The Sunday Crossword No 3200, Sunday 01 May 2022

Artwork by Prasanna

ACROSS

1   Smooth move: child's play? (4,6) SAND CASTLE {SAND}{CASTLE} 

6   Hardly any, you say? What a relief (4) PHEW (~few)

9   Son, charmer, baked pastries (5,5) CREAM HORNS* I love these

10 Russian's a little vigorous (4) IGOR [T]

11 Messages about time-shifted treat: drink here? (6,6) COFFEE TABLES {C{(-t)OFFEE(+t)T}ABLES}

15 Given a warning, changed (slightly changed) (7) ALERTED AL(-t)ER(+t)TED

16 Bring-a-bottle party? Afraid not (2,3,2) NO CAN DO {NO CAN}{DO}

17 Frenchman known for mould in spread that's original (7) PASTEUR {PASTE}{UR}

19 In retrospect, Everyman has small problem, that's obvious (7) EVIDENT {I'VE<=}{DENT}

20 Primarily allegorical episodes (sometimes offering proverbial suggestions) following anthropomorphised beasts' learning experiences succinctly? (6,6) AESOPS FABLES Acrostic &lit

23 Suddenly change direction, getting knocked off (4) SLEW [DD]

24 Interpreters tear apart rulers, according to Spooner (3-7) LIP-READERS (~ rip leaders to lip readers)

25 NT book has an effect (4) ACTS [DD]

26 Indian moon waning now? (4,6) ANNO DOMINI*

DOWN

1   Axe in bag (4) SACK [DD]

2   Miss that's born, daughter (4) NEED {NEE}{D}

3   Topshop came undone making a pile – that stinks (7,4) COMPOST HEAP*

4   Satirised pampered, absent son at last (7) SPOOFED {SPOOn FED}

5   Light in city initially niggled bird (7) LANTERN {LA}{Ni...d}{TERN}

7   Scotsman, tipsy, riding moon vehicle (10) HIGHLANDER {HIGH}{LANDER}

8   Argument overt merit in poet (10) WORDSWORTH {WORDS}{WORTH}

12 Hair gel a cop recovered in islands (11) ARCHIPELAGO*

13 Liquid Asian space? (7,3) CASPIAN SEA* &lit

14 According to relative, coverage is constant (10) PERSISTENT {PER}{SIS}{TENT}

18 Lout disrupted funfair (7) RUFFIAN*

19 'I need a hug' offered up – stop! (7) EMBARGO {O GRAB ME}<=

21 I ran up to see where salami is sold? (4) DELI {I}{LED}<=

22 Some fantastic wine (4) ASTI [T]

Reference List

Time = T, Party = DO, Born = NEE, Daughter = D