The Sunday Crossword No 3180, Sunday 12 Dec 2021

ACROSS

1   I call out madly about Greek character in the clouds (10) ALTOCUMULI {I+CALL+OUT}* over {MU}

6   Money's in hiding place (as auditor perceives it) (4) CASH (~cache)

9   Time, between a day and a month, tense on Parisian hill (10) MONTMARTRE {MON}{T}{MAR}{T}{RE}

10 Ban covetousness? Not entirely (4) VETO [T]

11 After short time, bit of a hand for subsidiary performer (6,6) SECOND BANANA {SECOND} {BANANA}

15 Old girl, condiment left out is repulsive (7) OGREISH {O}{G}{RElISH}

16 Lie about with Eddy being abandoned (7) YIELDED {LIE+EDDY}*

17 Primarily Transcaucasian, besieged inland locale: it's strategically important! (7) TBILISI Acrostic &lit

19 Fluttering eyelids in sordid manner (7) SEEDILY*

20 Tech giant, soft at heart? As if, dear! (5,2,2,3) APPLE OF MY EYE {APPLE}{sOFt}{MY EYE}

23 Celebrated wildebeests returning (4) SUNG <=

24 Lowers exchange rate rashly, leaves audit without independence (10) DEVALUATES {LEAVES+AUDiT}*

25 Some Mafioso hoodlums in New York district (4) SOHO [T]

26 City once playing for time, half-hearted – terrific (10) STALINGRAD {STALlING}{RAD}

DOWN

1   Topless, dotty host (4) ARMY bARMY

2   Hint: it's a Chinese dynasty (4) TANG [DD]

3   Comedy not half seen: Everyman's suppressing tantrum over IT, getting aggressive (11) COMPETITIVE {COMedy}{PET}{IT}{IVE}

4   Baron (who's Australian); Dame (who wrote) (7) MURDOCH [DD]

5   Graphically clearly, Charlie turning into Romeo (7) LURIDLY LU(-c+r)RIDLY

7   Beer (unknown quantity) and Spanish wine (no OJ) in old city (10) ALEXANDRIA {ALE}{X}{AND}{RIojA}

8   As Boyle may be heard to mention pioneers in elastics for back of bra? (4,3,3) HOOK AND EYE (~ hooke and ) 

12 Incessantly consumed, extremely sour (2,5,4) AT EVERY TURN {ATE}{VERY}{TURN}

13 Hopeless situations when cassoulet's prepared (4,6) LOST CAUSES*

14 A bit of fizz in cup Ruth stirred for cocktail (5,5) FRUIT PUNCH {Fizz+IN+CUP+RUTH}*

18 In 50s, doddering, most uncertain (7) IFFIEST {FIFTIES}*

19 Broadcaster to decline to show spy film (7) SKYFALL {SKY}{FALL}

21 Right, it's flipping porridge (4) STIR {R}{ITS}<=

22 American, educated, gets employed (4) USED {US}{ED}

Reference List

Time = T, On = RE, Old = O, Girl = G, Left = L, Independence = I, Charlie = C, Romeo = R, Unknown quantity = X, Right = R, Educated = ED