The Sunday Crossword No 3194, Sunday 20 Mar 2022

ACROSS

1   When dancing, use rural reels: that's how it has to be (5,3,5) RULES ARE RULES*

8   Goodness is a liability, ultimately (1,3) I SAY {IS}{A}{l...tY}

9   Mad monk, ill, mixed a drink (6,4) ALMOND MILK*

10 It's hot, it's cold, they say (6) CHILLI (~chilly)

11 Lay in rum supply for VIP (8) LUMINARY*

12 Beg pardon: soldier in a game's on methamphetamine? (9) APOLOGISE {A}{POLO{GI}S}{E}

14 Intruders somewhat disrespectful (4) RUDE [T]

15 Making a comeback, be aware of geeky type (4) WONK<=

16 Where paw-print cushions may be found: one of them might cause upset? (9) UNDERDOGS {UNDER DOGS}

20 Roast rib bone's increasingly superior (8) SNOBBIER*

21 Model gun is toy (6) TRIFLE {T}RIFLE}

23 'Moon-starer', fancifully? (10) ASTRONOMER* &lit

24 A small island force? I doubt that (2,2) AS IF {A}{S}{I}{F}

25 Building morale, he roars in actors' space (9,4) REHEARSAL ROOM*

DOWN

1   Spooner's tear in breeches, old fruit (7) ROSEHIP (~hose rip)

2   True: Left decapitated monarch (5) LOYAL {L}{rOYAL}

3   Pain sandwiches the French ripping to shreds (7) SLATING {S{LA}TING}

4   Rural museum's don's written about twins of old (7,3,5) ROMULUS AND REMUS* 

5   In the morning, Frenchman's about to baptise once more (6) RENAME {REN{AM}E}

6   Daily in France, tailless dog's eaten dessert spread (5,4) LEMON CURD {LE MONDe} over {CUR}

7   Place entertained by jerk's binge (7) SPLURGE {S{PL}URGE}

13 Playing blinder, George Henry who flew to Paris? (9) LINDBERGH {BLINDER*}{G}{H}

15 Where it's never desperately short of royals, to start with? (7) WINDSOR Acrostic Semi&lit

17 Captivate with eleventh rallentando (to some extent) (7) ENTHRALL [T]

18 Element of bile is ursodeoxycholic matter, initially (7) GALLIUM {GALL}{Is}{Ur...c}{Ma...r}

19 Queen's looking up 'brown pigment' (6) SIENNA {ANNE IS}<=

22 Everyman's seen with a strategy game (it's a stage) (5) IMAGO {I'M}{A}{GO}

Reference List

Methamphetamine = E, Model = T, Small = S, Island = I, Force = F, Left = L, The in French = LA, Place = PL