS {ISLAm}{Not}{Do..g}{Sp...y}

5   Beginners understood insects, we're told (7) NEWBIES (~knew bees)

7   French 'pain': ingredients make you bellyacher (10) MALCONTENT {MAL}{CONTENT}

8   Arrest Fred's accomplice for something spicy (4,6) STEM GINGER {STEM}{GINGER}

11 In self-centred fashion, off I go, etc? I'll say! (12) EGOISTICALLY*

13 Robots care about language (5-5) SERBO-CROAT*

14 President and spin doctor getting something to eat in Australia (4,6) BUSH TUCKER {BUSH}{TUCKER}

18 Henry's wife certainly upset when beheaded, love (7) SEYMOUR {YES<=}{aMOUR}

19 A strong drink imbibed by Everyman, twice: fancy that! (7) IMAGINE {I}{M{A}{GIN}E}

21 Isaac's son given some thesaurus (4) ESAU [T]

22 No time for chores: big ones are onerous! (4) ASKS tASKS

Reference List

Earl = E, Runs = R, European = E, Temperature = T, Good = G,  Month = M, Pain in French = MAL, Time = T